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SSV Medical Society News

SSVMS Medical Society News is a monthly e-bulletin from the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS) containing up-to-date information and breaking news on issues impacting physicians practicing in El Dorado, Sacramento and Yolo counties. To receive your free subscription, contact SSVMS at (916) 452-2671 or info@ssvms.org.

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SSV Medical Society News - 2020 - Volume 9 - Issue 01

 
 
 
MEDICAL SOCIETY 
NEWS
Volume 9, Issue 1
January, 2020
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.
Welcome Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society's
New President John Wiesenfarth, MD!
Dear Physicians,
 
Congress concluded its 2019 legislative session with a large package of bills that include important public health improvements and an extension of expiring health care programs.  Notably, CMA, SSVMS and organized medicine were able to stop the CMA-opposed Senate HELP/House Energy Commerce Committee proposal on surprise medical billing. Instead, we advocated for surprise billing legislation that would protect patients from surprise bills but establish a fair process for physicians and insurers to resolve billing disputes with reasonable payment rates to protect long-term access to doctors.  
 
In the final weeks of the session, CMA, AMA, SSVMS and the national specialties successfully fought-off proposals that would have imposed more than 20% payment cuts on non-contracting, as well as contracting physicians, and negatively impacted access to in-network physicians, and on-call physicians specialists caring for patients in emergencies.   
 
SSVMS would like to thank physicians across the Sacramento region for your work to support access and for advocating for a balanced solution to surprise billing.  There is more work to be done as Congressional leaders have set a May 22, 2020 deadline to address surprise billing.  CMA and SSVMS will continue to aggressively advocate for a balanced solution.
 
I'm looking forward to serving as your SSVMS President this year. If there is anything the Medical Society or I can do for you, please reach out!
 
John Wiesenfarth, MD
President, Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society
SSVMS Honors Medicine
SSVMS/CMA Events 

"Gratitude & Money!" with Dr. Robert Emmons, PhD. Sponsored by SAFE Credit Union 
Thursday, January 23, 2020, 6:30pm, Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, More Information/Register

CMA Webinar - No Cost: CMS Medicare Updates for 2020
Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 12:15pm, More Information/Register

Ameriprise Financial Tax Seminar with Crumley & Associates
Thursday, February 13, 2020, SAVE-THE-DATE, Davis, CA

SSVMS Honors Medicine Dinner and Awards
Saturday, February 29, 2020, 6:00pm, Elks Tower, Sacramento, CA,

Medical Marijuana CME Dinner Presentation - Cooperative of American Physicians 
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, SAVE-THE-DATE, Sacramento, CA

Art of Medicine Annual Dinner & Auction - SSVMS Alliance
Saturday, April 18, 2020, 5:30pm, Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, CA, More Information/Register 

Dear Physicians,

Take care of you in the new year! SSVMS cares about your health and well-being. We encourage you to take advantage of the many benefits available to members.

Resiliency Consultations: Recognizing the crushing stress and work load that physicians face today, SSVMS sponsors up to six (6) lifetime sessions, at no cost to physicians, with vetted psychologists and life coaches to physicians living and working in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer Counties. More information.
 
"I found the therapist to be experienced with the concerns of a professional. She has provided me with a lot of strategies to facilitate bouncing back from the stressors of work and life. I LOVE it!  It is contributing to a refreshed attitude toward my career!"
-  Sacramento Area Emergency Medicine Physician Testimonial
Psychiatric Self-Referral: Joy of Medicine has partnered with UC Davis Health's Department of Psychiatry to provide direct access for physicians in need of a psychiatric evaluation, referral, or medication management. To access psychiatric services, call UC Davis Department of Psychiatry Practice Manager, Angel Hanson, at (916) 734-3917. Identify yourself as a physician accessing the Joy of Medicine Program. More information.
Physician Meetups: Joy of Medicine is providing Sacramento area physicians with the opportunity to meet monthly with a group of colleagues that understand and identify with what it means to be a physician. Peer groups are held in a local physician's home and are facilitated by a vetted life coach or psychologist. RSVPs are required to participate. Please contact Sam Mello at smello@ssvms.org to join a group! More information.
 
