Monday Rx: Physician Initiatives, LACMA Partners and COVID-19 Headlines December 7, 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics, California Medical Association, COVID-19, Health Equity Council, medical practices, Medicine, MOCINGBIRD 1161 The Health Equity Council continues to do incredible work, addressing bias in medicine, the challenges patients of color face and looking for solutions. Last week, the group shared a unique CME course offered to physicians on implicit bias, specifically, the effects of unconscious bias in everyday interactions with patients, students, colleagues, and team members. Health Equity Council also shared how to apply specific “bias-busting” techniques that can be used in the medical and academic environment. To access the CME course, click here. 10 New Preferred Partners for 2021 We are pleased to share that we will have 10 new corporate partnerships next year and each new partner delivers value to solo and small medical practices, groups, hospitals and health system networks. Each new partner solves real problems for physician members: from reimbursement, to practice transformation to CMEs, remote patient monitoring, patient insurance verification, affordable telehealth and even convenient car buying. Welcome MOCINGBIRD This week, I’d like to introduce members to MOCINGBIRD, an innovative, cloud-based solution that manages all healthcare licenses and certifications. Instead of trying to “figure out” what CME is due by when, MOCINGBIRD does it all for the physician. Their virtual assistant interprets all state and board rules, provides CME recommendations, and tracks it all on the physician’s preferred device. Physicians won’t be surprised by renewal deadlines or requirements. With MOCINGBIRD’s cutting edge platform, what and when is due is a simple process. MOCINGBIRD's Exclusive Offer: LACMA Members: $8.25/month or $99/year. LACMA Residents & Medical Students: Free Learn more and sign up today at www.MOCINGBIRD.com Clear as Mud Podcast Tackles Physician Wellness As MOCINGBIRD addresses documentation overload, our new podcast series, Clear as Mud, looks at problems doctors face and offers solutions. This week, the program features Dr. David Logan, head of CMA Wellness. To listen to these brief and insightful programs click here. You can find the Clear as Mud podcast on your favorite platform, or just search Clear as Mud. Please subscribe, rate and comment! CMA President Message on President-elect Biden’s Selection for HHS Secretary California Medical Association President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D., issued the following statement in response to news that President-Elect Joe Biden named California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as the next secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to mushroom, the Biden Administration’s handling of the current crisis will be closely watched across the country and around the world. Xavier Becerra is an excellent choice to head HHS. As Attorney General of California, Becerra has aggressively fought to protect the Affordable Care Act, ensuring access to reproductive health services for all Californians, and advocating for underserved communities across the state and across the country. Under his leadership, the California Department of Justice has led the charge to ensure that immigrants being held in detention centers are treated humanely and have access to health care. Attorney General Becerra understands the complexities of the issues facing Americans and their health care, and his passion and expertise will be an asset for the entire nation as we work together to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, protect the Affordable Care Act and expand access to high-quality health care for all Americans." ACEs Aware News Thanks to our partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 2 (AAP-CA2) I’m able to share news about an important lecture series on ACE’s Aware lecture on toxic stress, presented by Dr. Christine Thang: Click here to learn more. ACEs Aware is an initiative led by the Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health Care Services to give Medi-Cal providers training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for ACEs. COVID-19 Headlines The FDA authorized the first combination COVID-19 and flu combination test, developed by Quest, to allow for at-home collection of respiratory samples. It will be available by prescription only for patients with symptoms of respiratory viral infection. As of Monday, at 8:00 a.m. EST, the unofficial COVID-19 toll is 14,761,732 cases and 282,345 deaths, up nearly 1.4 million cases and nearly 15,500 deaths versus this time a week ago. That makes COVID-19 now the leading cause of death for Americans by a considerable margin, topping heart disease and cancer, which each kill roughly 12,000 people in the U.S. each week. President Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, and now others who came into contact with him -- he rarely wore a mask at meetings -- are taking belated precautions. With over 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine expected, the U.K. could start its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, praised president-elect Joe Biden's plan for all Americans to wear a mask for 100 days. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated guidelines to recommend kids and teens wear face masks during all sports games and practices, not just on the sidelines. CDC reiterated its multi-pronged approach to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including recommending "universal face mask use," and avoiding non-essential indoor spaces. (Sources: Washington Post, Associated Press, Politico, MMWR) Find a Health Plan to Fit Your Needs Through the CMA-Sponsored Insurance Programs The California Medical Association and Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services LLC are working together to make finding the health plan that fits your needs easier than ever! The CMA-sponsored health insurance plans offer best-in-class insurance and plan designs, and the best part is that you can consider and join the options available on-line at your convenience: For small group plans with 2-99 employees: New! Mercer’s Affinity Small Group (ASG) health plans platform offers a state-of-the art digital health insurance experience for you and your employees, which is unique in the California small group market. You and your employees have a choice of PPO, HMO and HDHPs, with complete online quoting and enrollment. This allows you to manage the process on your schedule, when and where you and your employees want. No phone calls or paper enrollment forms are necessary, though an 800 number is available for assistance during normal business hours. And, you don’t need to worry about regulations or compliance because the platform provides all the tools you need to keep your plan and your employees safe. Explore Your Small Group Options or individual and family plan coverage: Individual and family plans are available through the CMA-sponsored health plans. Quote and enroll in a plan of your choosing, completely online, with a toll-free number available to answer your questions. All health plans are ACA compliant with options for PPOs, HMOs and HDHPs, and your choice of carriers. The deadline to enroll is December 15th and start on January 1st, 2021. Start Your Quote Now! Questions? Call a Mercer Client Advisor at 800-842-3761, email CMACounty.Insurance.service@mercer.com or visit www.CountyCMAMemberInsurance.com. Virtual Grand Rounds: The National COVID-19 Surge and Hope for 2021 A Conversation with State Leaders and Members of President-Elect Joe Biden's Coronavirus Task Force Join CMA's Virtual Grand Rounds: The National COVID-19 Surge and Hope for 2021 - on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. PT to 1:30 p.m. PT. The nation is already experiencing an unprecedented and widespread surge of COVID-19, which may get further compounded by holiday travel, social gatherings and the risk of co-infection with winter respiratory viruses. The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and California Medical Association (CMA) are hosting a conversation with physicians that hold central roles in our national COVID-19 response: As a result of this activity, participants should be able to: Address physician wellness in the COVID-19 pandemic. Assess co-infection risks and testing strategies during the winter respiratory virus season. Discuss state and national strategies during a coronavirus surge Register Here Your Chance to Win PPE! We are raffling off 2 boxes of PPE every 2 weeks until December 31, 2020. There will be 2 winners (every 2 weeks) and each box contains a 2 month supply of PPE valued at nearly $4,500. Eligibility: Individual self-paying members are eligible for this raffle. How to enter: To be eligible for this raffle, simply renew your annual membership online or send in your renewal check in the mail and you will automatically be entered for the raffle drawing during that 2-week time frame. Please note that your name will be entered for only one raffle. Winner Announcement: You will receive an email from Lisa Le informing you that you’ve won. Questions? Email Lisa Le at lisa@lacmanet.org Enter the current raffle now by clicking the renewal link below. Renew Membership #MondayMotivation "Be great in act, as you have been in thought." Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association “If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”