Monday Rx: MICRA, Practice Makeover, Mixer Updates, Clear as Mud Episode 8 and Upcoming Events May 2, 2022 2022 GME Leadership Summit, Aledade, Assembly Bill 35, Building Emotional Strength in Kids, California Medical Association, Californians, Californians Allied for Patient Protection, CAP, CAPP, Clear as Mud Podcast, CMA, Expanding Access to Care, Fraud Enforcement in Medicare Advantage, GME, Graduate medical education, LA Care, LACBA, Latinx Physician Mixer, MCLE, Medical Practice Makeover, MICRA, MICRA Modernization, Town Hall, Webinar, Young Physician Mixer 722 MICRA Compromise and What It Means to You A compromise was reached last week between the Californians Allied for Patient Protection (CAPP) and the plaintiff’s attorneys. The two sides of the ballot measure campaign have committed to putting patients first, to prioritizing the stability of affordable access to health care, and to set aside differences to do what’s right for all Californians. The element likely to garner the most interest surrounds changes to the limit on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, which is currently at $250k. As opposed to the ballot measure, which would have effectively eliminated the cap on non-economic damages entirely, under the new agreement: Cases not involving a patient death will have a limit of $350k on the effective date of January 1, 2023, with an incremental increase over the next 10 years to $750k and a 2.0% annual inflationary adjustment thereafter. Cases involving a patient death will have a limit of $500k on the effective date of January 1, 2023, with an incremental increase over the next 10 years to $1 million and a 2.0% annual inflationary adjustment thereafter. So, how does this deal impact physician premiums both short term and over time? We’ve invited CMA CEO Dustin Corcoran to be our guest this Thursday, May 5th at 6:00 PM to share the latest and more importantly, hear from our members relative to their concerns. To register click here. Also, I would like to hear your opinions about the compromise and the ensuing Assembly Bill 35 which will modernize MICRA. Do you support the bill? Or, would you rather have seen a fight at the ballot box? We will continue to have more conversations with experts and our members, to ensure your voice is heard as this process continues. Medical Practice Makeover Continues! This week, we will visit several more independent medical practices as LACMA continues the historic Medical Practice Makeover initiative. We continue to provide grants of $5,000, free medical supplies, assistance with practice transformation and much more. Young Physician Mixer a Hit (and strike!) LACMA held its annual Young Physician Mixer last Friday at the Lucky Strike Bowling Alley at LA Live and, attendees had a great time, were able to connect with colleagues and meet new ones! Thank you to all those who attended, staff for coordinating, our sponsors Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP), Aledade, Mercer and Gentem, our “veteran” physician leaders for participating as well including Dr. Jeffery Lee, Dr. C Freeman, and Dr. Jerry Abraham! Latinx Physician Mixer at Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience LACMA hosted the first Latinx Physician Leader mixer this past Sunday at the Running Goose restaurant followed by an incredible visual display in honor of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Thanks to Dr. Hector Flores for helping coordinate, Dr. David Hayes Bautista from the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture and all attendees. More to come! Aledade Founder and CEO Farzad Mostashari, MD on Clear as Mud Podcast Listen to Dr. Mostashari share his insights on the evolution of medical practices as they regain control of their mission, transition to profitability and sustainability and the impact of shared savings on the Clear as Mud podcast. Click here to listen. MICRA Modernization Presentation Join us to hear the latest on the modernization of MICRA and what it means for the physicians of California from California Medical Association CEO Dustin Corcoran. Date: May 5, 2022 Time: 6:00 pm Register here. 2022 GME Leadership Summit (Virtual) Graduate medical education (GME) is a critical workforce development strategy in addressing California's physician workforce shortages. Physicians for a Healthy California's (PHC) GME Leadership Summit is a unique educational and exciting networking event. The GME Leadership Summit aims to develop and sustain new GME programs in medically underserved areas and specialties by convening subject matter experts and thought leaders to provide insight and expertise. All GME champions are invited to attend, especially physician workforce development leaders and those looking to start new GME programs, as well as newly designated institutional officials, program directors and program coordinators. Date: May 5, 2022 Time: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (tentative) Register here. LA Care CEO John Baackes to Join Expanding Access to Care Series We welcome LA Care chief executive officer John Baackes to be our fourth guest of the virtual Expanding Access to Care series hosted by LACMA President-Elect Dr. Omer Deen and LACMA board member, Dr. Hector Flores. Our objectives are: List the essential components of a Public Option Health Plan Describe how a public option plan would improve coverage, make health care coverage more affordable for consumers, and equitable for providers Describe how a public option plan would improve our state’s goals for quality, value-based performance, and ability to address social drivers of care Identify, explain and discuss how to reduce the barriers in cultural and linguistic, health equity disparities and implicit bias in caring for patients in a public option health plan. Date: May 9, 2022 Time: 6:00 pm This program qualifies for 1 hour of CME credit. Register here. A Case Study: Fraud Enforcement in Medicare Advantage This joint education program will address emerging issues for providers and healthcare lawyers. We will use a real-life case study (the Sutter case) to explore the interplay between Medicare Advantage and Medicare fraud and abuse, when health plans delegate risk adjustment to physicians and share financial risk with them. In these arrangements, who has responsibility/liability for coding: the plan, the delegated physician organization, the physician, others? When does education about coding become pressure to upcode? What protections are there for physicians or others who want to raise objections? What factors increase and decrease risk? What types of conflicts can arise? What are the key takeaways? Date: May 19, 2022 Time: 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Registration | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Program 2 hrs. MCLE and CE Credits (Including 1 hour Legal Ethics) Register here. Building Emotional Strength in Kids This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the California Medical Association (CMA) through the joint providership of the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. and the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA). The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. is accredited by CMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Date: May 25, 2022 Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Location: Zoom Click here to register. #MondayMotivation "Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still." Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association “If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”