MEMBERS ONLY: One-year Subscription to Headspace Meditation App: 
Headspace is meditation made simple and will teach you the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in just a few minutes a day. Headspace has bite-sized meditations for busy schedules, SOS exercises for tough situations and hundreds of guided meditations on everything from sports, to kids and parenting, or sleep.Members should contact Sam Mello at smello@ssvms.org to get their Headspace Registration Code.
 
Not a member? Join today!
Aileen Wetzel
CEO, Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society
In The News
 
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Public Health 
Medical Officer III
 
The DHCS Integrated Systems of Care Division is seeking individuals who have experience with the following:
 
» Developing, implementing, and maintaining medical policies;
 
» Providing medical expertise and technical assistance to clinical personnel and medical providers;
 
» Serving as a medical consultant to non-clinical personnel and program subject-matter experts;
 
» Home and Community-Based Services programs;
 
» Planning, designing, and executing projects with a clinical focus.
If you are interested in this opportunity or would like additional details, please go to our CalCareers job posting, or contact: susy.castro@dhcs.cs.gov




The 2020 application cycle for the CalHealthCares loan repayment program is approaching! CalHealthCares will award $340 million in loan repayments to recently graduated physicians and dentists over the next five years to encourage and incentivize providers to provide care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. More Information.
 
Other Events
 
MIND Institute Autism Center of Excellence - Tele ECHO Online Sessions
Every Second Thursday of the Month, 12:00pm-1:30pm, More Information
 
Winter Solstice Wine Tasting & Auction to Benefit Student Run Clinics
Saturday, January 11, 2020, 5:30pm, Davis, CA, More Information
 
SAFE Credit Union Reality Fair
Sunday, February 23, 2020, SAFE Credit Union HQ, Folsom, CA, More Information/Register
69th Annual Yosemite Postgraduate Institute
Friday, February 28 - Sunday, March 1, 2020, Yosemite Valley, CA, More Information/Register
 
V-DAY 2020: CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - More Information
 
Train New Trainers Clinician Health and Well-being Fellowship
Saturday, April 18 - Wednesday, September 30, 2020, UC Davis Teleconferenced Course, More Information/Register
Vetted Vendor Highlight
Mela Fratarcangeli with Intero Real Estate
 
Throughout Mela's 15 years of experience as a Real Estate Broker, she has developed a reputation for having exceptional local knowledge, a high level of service, superior results and utmost integrity. Mela is consistently ranked in the top 5% of all real estate agents in the Sacramento Valley serving the buyers and sellers at all levels in Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Auburn, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills and Folsom.
 
Additionally, Mela will make a donation to the Joy of Medicine Program for each home purchased or sold for physician members.
To access this resource, email info@ssvms.org or call (916) 452-2671.
 
 
Read the January/February issue of the
Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine (SSV Medicine)
Contribute to SSV Medicine Magazine!
SSV Medicine is in search of talented physician photographers, artists, poets and writers for magazine features. If you would like to submit your artwork for review, please email Lindsay Coate at lcoate@ssvms.org.
 
Medical Society News Sponsored By:
 
 
Request Your Free Copy of The Incident: A Physician's Guide to Navigating Adverse Outcomes, Claims, and Lawsuits
 
An adverse patient outcome can happen to any physician at any time, no matter how diligent or skilled. All physicians should have a plan for handling unexpected patient outcomes to help reduce the chances that more serious allegations can occur.
 
With the support and expertise of its risk management, claims, and legal teams, the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc., (CAP) created The Incident: A Physician's Guide to Navigating Adverse Outcomes, Claims, and Lawsuits to help physicians understand how to reduce the likelihood of legal action following an adverse event and know what to expect should a claim or lawsuit occur.
 
The Incident will help physicians:
 
*             Recognize when an adverse event occurs
*             Mitigate a negative situation before a malpractice claim is made
*             Understand how to handle a claim
*             Know what to expect if a claim turns into a lawsuit
*             Cope with the stress associated with a claim or lawsuit
 
You are not alone if and when you experience an unexpected patient outcome.
 
Learn more about how CAP can support your practice by requesting your free copy of The Incident: A Physician's Guide to Navigating Adverse Outcomes, Claims, and Lawsuits Here.
#SSVMSCares  | #PhysiciansTakingtheLead |  #SPIRITHeals