ACCMA Bulletin 2026 Quarter 2

Caring for Ourselves While Caring for Others

By Clifford Wong, MD, ACCMA President

Since the month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it is a good reminder to acknowledge the humanity of physicians and the extraordinary pressures we are facing today.

The demands of practicing medicine continue to grow more complex, while many of us are also carrying the emotional weight of challenges unfolding beyond our clinics and hospitals – economic uncertainty, rising costs of living, global conflict, political division, and the ongoing strain these realities place on our communities and families.

Physicians are often expected to be resilient in the face of constant stress, yet resilience does not mean facing these burdens alone. Many physicians across every specialty and stage of practice will experience burnout, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion at some point, or points, in their careers. This is not a sign of failure, but rather a sign of our humanity.

Likewise, taking care of our own mental health is not a sign of weakness, it is essential to sustaining our ability to care for others.

At ACCMA, supporting physician wellness remains a priority. Members have access to confidential resources designed specifically for physicians, including peer support, counseling miec_2023_ACCMA_bulletin_backcover_small.pdf 1 9/18/23 4:24 PM referrals, wellness programming, and assistance

navigating personal or professional challenges.

These services exist because no physician should feel isolated when facing difficult moments.

This month serves as a reminder not only to care for our patients, but also to extend the same compassion and attention to ourselves and our colleagues. Reaching out, checking in, and seeking support when needed are acts of strength and kindness that help sustain both individual physicians and the medical profession as a whole.

For more information about physician wellness resources available through ACCMA, please visit https://www.accma.org/Membership/PhysicianWellness.

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Taking care of your mental wellness sustains and extends your ability to care for patients. The ACCMA provides support for members by offering up to four virtual sessions with a therapist at no charge. Scan the QR code to learn more.

TELL CONGRESS TO COSPONSOR BILL TO STABILIZE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT Physicians are encouraged to contact their members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163). The legislation would modernize outdated Medicare physician payment rules and help stabilize reimbursement for physician practices. H.R. 8163 is strongly supported by the CMA and represents an important step toward addressing longstanding challenges with Medicare physician payment.

CMA ENDORSES XAVIER BECERRA FOR GOVERNOR The CMA has announced its endorsement of Xavier Becerra for Governor of California. Becerra most recently served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he oversaw national health policy during a period of unprecedented strain on the healthcare system. Becerra also served as CA Attorney General, where he defended the Affordable Care Act, protected patient privacy, and advanced policies to improve health equity and access across the state.

CMA OPPOSES BALLOT INITIATIVE THREATENING COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS CMA is firmly opposing a misguided statewide ballot initiative – currently gathering signatures to qualify for the Nov. 2026 election – that would destabilize the state’s health care safety net. While the proposal is being presented as an accountability measure, its stringent spending regulations risk financially crippling the very facilities that millions of low-income Californians rely on. The measure would not allow clinics to keep funding in reserves or to make capital investments, thereby limiting their ability to purchase new equipment or technologies, open new clinics, or make any upgrades or expansions to health centers and clinics.

The MD/MA lunch pairing was the perfect recipe for camaraderie, blending delicious food, expert MA guidance, and hands-on creativity to create wearable art. Thanks to Dr. Fang Lan for organizing!

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HOUSE LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO STABILIZE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in Congress aimed at improving stability and predictability in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, is supported by the CMA and makes targeted improvements to the statute governing budget neutrality requirements within the Medicare fee schedule. Work is already underway to advance a companion measure in the Senate.

CMA SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT AUTOMATIC DOWNCODING BY INSURANCE COMPANIES Assemblymember Darshana Patel has introduced Assembly Bill 2431, sponsored by the CMA, to protect physician practices and patient access to care by prohibiting automatic downcoding by health insurance companies. Increasingly, insurers rely on automated "claim-editing" algorithms to downcode claims without clinical review, forcing physicians to spend significant time and resources appealing unjust payment reductions. AB 2431 aims to codify fair payment practices and ensure clinical accuracy.

CMA-SPONSORED BILL TO IMPROVE E-BIKE SAFETY LAWS ADVANCES A CMA-sponsored bill that aims to reduce the growing number of severe e-bike injuries advanced out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. AB 2346 establishes speed limits for e-bikes (15 mph for riders under 16 years old and 10 mph on sidewalks) and would allow local jurisdictions to set speed limits on bike paths and multi-use trails. It would also require manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of e-bikes to equip e-bikes with speedometers and lights and provide safetyrelated disclosures to consumers at the point of sale.

CMA CALLS FOR ENHANCED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF NO SURPRISES ACT IMPLEMENTATION The CMA joined a coalition of national medical specialty societies and state medical associations in urging federal regulators to strengthen enforcement of the No Surprises Act and increase transparency in the law’s independent dispute resolution process. In a joint letter sent to the U.S. Departments of Treasury,

We recently kicked off the 10th cohort of the Physician Leadership Program (PLP) at UC Berkeley’s Joint Medical Program Office! This year’s cohort included 46 clinicians from across California, along with a physician joining us from Oregon.

Labor, and Health and Human Services, CMA and the other physician organizations said some health plans are finding ways to circumvent the law. One of the concerns flagged is that some health plans are improperly shifting costs onto patients.

BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD EXEMPT PHYSICIANS FROM $100,000 H-1B VISA FILING FEE Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in Congress would exempt physicians and other health care professionals from a $100,000 filing fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act aims to reduce a major cost barrier for hospitals and medical practices seeking to recruit international clinicians. The bill follows sustained advocacy from organized medicine, including the CMA. CMA JOINS LEGAL EFFORT TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN IN ICE CUSTODY CMA alongside a coalition of organizations has filed an amicus brief in a federal case that could significantly affect the health, safety, and legal rights of children held in U.S. immigration custody. The case (Flores v. Bondi, No. 2:85-cv-04544-DMG-AGR) centers on the Trump Administration’s effort to end the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA), a long-standing legal agreement that establishes guaranteed protections for immigrant children held in detention. The amicus brief warns that even with the FSA’s protections in place, the present situation for children in immigration detention is already barely tolerable, raising serious concerns about their health and well-being.

CMA PUSHES BACK ON CHANGES TO FEDERAL VACCINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTER CMA joined more than 130 organizations to sound an alarm about proposed changes to the charter for the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The CDC released a revised ACIP charter on April 9 that could alter the committee’s focus and membership structure in ways that undermine confidence in vaccines and affect access to immunizations. The revised charter comes after a federal judge last month blocked changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations and halted meetings of the reconstituted ACIP.

For more information or to view full articles of any of these topics, scan the QR code or visit accma.org/bulletin.

hospitals when out-of-network physicians provide care to patients enrolled in certain plans. CMA previously joined a national federation letter urging Anthem’s parent company, Elevance Health, to rescind the policy when it was first announced for implementation in other states. Its expansion now raises renewed concerns for physicians and hospitals statewide.

CMA FILES AMICUS BRIEF URGING NUANCED CORPORATE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE ENFORCEMENT The CMA has filed an amicus curiae brief with the CA Second District Court of Appeal in Art Center Holdings, Inc., et al. v. WCE CA Art, et al. This case has the potential to break new legal ground in CA’s restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine and significantly alter health care industry practices around the use of physician-owned friendly professional corporations. In its brief, CMA urges the court to adopt a context- and factdependent approach to evaluating whether "friendly” professional corporation structures violate CPOM. DMHC TO SHORTEN PROVIDER COMPLAINT FILING WINDOW Effective July 1, the CA Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) will shorten the window for filing provider complaints, limiting Provider Complaint Portal submissions to claims involving services rendered within the last 30 months. This will replace the current four-year lookback period. Complaints may involve any alleged unfair payment practice, including but not limited to delayed payment, underpayment, inappropriate denials, or failure to respond to provider disputes as required by law.

APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN CMA-OPPOSED DIALYSIS LAW A federal appeals court has struck down a controversial dialysis law (AB 290) agreeing with arguments made by dialysis providers, patient advocates, and the CMA. In an April 7 ruling, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that key provisions of AB 290 violated First Amendment protections and could not be severed from the rest of the law, effectively invalidating the statute in its entirety. CMA opposed the measure from the outset and filed an amicus curiae brief in this case.

ANTHEM TO IMPLEMENT CONTROVERSIAL OUT-OF-NETWORK PENALTY POLICY IN CALIFORNIA Anthem Blue Cross will begin enforcing a new administrative policy in California on June 1, penalizing accma@accma.org | (510) 654-5383

In April, ACCMA had a strong day of advocacy on behalf of physicians and the patients we serve. We proudly supported AB 2346, AB 2431, and SB 1146 to strengthen patient safety, transparency, and access to care—and stood in opposition to SB 1333 to protect the rigorous training standards patients depend on.

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WOMEN PHYSICIANS BOOK CLUB MEETUP Women physicians gathered in February at Pasta Primavera in Walnut Creek to celebrate National Black Women Physicians Day with connection, conversation, and Italian cuisine.

Attendees engaged in a meaningful discussion of Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Dr. Michele Harper, sharing reflections and building community.

Special thanks to Dr. Anupama Anchala for hosting this warm and engaging event.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Members and their medical assistants gathered in March at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center for a Lunar New Year lunchtime celebration focused on wellness and culture.

Attendees connected with the ACCMA community, explored cultural traditions, and enjoyed interactive activities, including creating personalized badge reels or pens. Special thanks to Dr. Fang Lan for hosting and supporting physician wellness.

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UPCOMING EVENTS SOUND HEALING THERAPY FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH | 7:30 PM THE DANCE FLOOR, ALBANY ACCMA FAMILY MOVIE DAY SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH | 12:00 PM CINEMARK CENTURY WALNUT CREEK 14 AND XD ACCMA & MIEC AFTER DARK THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH | 6PM HEADLANDS BREWERY

ACCMA LAUNCHES RESIDENT/ FELLOW LEADERSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACCMA is hosting the Resident/Fellow Leadership & Career Development Program, a weekend intensive designed to help residents and fellows build leadership skills and prepare for the transition into practice.

The program will take place August 29–31 and will include networking, interactive leadership and professional development sessions, career planning discussions, engagement with physician leaders, and more. Those interested in joining the first cohort should complete the interest form.