Medical Society News

September 2021

Greetings!

Thank you to the nearly 700 physicians who signed on to SSVMS’s physician letter to the community to get vaccinated. See the Sacramento Bee article here. Don’t see your name listed? Email Brandon J. Craig at bcraig@ssvms.org to sign on today. Help us amplify the message by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To view the full letter and list of signed physicians, please click here (or here for Spanish).   Carol Burch, MD - SSVMS President

Click here to see the full letter with the list of physicians signed on.

Contact your Congressional Representative today to ask them to Stop Pending Medicare Cuts for Physicians

On January 1, 2022, physician practices face Medicare cuts on multiple fronts that amount to a combined 9.75% cut. This would directly impact Medicare patients’ ability to access care. And all of this comes at a time when physician practices are still recovering from the emotional and financial impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Reps. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) recently circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter highlighting the financial uncertainty within the Medicare payment system and the dangers these cuts could have on physicians’ ability to provide quality care for their patients if Congress fails to enact legislation to address these problems. You can help by contacting your representative and asking them to sign-on NOW!

Report Vaccine Adverse Event with HHS Reporting System

Healthcare providers are required to report adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS. Learn more about the system and requirements at the HHS VAERS FAQ page.

CalMedForce Graduate Medical Education Grant (GME)

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is now accepting applications for the fourth cycle of the graduate medical education (GME) grant program, CalMedForce.   CalMedForce dedicates voter-approved, state tobacco tax revenues from Proposition 56 (2016) to train physicians and help California address its growing physician shortage. Each year, the program awards approximately $38 million to primary care and emergency medicine residency programs across California. All eligible residency programs are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to programs in medically-underserved communities.    Applications are due by September 17, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Click here for more information and to apply for funding.

SSVMS Events

Physician Peer Groups September - November

Peer Groups are a great way to connect with your fellow physicians. Small groups of physicians meet to discuss the challenges and successes of being a physician. Join our new 4-Part Virtual Wellness Series (open to no more than 20 physicians). Hosted by Dr. Jerry Huang and facilitated by Steve Seay and Angela Trapp.

SSVMS Physician Walking and Wellness Challenge Wed, Sept 1 - Thur, Sept 30   The Physician Walking and Wellness Challenge started September first. It's not too late to join! Physician staff and medical students are more than welcome to join! Register today in a team of colleagues or workout solo and reach the leaderboard. Let’s get moving!

Virtual Event: Paint and Sip Wed, Sept 15 6:00-8:00 PM   For a nominal fee, create your masterpiece with a two-hour, guided paint session with an instructor from The Painted Cork Sacramento. Your take-home kit has all the supplies you need, including a bottle of wine! Register by September 10.   *Physicians are welcome to purchase a ticket for one guest.

Joy of Medicine Summit Sat, Sept 25 8:30pm-12:00pm   Connect with colleagues, receive 3 CMEs (pending) and earn a $25 gift card (for the first 100 participants) by attending our virtual 2021 Joy of Medicine Summit. See the full list of speakers here.

SSVMS and Alliance Blood Drive Wed, Oct 27, | 9:30am-1:30pm Hosted at the SSVMS 5380 Elvas, Sacramento, CA 95819

CMA Events

Virtual Grand Rounds: The Nocturnists and Variants vs Vaccines Update  Tue, Sep 14 | 12:00pm-1:30pm

Webinar: ACEs Online Wellness Engagement Groups - Tue Series Tue, Sep 7 | 7:00pm-8:00pm

Webinar: Telehealth and COVID-19 Vaccine Administration: What Physician Practices Need to Know to Avoid Billing Challenges Thu, Sep 23 | 12:15pm-1:15pm

Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations 18th Annual Summit Enduring a Pandemic: How Diverse Clinical Settings Adapted and Succeed Fri, Oct 8 | 10:00am-4:30pm

See all upcoming CMA events here >>

Other Events

Virtual Grand Rounds | Sutter Health

Updates and Advances in Female Overactive Bladder Management Wed, Sep 8| 12:00pm Presented by Kristen K. Buono, M.D., FACOG Optimizing Sepsis Care in 2021 Wed, Sep 15| 12:00pm Presented by Sean Townsend, M.D. Options for the Failing Heart: Biologic (Transplant) vs Mechanical (LVAD) Wed, Sep 22| 12:00pm Presented by Brett C. Sheridan, M.D., FACS

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Webinar: Learn how to maximize your workplace retirement benefits in your overall retirement plan Wed, Sep 15| 12:00pm Microsoft Teams meeting Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join the meeting Please RSVP by September 14 for you and your guest/s. Call 916-638-4600 or email pauline.cole@ampf.com to RSVP.

