January 11, 2021
2021 SCMA Annual Meeting
Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and after thoughtful review and discussion, the SCMA Board of Trustees believes the safest approach for members, attendees, speakers and staff is to move the 2021 SCMA Annual Meeting to a virtual format.
December 31, 2020
A Message from DHEC on the Vaccine
The SCMA continues to work on providing access to the COVID-19 vaccine for non-affiliated physicians and staff. We have been working closely with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) over the past week to answer direct questions from physicians, and also to assist in staging access sites. This evening DHEC provided the below message directly for SCMA physicians as an update on the process. We will continue to provide updates regularly in this fluid situation.
December 28, 2020
President signs measure that includes $900B in COVID-19 stimulus relief
The New York Times (12/27, A1, Cochrane, Schwartz, Friedman) reports that on Sunday, the president “signed a measure providing $900 billion in pandemic aid and funding the government through September.
December 24, 2020
Updates to Physician Questions on Receiving the Vaccine
Physicians have many questions on how to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and staff. The SCMA is continuing to work with DHEC to obtain answers. Below is a new series of questions and answers on the COVID-19 vaccine.
December 18, 2020
How Do Physicians Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine?
The SCMA has been sending out information on registering to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for several weeks. With the arrival of the vaccine this week, physicians have had many questions these last few days. Below is a list of the questions we are getting a lot of, along with the answers, in hopes of helping everyone through this process.
December 12, 2020
FDA GRANTS PFIZER EUA FOR COVID-19 VACCINE
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its first emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech Friday evening, a move that was warmly greeted by the healthcare industry as the U.S. and nations around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges caused by the pandemic.
December 8, 2020
Could COVID-19 Spell the End of Independent Physician Practices?
59% of physicians anticipate COVID-19 to reduce the number of independent physician practices in their communities, while half think hospitals will exert stronger influence after the pandemic.
December 1, 2020
Thousands of doctors' offices buckle under financial stress of COVID-19
Cormay Caine misses a full day of work and drives more than 130 miles round trip to take five of her children to their pediatrician. The Sartell, Minnesota, clinic where their doctor used to work closed in August. Caine is one of several parents who followed Heather Decker, M.D., to her new location on the outskirts of Minneapolis, an hour and a half away. Many couldn’t get appointments for months with swamped nearby doctors.
November 17, 2020
Arbitration, Not Rate-Setting, Is The Answer To Surprise Billing
At a time when medical professionals are under unprecedented stress dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it would seem that members of Congress would be loath to support a legislative proposal that would benefit insurers at the expense of providers.
