Don't miss your chance to claim your share of the $135 million WellPoint (Blue Cross of California) settlement. Physicians and medical group administrators should take seven steps to maximize their recovery.

At October's Riverside County Medical Association General Membership Meeting, guest speaker Det. Brian Money from the Riverside Police Department spoke on identity theft and white-collar crime in the physician's office.

There is no single solution to the problem of health insurance affordability. However, there is one strategy that makes sense for physicians to consider for themselves first and their employees later. That strategy utilizes Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and qualified high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).

In search of new ways to earn continuing medical education credits? Turn to your malpractice insurance carrier. A partner of the Riverside County Medical Association, NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co. mailed its 2006 CME Course Catalog to policyholders a few months ago. The catalog contains its current CME curriculum for physicians and allied healthcare practitioners.

Kaiser Permanente continues to see the value of its physicians participating in organized medicine. In addition to 88 long-term members from Riverside Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, 22 new members are joining their colleagues by becoming members of the Riverside County Medical Association/California Medical Association.

I was invited to be a guest at the 2006 FREDDIE Awards in New York. This was the 32nd Annual FREDDIE Awards, a celebration of the best in health and medical media production. The host was Susan Lucci, Emmy Award-winning actress, Broadway star and philanthropist.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the Riverside County Medical Association's request to implement SB 1773 in Riverside County effective Jan. 1, 2007. SB 1773 allows a county to levy additional penalties under the Emergency Medical Services Fund, also known as the Maddy Fund.

Physicians are facing increased scrutiny from the federal government, state regulatory boards and third-party payers on issues of administrative fraud and abuse. Most professional liability policies provide some level of defense coverage.