Monday Rx | April 1, 2019 | CVS' Decision to Sell CBD Oil May Increase Trend April 2, 2019 Tag 1001 The Spike in CBDs Excited to share news about one of our members and former leaders, Dr. Pedram Salimpour. Dr. Salimpour was on KTTV Fox News recently talking about CBD and CVS' decision to sell CBD products at their stores across the country. With CBDs (Cannabidiol) suddenly inundating the US healthcare marketplace, physicians and the public alike are facing questions of efficacy and appropriate use for this unregulated substance. CBD oil is being touted as treatment for pain, anxiety, insomnia, Epilepsy, cancer and heart disease. Dr. Salimpour is trying to educate the public, providers and oversight organizations about misleading packaging, potentially harmful ingredients and the lack of clinical precision. Physicians for a Healthy California Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is dedicated to improving community health, growing a diverse physician workforce and promoting health equity. CalHealthCares, one of the exciting programs led by PHC is committed to increasing providers accepting Medi-Cal patients by supporting and incentivizing physicians and dentists to increase participation in the Medi-Cal program. The goal is to increase access to care by Medi-Cal beneficiaries. That said, the 2018 Budget Act appropriates $220 million from Proposition 56 to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Senate Bill 849 (Chapter 47, Statutes of 2018) established the Proposition 56 Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Act Program (LRP). DHCS has contracted with PHC to administer the loan repayment program. Eligible physicians may apply for a loan repayment up to $300,000 in exchange for a five-year service obligation. Eligible dentists may apply for either a loan repayment up to $300,000 in exchange for a five-year services obligation or a practice support grant up to $300,000 in exchange for a ten-year service obligation. All awardees are required to maintain a patient caseload of 30 percent or more Medi-Cal beneficiaries. There is $220M available for loan repayments! To learn more visit: https://www.phcdocs.org/Programs/CalHealthCares Helping Patients Gain Access to Care Another LACMA member, Dr. Farshid Sam Rahbar, MD, FACP, ABIHM, has launched a non-profit to help patients afford lab and diagnostics in the chronic illness setting. Visit Dr. Rahbar's website to get more information about the non-profit. Dr. Rahbar is also speaking at the upcoming SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) conference April 12 - 14th, 2019 in Seattle, WA. Click hereto learn more. 2019 LACMA Elections The Los Angeles County Medical Association is holding its 148th Annual Election this coming June. Active members of LACMA and CMA have the privilege of nominating and voting for their preferred candidates for any vacant position. Call for Nominations This is an exciting time of year as members who are interested in holding a leadership position or who would like to become more involved in shaping healthcare policy at the local and state level should review current vacancies and submit nominations for themselves or other members to Lisa Le. Members are also invited to attend the Annual Spring General Meeting. This meeting is the last chance for members to make nominations for the 2019 Election. Can't attend? Members may be nominated for any elective office by petition signed by at least five (5) members eligible to vote and sent to the LACMA offices prior to the start of the General Meeting. WHEN: Thursday, April 4, 2019 Dinner: 6:00pm, Meeting: 6:30pm-7:00pm WHERE: LACMA Headquarters 1055 West 7th Street, Suite 2290 Los Angeles, CA 90017 RSVP: 213-226-0304 At the end of May, members can expect to receive a voting ballot via email. Please be sure to keep an eye out for your ballot and submit your vote! The Present and Future of ACA A federal judge, last Thursday, rejected the Trump administration's attempts to expand access to association health plan rules. U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington said the administration's final rule allowing associations and employers to band together to create AHPs goes beyond its authority under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Under the Department of Labor's final rule, employers can form associations solely for the purpose of creating these health plans, which don't have to follow many Affordable Care Act market rules. Insurance experts warned they would siphon younger and healthier groups and individuals out of the ACA-regulated market, driving up rates. 2019 LACMA Membership Survey A significant percentage of respondents to our recent survey said they are not fully aware of the 20+ benefits available to them through membership. We'd love to hear back from more of you. If you have yet to fill out the survey, please do so to help us improve the member experience. Complete the survey and be entered to win one of four $100 Target gift cards! Once you've completed the survey, please email Chinaza Osisioma with your name and phone number to enter the drawing. Drawing will be held no later than April 12th, 2019. Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association "If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me." EVENTS AND COMMUNITY Discussions on the Suicide Epidemic While the media and our field is focused on the Suicide Epidemic, there is a lesser discussed epidemic occurring involving physician suicide. It is estimated from various sources that hundreds of physicians die by suicide annually. Join as an amazing panel of doctors discuss this public health epidemic and its impact on the healthcare industry. SUICIDE - PERSPECTIVES ON A CONTEMPORARY CRISIS WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 8:30a - 12:45p WHERE: Cedars Sinai Harvey Morse Auditorium 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 Click herefor full details. Untreated mental health conditions are one of the largest causes of suicide among physicians and patients. Join as a panel of doctors discusses what every physician needs to know in order to assist a colleague, themselves and a patient.