Monday Rx: Giving Thanks, Practice Makeover, Provider Relief Fund, LACMA Alliance and Insurance For Your Practice November 22, 2021 California, California Medical Association, Cooperative of American Physicians, COVID-19, L.A. County, Malpractice, Medical Practice Makeover, Provider Relief Fund, Telemedicine, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Universal Coverage, Virtual Grand Rounds 944 Day of Thanks Former President John F. Kennedy once said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” A day to give thanks is upon us. A year removed from a time when we could not gather with family and friends. On behalf of the staff, our leadership, and members county-wide, “thanks” to our members for “giving” us your loyalty and commitment this past year. We hope you have a healthy, joyful holiday and please know that LACMA is here for you, yes, even during the holidays if you have needs. And, as COVID-19 cases continue to plague our communities, 1,054 cases, more than 570 hospitalizations and eleven deaths in the past 24 hours alone, we will continue to support providers who care for their patients each day. Practice Makeover Campaign The Medical Practice Makeover Initiative kicked off last week! We are giving away $5,000 grants and free practice assessments to qualified practices. To apply click here. Provider Relief Fund Extended Physicians who received more than $10,000 in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments between April 10 and June 30, 2020, were granted an extra 60-days to complete the post-payment reporting process. The 60-day grace period for the PRF Reporting Period 1 ends November 30, 2021. Providers who fail to meet this reporting deadline will be required to return their PRF payments by December 30, 2021, and will be subject to further enforcement actions such as exclusion from future PRF payments. PRF recipients attested to Terms and Conditions that include a requirement to report for each “payment received period” in which they received one or more payments exceeding, in the aggregate, $10,000 (rather than $10,000 cumulatively across all PRF payments). Although the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) deadline to report on payments received between April 10 and June 30, 2020, was officially September 30, 2021, HHS announced that it would not seek recoupment or initiate enforcement actions for noncompliance until November 30, 2021. This 60-day grace period was established due to challenges physicians and other health care entities are seeing as a result of both COVID-19 surges and natural disasters being experienced from coast to coast. Physician practices that received $10,000 or less in payments during the April 10 - June 30, 2020, timeframe do not have to report on their use of these relief funds. Next Steps To report on the use of funds or return all or any portion of your payment, visit the PRF Reporting Portal. If you have questions about the process, please contact the PRF Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. LAMCA Alliance News Learn more about the latest with our LAMCA Alliance community. From showcasing their vaccination project grant at our 150th Member Appreciation event, updates on L.A. County medical families, becoming an active planning committee member, awards and upcoming events. View the LACMA Alliance Newsletter here. Guaranteed Life and Disability Insurance When You Join CAP Did you know medical liability coverage from the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) not only provides the best protection from malpractice lawsuits but also provides immediate eligibility for new members to purchase $10,000 per month of disability insurance and up to $500,000 of life insurance – all guaranteed with no health exam required and at favorable rates? Plus you automatically receive additional coverages, such as cyber risk liability insurance, employment practices and administrative defense insurance, and more, all at no additional cost to you! Take advantage of significant savings on your medical malpractice coverage, which includes telemedicine coverage and free tail coverage at retirement, and get the protection you need for your practice and your well-being. Request Your Quote Other no-cost benefits and services include: Group purchasing program One-on-one practice management consulting Human resources support Customized risk management resources and consultations As a leading provider of superior medical malpractice coverage in California for more than 40 years, CAP remains committed to providing physicians with secure and affordable protection and relevant practice and risk management resources to help you run a safe and successful practice. To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.com. Expanding Coverage in California LACMA president-elect Dr. Omer Deen and board member Dr. Hector Flores will host CMA CEO Dustin Corcoran on Monday, December 13th at 6 PM, as he shares the latest on universal coverage, recent and future legislative solutions, and CMA’s recommendations. Date: December 13, 2021 Time: 6:00 PM Questions? Email Lisa Le Register Here Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 and the Holidays Join CMA's Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 and the Holidays - Where Do We Stand? and Updates on Testing and Outpatient Treatment on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. PT to 1:30 p.m. PT As we navigate this year’s holiday season, the choices before us feel very different than those in 2020. More people are traveling and choosing to gather with family and friends to celebrate, and still, many of us are moving forward with trepidation. As we make our own decisions and counsel our patients about whether to travel and gather, it is essential to have a full understanding of the local COVID-19 conditions including vaccination rates, confirmed cases, etc. Coupled with the importance of this information is understanding testing information: when to test, which test to use and how to interpret the results. In this Virtual Grand Rounds, we will get an update from Erica Pan, M.D. on the status of COVID-19 in California. We will also hear from other experts on the role of testing at this phase of the pandemic, how the US differs from many countries in the availability and cost of rapid tests, and how investment from the federal government may improve our ability to test rapidly and frequently. Featured Topics: State of COVID-19 in California; Erica Pan, M.D., MPH, California State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health, Center of Infectious Diseases Testing and COVID-19 Injectable Monoclonal Antibodies: New Options for the Outpatient Setting Date: December 7, 2021 Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM PST Register Here #MondayMotivation "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association “If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”