Through LACMA+CMA, the Business of Medicine Conference is more than a series of presentations. It is a forum for shared insight, candid conversation, and practical problem solving—grounded in the strength of a physician community that shows up for one another.

Healthcare billing is no longer where it was even a few years ago. Bills are more digital, easier to read and more likely to reach patients through their preferred channels. Cedar’s 2026 Healthcare Financial Experience Study reports that 90% of patients receive bills through preferred channels, 78% review bills within 24 hours, and 76% say they have convenient access to payment options.  But convenience is no longer the central problem. The deeper challenge, according to Cedar , is that...

In June, Los Angeles County voters will decide whether to approve the Essential Services Restoration Act, a temporary half-cent sales tax measure intended to stabilize the region’s healthcare safety net amid sweeping federal Medicaid reductions. For physicians, this is not a theoretical tax debate. It is an operational question with direct implications for access to care, emergency department volume, workforce stability, and reimbursement across every mode of practice in Los Angeles County....

Two 2025 Los Angeles Healthcare Awards honorees—HBO’s The Pitt and Undue Medical Debt—have since joined forces to spotlight the national medical debt crisis, including co-authoring a recent article in STATNews.com . At the November 2025 Los Angeles Healthcare Awards , The Pitt , represented by executive producer Dr. Joe Sachs, received the Shine the Light Media Award, while Undue Medical Debt, represented by President and CEO Allison Sesso, was honored with the Community Impact Award. Their...

Congress and the White House finalized a bipartisan funding agreement this week that will shape care delivery for physicians and health systems nationwide. President Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion federal funding bill that restores full-year appropriations through September 30, 2026, while extending key healthcare policy provisions of direct relevance to clinical practices and hospital operations. Telehealth Flexibilities Extended Through 2027 One of the most consequential outcomes for...

California physicians are increasingly concerned that immigration enforcement actions are creating fear that deters patients from seeking medically necessary care. Reports from physicians across the country describe patients—both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens—missing routine appointments, delaying emergency care, and avoiding pharmacies or hospitals altogether because they fear interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Recent violent incidents in Minnesota...

LACMA has announced the 2026 Business of Medicine Conference, taking place on May 16, 2026, alongside the launch of its new Business of Medicine (BOM) Platform, a year-round resource designed to support physicians with the operational, financial, and leadership realities of practicing in Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) Board of Directors has approved a $50,000 contribution to support Yes on ER, the Essential Healthcare Restoration Act of Los Angeles County , set to appear on the June 2, 2026 ballot. Measure ER is a temporary half-cent funding measure to help stabilize Los Angeles County’s healthcare safety net following significant federal funding reductions tied to H.R. 1. If approved by voters, the measure is expected to offset billions in projected...

The national debate over Medicaid cuts is no longer an abstract policy fight. For hospitals, clinics, physicians and patients, it is increasingly a question of financial survival, access to care and how much strain the healthcare safety net can absorb before services begin to disappear. A new report from Public Citizen argues that the federal budget law signed on July 4, 2025, could put 446 hospitals nationwide at heightened risk of closing, reducing services or laying off workers because of...

Number of Los Angeles County Public Health Clinics Falls from 13 to 6. Los Angeles County has ended clinical services at seven public health clinics following more than $50 million in federal, state, and local funding reductions , a development that reflects increasing financial pressure on the region’s public health infrastructure. Clinical services at the affected sites concluded February 27 , according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The clinics historically...

What’s happening: Assembly Bill 2431, introduced by Assemblymember Darshana Patel and sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA), would prohibit health insurers from automatically downcoding physician claims without documented clinical review. The legislation aims to protect physician practices from unjust payment reductions and preserve patient access to care. Across California, physicians are reporting a growing pattern: claims submitted accurately and supported by documentation...

Santana-Chin warns that the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted last year and also known as HR 1, could result in 650,000 enrollees falling off L.A. Care’s Medi-Cal rolls by the end of 2028. This will strain the plan’s finances as revenues decline. The insurer had revenues of $11.7 billion in the last fiscal year.

New physicians join as California’s SB 729 drives increased access and demand for statewide IVF care. HRC Fertility , one of the largest providers of advanced fertility care, is expanding its physician team with the addition of seven highly trained reproductive specialists. With California’s Senate Bill 729, which went into effect on January 1, 2026, broadening insurance coverage for fertility treatment and driving an anticipated uptick in demand, HRC Fertility is poised to meet patient...

A broad slate of new California health care laws took effect January 1, 2026, bringing meaningful changes to how physicians practice medicine and how patients access care. Many of the measures were sponsored or strongly supported by the California Medical Association and reflect priorities long championed by physicians: protecting clinical judgment, reducing unnecessary administrative burden, and preserving access to essential care. For Los Angeles physicians working in one of the nation’s...

The FutureMedLA Foundation, in proud partnership with the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA), is now accepting nominations for the 13th Annual Los Angeles Healthcare Awards, taking place on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

The FutureMedLA Foundation , the charitable arm of the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA), is now accepting applications for the 2026 FutureMedLA Medical Student Scholarships , supporting the next generation of physician leaders committed to improving healthcare access and equity in Los Angeles County. The scholarship program recognizes medical students who demonstrate a commitment to serving underserved communities, advancing innovative healthcare solutions, and shaping the...

Several California-based organizations have announced workforce reductions in recent months — including developments directly affecting the Los Angeles region.

The Los Angeles County Medical Association is launching Tapping In: Mentorship on Demand , a new initiative designed to connect medical students and residents with experienced physicians through accessible, real-world mentorship. As students and residents navigate the complexities of medical training and early career decision-making, access to timely guidance can be limited. Tapping In addresses that gap by creating a flexible, on-demand mentorship experience that reflects the realities of...

Special Guest Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Shares His Perspective on California’s Healthcare Future LACMA Opens Dialogue with Gubernatorial Candidates This past Saturday, LACMA President Dr. Heather Silverman and President-elect Dr. Hector Flores led the annual board of directors retreat. The retreat covered several important topics, including organizational priorities, strategies for leaders to impact growth, membership retention, and enhancing member experience. Additionally, they...

New research is shedding light on the long-term health impacts of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires , revealing that exposure to toxic smoke and ash may have lasting consequences for respiratory and cardiovascular health across the region. According to reporting by NPR , scientists studying the Palisades and Altadena fires found that wildfire smoke contained far more than fine particulate matter. As homes, vehicles, and infrastructure burned, they released heavy metals and hazardous...