May 18, 2015
Area(s) of Interest:
Physician Wellness Professional Development & Education
The 18th Annual Western Health Care Leadership Academy will feature several conversations with politicians serving on the national and statewide scenes. The May 29-31, 2015, event at Loews Hollywood Hotel—in the heart of Hollywood, just steps from the Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscars®) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame—will feature talks from California Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, among others
Dr. Bera is one of 20 physicians currently serving in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. In an era when policy decisions made in Washington, D.C., increasingly affect the practice of medicine and the quality of care delivery to patients, physicians serving in Congress play a vital role in efforts to ensure that the federal government “does no harm” to physicians and their patients in the legislative and regulatory processes. In this informal session, Congressman Bera will discuss how the commitment to service that leads one to become a physician can naturally extend to wider public service, and the benefits and potential pitfalls of making that transition. Physicians contemplating a run for office at any level of government will want to attend this session, as will anyone simply interested in hearing about life as a doctor-politician.
Lieutenant Governor Newsom will discuss how states can fulfill the promise of Medicaid. Newsom has been on the frontlines of the issue for over a decade. As Mayor of San Francisco, he made national headlines for implementing a first-of-its-kind universal health care program – with the support of San Francisco health providers. In 2008, he joined the California Medical Association in its successful efforts to block the state of California from implementing a 10 percent Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cut, which had been proposed as a way to balance the state’s budget. His efforts to advocate for a better funded Medicaid program continue as a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that entities can no longer sue states for low reimbursement rates. Ensuring that access to care is more than an empty promise of an insurance card is a priority for him.
The 2015 Leadership Academy will continue its mission of providing the information and skills needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing health care marketplace. We hope you will be able to join us!
The California Medical Association (CMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The California Medical Association designates this live program for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education.
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