California Medical Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
The California Medical Association, Inc. (CMA) is a voluntary, not-for-profit mutual benefit corporation which promotes the science and art of medicine, the protection of public health, the betterment of the medical profession, and to achieve health equity and justice. CMA serves its members through a comprehensive program of legislative, legal, regulatory, economic and social advocacy and member benefit programs. The value proposition of the organization emphasizes empowering physicians to lead the transformation of the health care system.
- Income
- $44.5 million
- Spending
- $43.0 million
- Employees
- 135
- Volunteers
- 110
- Highest pay
- $1.6 million, chief executive officer, california medical assoc.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- In 2024, CMA won at the ballot box by securing passage of Proposition 35, a historic investment in Medi-Cal that provides the first across-the-board rate increase for physicians and dedicates funding to improve access to care for the millions of seniors, children, low-income families and people with disabilities in our state. Passage of Proposition 1 expanded funding for mental heath and addiction treatment, including investments in the health care workforce. In addition, many physicians were protected from huge tax and fee increases by defeating Measure C in Sacramento.
- In 2024, CMA focused on codifying physician priorities with more than 115 supported bills signed into law. The organization also stopped 24 opposed bills and 23 problematic ones in the Legislature. Key victories included legislation to: ensure artificial intelligence does not take the place of physicians; provide new tools for health care workers assisting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking; reduce mental health stigma for physicians through changes to the medical board's licensure application; and create parity in penalties for violence against healthcare workers in emergency departments.
- CMA supported physician practices during a devasting cyberattack that resulted in nationwide outages that threatened the viability of physician practices. CMA successfully advocated for advance payments and interest-free financial resources to keep practice doors open. Additionally, CMA stepped in to stop a Blue Shield modifier 25 policy that would have significantly reduced reimbursement for Evaluation and Management services and created a disincentive for physicians to provide efficient care for unscheduled services. CMA filed a lawsuit against the Department of Managed Health Care for failing to enforce California's prompt payment regulations in implementing SB 510, which resulted in significant delays and reductions in reimbursements.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.