Vaccine Update, Rapid Response 3.0, Medicare and Preferred Partners December 14, 2020 BioNTech', California Medical Association, CDC, COVID-19, FDA, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Medicare, Pfizer, Rapid Response 3.0, Vaccine 1671 Vaccine Update As you know by now, Pfizer/BioNTech's mRNA vaccine candidate was authorized for the prevention of COVID-19 illness in individuals age 16 and older, becoming the first vaccine to earn that distinction, the FDA said late Friday. The emergency use authorization allows the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S., with the agency noting clear evidence the vaccine may be effective in preventing COVID-19 and the benefits outweigh the risk in this population. CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, officially signed off Sunday on ACIP's recommendation of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people 16 and older. The first shots of the vaccine are expected to be administered today, but CVS said it won't be providing them in long-term care facilities for another week. Hospitals are scrambling to determine which workers should get doses. Our members in private practice are asking when the vaccine will be available for them and their patients. The attached fact sheet provides some information, but little on timing aspects as the rollout to practices is yet to be determined. View here. That said, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued this statement today relative to availability: “This will likely take months and not be widely available to the general public until Spring/Summer 2021.” We are working closely with LAC DPH and when there is information available, we will share immediately via Monday Rx, Rapid Response Playbook, our web site and other sources of information for members to be informed. LACMA will also be launching a vaccine playbook to provide ongoing updates and information. Looming Medicare Cuts Require Action As Congress is working to complete the final legislation of the year, CMA is urging physicians to contact their members of Congress to ask that they take immediate action to ensure the stability of physician practices. The worsening COVID-19 health crisis has put a massive strain on physician practices in our country that threatens to fundamentally alter the long-term stability of our health care system. The attached letter can be sent to legislators and our government relations consultant, Henry Rogers, who is working closely with both CMA and our local delegation to fight the cuts. Contact Henry if you have any questions: Henry Rogers Government Affairs Los Angeles County Medical Association O: 213-683-9900 henry@lacmanet.org www.ladocs.org Rapid Response 3.0 Back On LACMA is providing additional support to practices and physicians, in the third phase of our COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative by offering nearly $1.5 million worth of FREE PPE to LA County physicians in need, especially those in solo or small group practices. Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, we will not facilitate an in-person PPE drive. Our courier services will deliver your boxes directly to you (physician practices will cover the cost of courier services). Practices with 5 or fewer physicians are eligible to apply (one application per practice). LACMA Members will receive 2 boxes (4 month supply) of PPE and 2 boxes of hand sanitizer, Non-Members: 1 box (2 month supply) and 1 box of hand sanitizer. (Courier service fee not included.) If you are a physician in need of PPE, we are here to help. Apply Here Protect Your Practice from the Common Risks of Medical Malpractice Lawsuits The Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) recognizes that managing liability risk in the medical practice is critical to practice success. In CAP’s recent publication, From Exam Room to Courtroom: Lessons Learned from Real Medical Malpractice Cases, we have compiled 10 real-life case studies of physicians who have been involved in medical malpractice legal disputes. Authored by Gordon Ownby, General Counsel at CAP, these malpractice case studies impart important lessons in risk management that physicians don't necessarily learn in medical school, but acquire as they practice medicine. Download the Guide From Exam Room to Courtroom focuses on three common areas of liability: Physician misjudgment Gaps in communication and documentation Oversights during specialist referrals Learn how you can lessen your chances of experiencing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Download your free book today. As a leading provider of superior medical malpractice coverage in California for more than 40 years, CAP remains committed to providing physicians with secure and affordable protection and relevant practice and risk management resources to help you run a safe and successful practice. To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.com. Request an Instant Quote today to learn how much you can save on medical malpractice coverage with CAP. New Preferred Partners Join LACMA to Deliver Value to Members With so many other priorities to contend with, I wanted to share that LACMA will be unveiling a new membership portfolio in 2021 for our members. Here is a sneak preview as we begin to close out 2020, click on each partner's name to visit their website. If you have any questions about any of our new and existing partners please contact us directly at info@lacmanet.org. CareClix: Virtual care management platform was created by a physician for physicians. Capsule: Digital pharmacy solution. Juno: Student loan help. Optimize.health: Remote patient monitoring. SiteRx: Bridges clinical trials with clinical practice. Adaptive Medical Partners: With a shortage of physicians in Los Angeles County, AMPs will help find the right talent for small practices to larger systems. Healthcare Financial Resources: Unique accounts receivable, recovery and resolution specialists. Compass: Concierge real estate partner. CarBlip: Concierge car buying made easy. Howard R. Krauss, MD, elected Vice President of the Medical Board of California We would like to recognize Dr. Howard R. Krauss for being elected the Vice President of the Medica; Board of California. Howard R. Krauss, MD, has been elected Vice President of the Medical Board of California, reported in an official state announcement released November 13, 2020. In his role, he will, in collaboration with the President, and as a member of the Executive Committee, oversee various administrative functions of the Board, such as budgets and personnel, the strategic plan, and the review of legislation. He will also provide recommendations to the full Board and, in conjunction with the President, act for the Board in emergency circumstances when the full Board cannot be convened. Read the full article here. Important Headlines Los Angeles County COVID 19 Numbers are staggering: More than half a million cases, nearly 8,000 deaths. Britain's pragmatic RECOVERY trial finds no benefit from azithromycin in hospitalized COVID patients. The feds are buying up another 100 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, doubling the initial order, but Pfizer has yet to accept a similar request. Genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients identified five genes that influence disease severity and could be targeted with drugs such as JAK inhibitor baricitinib (Olumiant). Baricitinib plus remdesivir (Veklury) cut recovery time by 1 day versus remdesivir alone in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly those on high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation, in the ACTT-2 trial. The combo won emergency use authorization in November based on the then-unpublished data. Above-average death rates in 2020 aren't only from COVID -- diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, and pneumonia also contributed. Governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that California has tripled the number of doses it expects to receive this month. California’s first doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be arriving this month, with the state expecting 999,000 doses, including the 327,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine previously announced and 672,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended that the agency approve the Pfizer vaccine prior to the vaccine being shipped, the FDA must still approve the vaccine and the Scientific Safety Review Taskforce formed by California completed its review. 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 “Inclusive leadership is not a destination. It's a journey that requires humility, curiosity and courage." Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association “If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”