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CMA News

Cal/OSHA board advances expedited silica protections for engineered stone workers

Thu, 04 Jun 2026

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted unanimously to move forward with emergency rulemaking to prohibit the fabrication and installation of artificial stone products containing more than 1% crystalline silica. The action follows testimony from CMA and other physician advocates warning of a growing silicosis crisis among California workers.

AMA announces major overhaul of maternity care CPT codes beginning in 2027

Wed, 03 Jun 2026

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, maternity care CPT coding will shift away from the traditional global billing model and move to a more granular structure that separately reports antepartum care, labor management, delivery and postpartum services. The changes are intended to better reflect modern team-based obstetric care and will require physicians, coders, payors and EHR vendors to update workflows before implementation.

Federal IDR rule aims to streamline No Surprises Act dispute process

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Federal regulators have finalized changes to the No Surprises Act's IDR process that are intended to reduce costs, improve transparency and streamline dispute resolution. Key changes include a dramatic reduction in administrative fees, expanded batching flexibility and new requirements intended to help physicians determine whether claims are eligible for the federal dispute process.

Trump EO targeting childhood vaccine schedule is reckless intervention into public health policy

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

The Trump administration has issued an executive order directing federal health agencies to review and potentially revise the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule based on recommendations that would significantly reduce the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children. CMA warns the move lacks scientific support and could undermine public confidence in vaccines at a time when preventable diseases are resurging.

CMA opposes dangerous executive order on childhood vaccine recommendations

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

CMA President René Bravo, M.D., issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s Executive Order directing the CDC to alter the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule

Workers’ Comp Independent Medical Review report released for 2026

Thu, 28 May 2026

The state’s latest IMR report provides new data on treatment authorization disputes within California’s workers’ comp system, including trends in utilization review overturn rates and pharmaceutical-related claims.

Physician organizations rally behind Medicare payment reform bill

Thu, 21 May 2026

CMA joined more than 100 national and state medical organizations in urging Congress to support legislation aimed at modernizing Medicare physician payment rules and reducing harmful reimbursement instability.

CMA urges Cal/OSHA to act urgently on engineered stone silica hazard

Thu, 21 May 2026

CMA President Dr. René Bravo testified Thursday in support of a petition urging Cal/OSHA to prohibit fabrication and installation of engineered stone products containing more than 1% crystalline silica, citing an escalating wave of preventable silicosis cases among California workers.

CMA opposes dangerous ballot measure that could worsen California’s physician shortage

Thu, 21 May 2026

A statewide ballot initiative opposed by CMA that would cap compensation for nurses, physicians and health care leaders, has qualified for the November 2026 ballot. CMA warns the measure could destabilize already fragile care delivery systems and negatively affect patient access.

Revised budget proposal sets stage for negotiations amid mounting health care pressures

Tue, 19 May 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised 2026-27 budget proposal sets the stage for budget negotiations as California faces mounting fiscal pressures and major health care funding challenges. Key proposals include changes to Medi-Cal funding, new costs tied to federal policy changes under H.R. 1, increased premiums for certain enrollees, and a controversial MCO tax proposal that CMA says conflicts with Proposition 35.