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HEALTH ADVISORY: Monkeypox Update Regarding Testing, Isolation, Treatment, and Vaccination

Situational Update The monkeypox virus (MPX) epidemic continues to impact residents of Santa Clara County As of August 23, there are over 41,000 cases in 95 countries reported globally, 15,433 cases reported in the US, and 2663 cases reported in California. The County of Santa Clara has identified 117 cases among its residents. As seen throughout California and the US, County of Santa Clara cases continue to predominantly occur among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and among transgender individuals, spreading through either sexual contact or other intimate skin-on-skin contact. ...

Creating a Roadmap for the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plays an important role in protecting the health and safety of all Americans as they journey through the health care system. This is especially true during a pandemic, natural disaster, or other emergencies. Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), CMS has used a combination of emergency authority waivers, regulations, enforcement discretion, and sub-regulatory guidance to ensure access to care and give health care providers the flexibilities needed to respond to COVID-19 and help keep people safer. Many of these waivers and ...

Legislature passes CMA bill to protect patients and the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship

August 23, 2022 The California Legislature unanimously passed an important California Medical Association (CMA) sponsored bill (AB 1636) that will ensure physicians who have committed sexual misconduct with a patient or client are prohibited from acquiring or reinstating their license. The bill—authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D., (D-La Mesa) and co-authored by Assemblymember Al Murasuchi (D-Torrance) and Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger)—will protect patients from criminal sexual misconduct and ensure that any physician who so violates a patient’s trust cannot be licensed in California. “This important measure will ensure the Medical Board of California has ...

SCCMA Endorses Valley Water's Purified Water Project

Santa Clara County and all of California are enduring another historical drought. Climate change means hotter and drier weather, leaving us with less water. That’s why it’s important to invest in new technologies to help ensure there’s enough water for us now and into the future. Valley Water is expanding its ability to replenish the county’s groundwater with a drought-resilient, and locally controlled water source through the Purified Water Project. Following a series of presentations and discussions with representatives from Valley Water, the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) endorsed the Purified Water ...

Health Care System Resiliency: Preparing the Health Care System for Operation After the Public Health Emergency

Preparing the Health Care System for Operation After the Public Health Emergency: Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra extended the existing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) through October 15, 2022 – and has committed to providing states, health care providers and other stakeholders a 60-day notice before ending the PHE.  At the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS used emergency waiver authorities and various regulatory authorities to enable flexibilities so providers could rapidly respond to people impacted by COVID-19. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ...