COVID-19 News

The CDC sees signs of a late summer COVID wave.

The amount of virus being detected in wastewater, the percentage of people testing positive for the virus, and the number of people seeking care for COVID at emergency rooms all started increasing in early July. Read more.

Florida's spike in alcohol-fueled liver-disease deaths during COVID paralleled national data.

From 2020 to 2022, the state observed a 1.4% increase in liver-related deaths compared with the years before the pandemic. During that period, alcohol sales also increased. Read more.

You know those folks who had COVID but no symptoms?

A new study offers an explanation. Scientists estimate that over 20% of people who get infected with COVID never have any symptoms – and a portion of them never even know they were infected. Now a new study published in Nature on July 19 says their genetics might be why the virus didn't make them sick. Read more.

Treatment studies bring hope to those with brain fog and other long COVID symptoms

The National Institutes of Health is beginning a handful of studies to test possible treatments for long COVID, an anxiously awaited step in U.S. efforts against the mysterious condition that afflicts millions. Read more.

Pertinent Information

Membership Dinner

September 19, 2023, 6:15pm

Westshore Grand Hotel

Kent Myers, Managing Principal of Vision Companies, will present "Seeing Impact through the Eyes of the Patient." Foundation grant recipients will be recognized. Sponsor and exhibit opportunities are available.  Call 813.253.0471 or click here for more information and to RSVP. Sponsors include Tampa General Hospital.

CDC warns about red meat allergy caused by some tick bites.

Red meat fans beware. The CDC warns that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) — a tick-borne illness that causes a red meat allergy — is an emerging public health concern. Read more.

A recent increase in leprosy cases in Central Florida concerns the CDC

Cases of leprosy lacking traditional risk factors have escalated in Florida in recent years and health officials have expressed concern that the infectious disease may be endemic to the state. Read more.

What ‘right of medical conscience’ means under state law

With the passage of SB 1580, the 2023 Florida Legislature gave health care providers and payors the right to “opt out of participation in or payment for any health care service on the basis of a conscience-based objection.” The bill, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, coupled this “right of medical conscience” with a provision protecting health care practitioners’ “use of free speech.” Read FMA General Counsel Jeff Scott, Esq.’s analysis of SB 1580 to learn how these provisions affect your practice of medicine.

BIM video tutorial now available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a video tutorial to assist providers with guidance application and interview strategies for the cognitive assessment known as the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS). This video tutorial is approximately 20 minutes in length and is designed to provide targeted guidance for accurate coding using live-action patient/resident scenarios. To access the video, click on the following link: BIMS Video Tutorial.

Tampa General Hospital is having a banner month.

Hospital leaders celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the completion of Phase 2 of the TGH Cancer Institute in south Hillsborough County, on July 19th. TGH President and CEO John Couris said the ribbon-cutting marks Tampa General Hospital's efforts to expand access to its world-class cancer center in the rapidly growing communities of south Hillsborough County. The completion of the TGH Cancer Institute Brandon location is planned for the fall with the opening of its Radiation Oncology Center. The ribbon-cutting comes on the heels of TGH opening the doors of its new TGH Kennedy Emergency Center at 1301 W Kennedy Blvd., last month. Read more.

HCMA Benefit Provider celebrates 40 years!

Rivero Gordimer & Co., CPAs and Advisors won the Tampa Bay Chamber's Small Business of the Year award in 2018 in the category of 21-50 employees. Now, at 70 employees strong, RG&C is celebrating 40 years! Congratulations and we look forward to a long partnership. Read more.

HCMA's new website feature - YOUR website!

Visitors to the HCMA website can not only find the office address and phone number for members - we have included the opportunity to list your website too!  To add your website to your online HCMA profile, simply log into your HCMA profile (www.HCMA.net) or call the HCMA office, 813.253.0471.

Member Spotlight … we want to hear from you!

If you are serving as a keynote speaker, conducting research, have written an article pertinent to medicine, or if you are serving our communities by volunteering for your favorite charity, we would love to showcase your endeavors! Submit a photo along with a brief description of your activities and watch for it in a future edition of Enews, The Bulletin, or on the HCMA website’s upcoming Member Spotlight feature.

HAVE YOU CREATED YOUR HCMA PROFILE YET?

In order to make use of our innovative new database and all of its features, all HCMA members need to create a password for their profile.

By setting up your profile, it will ensure that you have full access to our website in which you can register for all events, update your office information, your home mailing address, pay your dues, and receive all future correspondence from the HCMA.

Please follow these few simple steps to set up your profile:

• Log in to your HCMA account at www.hcma.net 
• Click the orange sign-in icon located in the upper right-hand corner 
• Enter your email address - IF YOU HAVE NOT CREATED A PASSWORD YET, click the "forgot password" link and follow the instructions. 

If you have any questions please contact Anni Blackwell.