ONC Information Blocking Webinar Fri, Oct 8| 10:00am-11:00am

Neurology Update 2021 for the Primary Care Provider Fri, Oct 22| 10:00am-11:00am CME: Maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits

CDPH Webinar: Harm Reduction in the Continuum of Care for People Who Use Drugs Sat, Oct 23| 1:00pm-2:00pm

The Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP): The Ins and Outs of Managing Patient Complaints Asynchronous recording

SSVMS Campaigns and Programs

Make A Plan with Honoring Wishes

Invite Honoring Wishes to Your Practice

SSVMS invites all physicians and office staff to communicate your end-of-life-care wishes by completing an advance directive.   Through our Honoring Wishes program, we will Provide you with your advance directive documents at no cost. Offer the Honoring Wishes Addendum, an exercise to help your loved ones understand you and your perspective on these decisions. Provide you with a $5 Starbucks gift card (for 50-minute, in-person appointments). Enter you in a drawing for a $50 VISA gift card.   That’s as much as a $65 value simply for giving your loved ones some peace of mind if tragedy strikes.   Contact Marlee Turner at mturner@ssvms.org to bring Honoring Wishes to your practice!

COVID-19 Vaccine Buttons and FAQ Cards

SSVMS's "Got My Vaccine!" buttons promote vaccination and our digital FAQ cards include facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. Our FAQ cards are available at ssvms.org in English, Spanish, Russian, Hmong, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The buttons have a barcode on the back that gives immediate access to the FAQ cards. Button supply is limited and available only to SSVMS members.   SSVMS members, to order your free buttons, email Brandon J. Craig at bcraig@ssvms.org.

Social Media Corner

How Do You Find Joy? #JoyMonth   September is Joy Month! SSVMS celebrates our physicians with events and our annual Joy of Medicine Summit! How do you find joy? Send us a selfie or 5-second clip showing us and we will feature them on our pages! Send your photos to SSVMS at mturner@ssvms.org.   #JoyMonth #JoyofMedicine ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Dr. Christie Carroll tells us how she finds joy in her day.

In the News

Hundreds of doctors issue plea to 4-county Sacramento region: Please get COVID-19 vaccine Trouble getting reimbursed for vaccine administration? Contact CMA for help Lend voice to shape new nurse practitioner regulations CMS issues new Comparative Billing Reports on impact of the PHE on telehealth Looming threats to Medicare could affect patient access to care California seeing increasing number of off-season RSV infections CMA pushes for ACA changes, telehealth parity and more on Federal budget bill Inappropriate mask exemptions may subject physicians to discipline HHS recommends 3rd dose of COVID vaccine for all Americans Virtual or in-person health policy conference: State of Reform Los Angeles Sep 23 DHCS announces Jan. 1, 2022, implementation date for Medi-Cal Rx California health care workers must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30

Guide to Running an Independent Medical Practice   The Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) created One Step Ahead: An Essential Guide for Running a Successful Independent Medical Practice to help you stay ahead of issues:   ▪ Human Resources Compliance in the Age of COVID-19 ▪ The Patient Experience and Your Bottom Line ▪ Managing the Billing Office ▪ Consent and Privacy in a Virtual World ▪ Standards for Proper Documentation   Download Your Free Guide

Joy of Medicine Corner

Joy of Medicine Wellness Checkup   SSVMS encourages physicians to schedule a free resiliency consultation with one of our Joy of Medicine psychologists or life coaches. Every physician in the Sacramento region is eligible for up to six sponsored sessions with a provider of your choice.   Learn More>>

Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine

Read the September/October Issue of Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine

Partners in Medicine

Please consider SSVMS's Partners in Medicine when in need of services. We look forward to continuing our important relationships with each of these Partners.

Diamond Level Cooperative of American Physicians NORCAL Group  Vitalant

Gold Level Ameriprise – Crumley & Associates UC Davis Health 

Silver Level Maloof Law Group First Citizens

Bronze Level Jamie Baker & Company Executech

Medical Society News Sponsored By:

The Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society is dedicated to bringing together physicians from all modes of practice to promote the art and science of quality medical care and to enhance the physical and mental health of our entire community.

#JoyMonth| #JoyofMedicine | #SPIRITHeals