NEWSLETTER
Volume 3, Issue 1 - January 6, 2023
Governor Newsom Sworn In For Second Term
The date of Governor Newsom's swearing in for a second term wasn't chosen by accident - the Governor picked January 6 to contrast his swearing in with the events at the United States Capitol two years ago to the day. You may view the Governor's full remarks from the ceremony here, and you may watch the ceremony here.
It Was a Busy Day....
Not only was Governor Newsom sworn into office today - so were several other constitutional officers. Sacramento was full of dignitaries from around the State.  Seizing the opportunity, Senator Eggman met with the mayors of San Jose, San Diego, and San Francisco to further discuss her upcoming 2023 bill package, which CSAP and the Big City Mayors (mayors from California's largest thirteen cities) will co-sponsor. SYASL's Paul Yoder helped engineer this meeting. You can expect that Senator Eggman will roll out her new bill package either the last week in January or the first week in February, most likely with a press conference in Sacramento within which CSAP will have a role.
CARE Court
 SCPS member and CSAP Board Member Rod Shaner was interviewed recently for an article in the LA Times, Why California's much-touted CARE Court is 'no one-and-done program'. The article discusses the roll out of the CARE Act, setting expectations, and how it will be constrained by the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act. Below are quotes from Mr. Shaner. You may read the fill article here.
“The LPS Act was landmark legislation recognizing the complex intersection of mental illness and civil rights. It remains for the most part a widely accepted, precedent-breaking set of regulations,”
"Any attempt “to undermine its core foundation would likely be unsuccessful,” Shaner said. “A wiser and more practical course would be to carefully re-sculpt limited areas and not bring in a new block of marble.”
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), signed into law in 2002, did not fully realize the lawmakers’ original intent, Shaner said. “AOT didn’t change the basic LPS detention criteria one iota.”
NPs - AB 890 Implementation Update
Board of Registered Nursing Assembly Bill 890 Implementation Update
The Board of Registered Nursing (Board) has been working to implement the provisions of AB 890 (Wood, Chapter 265, Statutes of 2020). The Board’s regulatory language has been approved by the Office of Administrative Law and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
A new 103 NP BreEZe application is scheduled for release in the month of January. Once available, the application will provide licensees with a streamlined process that is entirely automated to ensure the timely processing of applications.
AB 890 created two new categories of Nurse Practitioners (NP) that can function within a defined scope of practice without standardized procedures.
- A 103 NP will work under the provisions outlined in Business and Professions Code Section 2837.103. This category of NP can work without standardized procedures, in specific group settings identified in the statute with at least one physician and surgeon, within the population focus of their National Certification.
- A 104 NP will work under the provisions outlined in Business and Professions Code Section 2837.104. This category of NP can work without standardized procedures, outside of a group setting, within the population focus of their National Certification. Please note: Law requires an NP to first work as a 103 NP in good standing for at least three years prior to becoming a 104 NP. Therefore, the application to become a 104 NP will not be available until 2026.
The new authority under AB 890 is not automatically granted to NPs in California. NPs who wish to practice without standardized procedures must submit an application to the Board for a special certification. Once the 103 NP application is available, an electronic notice will be sent to all NPs in California and updated on the Board’s AB 890 website. Licensees are encouraged to check their email and the Board’s website regularly for updates. For the latest AB 890 information, please visit: AB 890 Information.
CMA
The California Medical Association (CMA) has several new webinars that may be of interest to you. Please see below for details and links to register.
Webinar: The Future of Telehealth
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many practices implemented telehealth for the first time. Now, physicians and their patients are starting to think about what happens to telehealth if and when the public health emergency comes to an end. Recent developments at the state and federal level are bringing the future into focus. Register here.
Medi-Cal Managed Care Enrollment for Patients with Medicare and Medi-Cal
Starting in January 2023, patients with both Medicare and Medi-Cal who are not already enrolled in a Medi-Cal managed care plan will need to enroll in a Medi-Cal plan. This webinar will cover frequently asked questions, particularly among Medicare providers. The Department of Health Care Services will highlight key points, including the fact that Medicare providers do not need to be enrolled in a Medi-Cal plan to continue seeing their dually eligible patients and continue receiving reimbursement. This enrollment change is primarily occurring for patients in counties in the Central Valley and Bay Area. Register here.
2023 E&M Coding Updates
Starting January 1, 2023, new Evaluation and Management (E&M) guidelines will apply for inpatient, nursing facility, home and consultations. This webinar will cover these new guidelines, deleted observation codes, changes to history and exam documentation, revised time coding rules, and other important E&M guideline changes. Register here.
New Laws Affecting Physicians in 2023
This one-hour webinar will discuss the new 2023 laws that are affecting physicians and their practices, highlight pending health legislation and explain CMA’s legal resources available to members. Register here.
Managing Medicare in 2023
This webinar will cover Medicare updates for the coming year along with the following topics:
- Overview of evaluation and management (E/M) changes and documentation tips
- Targeted probe and educate resumes
- Local coverage decisions and collaborative ICDs
- Responding to audits and appeals
- Questions and answers about off-label use
New information-blocking rules and patients’ rights: What doctors should know. Register here.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
CalHHS has released the January 2023 Progress Report which highlights the first 18 months of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). You may view the report and statement from CalHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly here.
Worth a Read
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