Remember these seven tips on integrating practice management systems and EMRs.

Fascinating, Fun and Feel-Good Stuff From Life in Medicine

Alberto Odio, MD * Bernard Bail, MD * Frederick Axelrod, MD

Locking horns once again with Blue Cross of California, the California Medical Association, along with other incensed players, scored a mid-February victory by pressuring the health plan to stop sending letters to its doctors seeking their help in rescinding patient coverage. In a Feb. 8 letter to the California Department of Managed Health Care, the CMA asked the agency to order Blue Cross to cease and desist from requesting physicians to reveal certain patient data, and to order the company to tell physicians to ignore previous requests.

It seems that everywhere I go these days, doctors and students alike are constantly asking me about the proposed medical school at University of California, Riverside. "When will it be open? How big will the class size be? Will there be a new university hospital?" These and other questions are on the minds of many members of the health care community, both within the Inland Empire and throughout California.

Homelessness in America is a major public health concern that demands the attention of the healthcare community.

Prices are high, interest rates are low and doctors are doubling up in rentals. In a hectic medical real estate market, the right approach can still work out in the end.

Although Governor Schwarzenegger's healthcare proposal failed to pass the state legislature, both the CMA and LACMA are on record in support of some form of healthcare reform. As physicians, we are painfully aware of the control that insurance companies exercise over the care we provide for our patients. We find ourselves frequently at odds over requirements for prior authorization for medications, procedures, imaging studies and even necessary laboratory tests with insurance company medical directors who may not be aware of the latest advances in a given specialty.

California Assemblyman Curren Price came out to the Los Angeles County Medical Association for a Jan. 21 reception that introduced him to politically active doctors and some of their concerns. Price, whose district includes Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale, and Compton, is considered to be an ally to doctors on many medical issues, including defense of the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act.

The Los Angeles County Medical Association co-sponsored a mock trial put on by the USC Keck School of Medicine and the USC Gould School of Law as part of a curriculum intended to impress upon medical students the importance and application of ethics and the law in medical practice.

I ended an article in last month's issue of Southern California Physician on an ominous note: seeking a requiem for my chosen specialty of Family Practice. Over the past few months, however, I have started to sense a new reality. It starts from analyzing successes in reducing the risk associated with heart attacks and improvements in aviation safety.

A group of 32 organizations have met biannually since 2002 to assemble the best possible resources for providing culturally diverse health care, find solutions to the challenges of providing and funding interpreter and translation services, and more.

The OCMA Legislative Committee, chaired by William E. Callahan, Jr., MD, met on the morning of January 30, 2008 to interview candidates for Assembly Districts 71 and 73. After listening to the responses of each candidate, the committee voted to recommend to CALPAC that it support Neil Blais for the District 71 Assembly seat and Diane Harkey for the District 73 Assembly seat.

Neil Blais -- Neil Blais is a Republican candidate for the 71st Assembly District. He serves as president and CEO of Blais & Associates, a professional grant management firm. Prior to joining Blais & Associates, Mr. Blais was the general manager of state and local government operations for ABS Consulting (formerly EQE International), an international engineering firm. In this role, Mr. Blais led a team of professionals helping fed_eral, state, and local government in all aspects of emergency management. Mr. Blais began his career in the aerospace industry.

On the political front, on January 1, 2000, a member of the incorporation team, Mr. Blais was elected to the first city council of Rancho Santa Margarita. In 2004, Mr. Blais served as Mayor. His accomplishments as councilman and mayor included creating a non-profit foundation to aid the city in obtaining funding for the construction of a community center. Mr. Blais also created an Economic Development Committee to ensure that the city was responsive to the needs of the business community.

Since 2004, Mr. Blais has served on the Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors. He also serves on the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, where he is working to ensure the completion of the 241 South.

If elected to the state Assembly, Neil Blais will request to serve on the Health Committee where he has committed to work with doctors to protect MICRA and soften anti-trust laws to give doctors more power to negotiate contracts and improve reimbursement.

Diane Harkey -- Diane Harkey is a council member and former mayor of Dana Point and is a Republican candidate for the 73rd Assembly District. Ms. Harkey, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, has enjoyed a successful career spanning 30 years in banking and corporate finance. She has been actively involved with political issues throughout most of her adult life.

As a member of the Dana Point City Council, Ms. Harkey has worked to implement a balanced budget and a reserve policy for the city. She has championed efforts to reform government by promoting business development, encouraging regional cooperation and joint-use options to save taxpayer dollars, increasing citizen involvement by promoting new candidates for political office, and working towards commonsense solutions to growth and development.

Ms. Harkey also serves on many boards and commissions including the League of California Cities, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency, Orange County Council of Governments and the Investment Review Committee.

Diane Harkey is running unopposed in the race. She supports MICRA, increased competition for insurers, increasing access to care, and fair payment to doctors.
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Sidebar: OCMA Legislative Committee Meets

The OCMA Legislative Committee will meet on Monday,
March 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the OCMA offices. Diane Harkey, candidate for the 73rd Assembly District seat, and Neil Blais, candidate for the 71st Assembly District seat, have been invited to attend. This meeting is open to the OCMA membership. Please RSVP to Linda Johansen by calling (714) 978-1160 x203 or by e-mailing her at ljohansen@ocma.org.

As this year begins, I am struck by the wit, wisdom, and courage of previous RCMA presidents as they faced the diverse problems of their time.

On Friday, January 25, 2008 the Riverside County Medical Association met to install its 114th President, Del Henninger, MD, the first RCMA president from Murietta. In turning the gavel over to Dr. Henninger, outgoing president S. Ava Mahapatra, MD presented him with proclamations from elected officials from the surrounding area congratulating him on his election as RCMA President.

In observing the presidential candidates during their campaigns, you could conclude that a "me" focus has again emerged. Of course the candidates state they are seeking office to give the American people a new life, a better economic climate, a change for the future, and a secure environment for our children.

On Jan. 28, 2008, the San Bernardino County Medical Society board approved the following report from the Nominating Committee, dated Jan. 16, 2008. Please review the slate of officers.

On Friday, Jan. 11, Corporal Bryan Lane called for volunteers of the San Bernardino County Medical Reserve Corp to help with the search for a missing hiker.

Thirty-six Medical Reserve Corps volunteers attended the Mock Activation and Tabletop Drill training at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department headquarters in San Bernardino on January 8.

Zagat is going to the doctor this year. The 30-year-old Zagat Survey guide has signed up with Blue Cross of California to rate physicians.