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 ... August 30, 2022 CMS, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
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 ... August 30, 2022 Advocacy, CMA AB 1636 0 0 Comment Read More »
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 ... August 29, 2022 General, Public Health Drought, Purified Water, Valley Water, Water 0 0 Comment Read More »
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 ... August 23, 2022 CMS, COVID19, Public Health Resiliency 0 0 Comment Read More »
County of Santa Clara Now Vaccinating against Monkeypox (MPX) Up to Five Times More People at Highest Risk The County of Santa Clara is expanding access to vaccination for people at highest risk of contracting monkeypox (MPX) by administering the Jynneos vaccine using an authorized technique that stretches vaccine supply. This comes at a time when vaccine supply still falls far short of the need. Previously, a single vial of vaccine could serve only one person; that vial can now serve as many as five people. A change announced by the federal government last week allows the County to stretch its remaining supply to vaccinate hundreds of eligible ... August 18, 2022 Public Health Monkeypox, MPX, Vaccine 0 0 Comment Read More »
