ACCMA News

rss

CMA-Backed Candidates Elected to Office

Preliminary results from the 2024 General Election are in and several candidates endorsed by ACCMA’s and CMA’s Political Action Committees (ACCPAC and CALPAC) are in strong positions to win. These include: John Bauters, Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 5 (leading with 53.42%), Jesse Arreguín, Senate District 7 (leading with 61.6%), Jerry McNerney, Senate District 5 (leading with 57.06%), and Anamarie Avila Farias, Assembly District 15 (leading with 63.4%). Tim Grayson, Senate District 9 (currently in first with 55.2%).

December 17, 2024 Legislation

Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Launch New D-SNP Plan

Beginning January 1, 2026, the two Managed Care Plans (MCPs) in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, Alameda Alliance for Health and Contra Costa Health Plan, will launch a new Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). Your current patients who chose to join this new plan will become out of network, unless you choose to contract with the Alliance or Contra Costa Health Plan.

December 17, 2024 Hot Topics

St. Rose Becomes an Affiliate of Alameda Health System

On November 1st, Alameda Health System announced that St. Rose Hospital became an affiliate of Alameda Health System (AHS). This will allow St. Rose to stay open and continue providing care to approximately 400,000 mostly low-income Medi-Cal and Medicare patients in Southern Alameda County.  Earlier this year, Governor Newsom vetoed AB2271 which would have forgiven over $17 million in state loans for St. Rose Hospital.  ACCMA sent a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to sign the bill. ACCMA members include physicians who practice at St. Rose Hospital and understand the need to keep the only safety-net healthcare provider with emergency and maternity care services in southern Alameda County.  

December 17, 2024 Hot Topics

President's Page: Empowering and Organizing Physicians to Lead

It is my honor to serve as your ACCMA  President for the coming year. When I joined the ACCMA in 2014 as a newly trained general surgeon, my practice kindly
covered my membership dues, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I discovered, however, was far beyond what I imagined. The ACCMA offered me knowledge, a
strong sense of community and unwavering support. Today, I remain a proud ACCMA member, not because my practice still covers my dues, but because of the immense value the ACCMA continues to offer its members. 

During these times of uncertainty, I am reminded of why the ACCMA exists and what purpose it continues to serve for our membership: empowering and organizing physicians to lead and improve the practice of medicine to better patients' lives and the community's health.

As physicians, we are deeply skilled in the science and art of medicine, but the complex and constantly evolving landscape of healthcare presents ongoing challenges that increasingly influence how we deliver patient care. As physicians, we must adapt, and more importantly, we must lead.

Organized medicine is essential because it gives us a collective voice to advocate for our profession, our patients, and our communities. With policies and legislation increasingly working against us, now is the time for action. We must raise our voices, push for meaningful change, and ensure that the future of medicine reflects the needs of
both our profession and the communities we serve. 

Over the past year, under the leadership of my predecessor, Doctor Albert Brooks, the ACCMA accomplished a lot, including relocating our headquarters to Lafayette; continuing our Physician Leadership Program and developing a new health equity-focused leadership course; providing more opportunities for members to
connect and build community through social events. We continued to advocate on a wide range of issues impacting our profession and our patients, and we succeeded in passing Proposition 35, bringing in billions of new dollars into the Medi-Cal program. 

This is the power of physicians coming together through the medical association. If we continue to stick together and advocate for what is best for our patients and our profession, we will accomplish so much more.

December 17, 2024 From the President

ACCMA Urges Oakland City Council to Pass Smoking and Vaping Ban

Update 12/4/2024: During its second reading at the December 3rd City Council meeting, the Council unanimously voted to pass this Ordinance and it will be come law.

Oakland City Councilmember Dan Kalb has introduced an ordinance that banned smoking and vaping on bar patios, as well as in multi-unit housing. However, the multi-using housing piece included an exemption for cannabis smoking/vaping. ACCMA strongly supports efforts to mitigate secondhand and thirdhand smoke, and ACCMA staff provided public comment at both the Oakland City Council Community and Economic Development Committee hearing on October 23rd and the first reading of the Ordinance at the November 12th full City Council meeting. ACCMA also sent a letter to all Councilmembers urging them to pass the ordinance and amend it to remove the cannabis exemption. The Council voted to pass the ordinance, however they decided to keep the cannabis exemption. 

The Ordinance is required to have two readings before the City Council before final passage. The City Council is scheduled to consider the item again on December 3rd. You can read the letter here. 

 

November 20, 2024 Advocacy, Legislation

Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Prop 35

Voters approve Prop 35 in resounding vote, expanding health care access for 15 million Californians

California voters have overwhelmingly approved Proposition 35, a historic investment in Medi-Cal, which serves 15 million Californians!

“California voters have realized a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a health care system that works for all Californians," said Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., president of the California Medical Association (CMA). "For too long, equitable access to health care has trailed behind growing eligibility and benefits provided by Medi-Cal.

"With the passage of Proposition 35, we are ensuring Medi-Cal receives the dedicated funding it needs to serve the millions of seniors, children, low-income families and people with disabilities in our state. Going forward we will be able to hire more physicians, first responders, paramedics and other health care workers to address the worker shortage and ensure Californians aren’t having to wait hours in the emergency room or months to get an appointment with a physician. And once the new law is implemented, doctors, hospitals, clinics and health centers will have much needed stability to serve the patients in their communities.

"This would not have been possible without the advocacy of our physician members and our more than 400 coalition partners. Our victory tonight is a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together to work for the thing that matters most: our patients. While there is much to celebrate, we realize this is just the beginning. CMA will continue to work with stakeholders and the state to realize the vision of Prop 35, and I am excited to move forward together.”

CMA co-chaired the coalition that put Proposition 35 before the voters in order to provide a dedicated, ongoing source of funding to increase access to health care. The passage of Prop 35 is particularly important to improve access to health care for the nearly 15 million Californians, including half of the state’s children, who are covered by Medi-Cal. Prop 35 also will grow the health care workforce in California, which will improve access to care for all Californians.
November 6, 2024 Advocacy, Legislation

Election Day is Approaching Quickly

Election Day is approaching quickly! It is critical that you use your voice and vote this election cycle.

California State Propositions

ACCMA is strongly supporting Proposition 35: Medi-Cal Access to Care. California’s health care system is facing major challenges, including long wait times to a provider, crowded emergency rooms, and low re imbursement rates for providers. Prop 35 will address these challenges by using an already existing tax on Managed Care Plans, and federal matching dollars, towards investing in our states health care system. When enacted, Prop 35 will:  

  1. Expand access to care by substantially increasing reimbursement rates for primary care and specialty care, bringing rates closer to Medicare levels  
  1. Reduce wait times and alleviate overcrowding in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities  
  1. Fund more GME residency programs to address the physician shortage  
  1. Fund loan repayments for physicians and allied health professionals  
  1. Help hire more first responders and paramedics to reduce emergency response times

We strongly urge you to vote YES.

 County and State-Level Candidates

ACCMA’s and CMA’s Political Action Committees (ACCPAC and CALPAC) are proud to support a number of candidates running for local and state office. These candidates have expressed support for ACCMA and CMA’s views regarding local health care issues. In addition to endorsing all incumbents, the endorsed candidates for open seats are below:

  • John Bauters, Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 5
  • Jesse Arreguín, Senate District 7
  • Jerry McNerney, Senate District 5
  • Tim Grayson, Senate District 9
  • Anamarie Avila Farias, Assembly District 15      

Resources

There are several ways that you can vote in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

  1. In Person. Find your closest in person voting center
  1. Drop-Off Ballot. Find your nearest Ballot Drop Box
  1. Mail in your ballot
  • Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your local election office no later than 7 days after Election Day. 

Alameda County Election Information

Contra Costa County Election Information

California Statewide Ballot Measures

October 30, 2024 Advocacy, Legislation

ACCMA sends letter to Alameda County Board of Supervisor Keith Carson

ACCMA sent a letter to Alameda County Board of Supervisor Keith Carson, who is the Chair of the Personnel/Administration/Legislation Committee (PAL), urging him and his colleagues to support Proposition 35.  Proposition 35 is on the ballot this November and will protect and expand access to care to primary care and specialty care physicians, community health clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, family planning and mental health providers. 

October 2, 2024 Advocacy, Legislation

ACCMA Sends Govenor Newsom a Letter Urging Him to Sign AB 2271

ACCMA sent a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to sign Assembly Bill ( AB) 2271, which will forgive over $17 million in state loans and protect approximately 400,000, mostly low-income Medi-Cal and Medicare patients, who rely on St. Rose Hospital’s services.  ACCMA members include physicians who practice at St. Rose Hospital and understand the need to keep the hospital open. St. Rose is the only safety-net healthcare provider with emergency and maternity care services in southern Alameda County. Closing the hospital would result in even more crowding in our emergency rooms and longer wait times. Additionally, it would further exacerbate the disparities in timely access to care for Medi-Cal patients and availability of providers who are able to serve them.   

October 2, 2024 Advocacy, Legislation
1234567...2122Next