ASAP e-newsletter: Aug. 21, 2024

Don't forget to cast your ballot in the CMS election!

Voting is open for 2024-2025 CMS president-elect and AMA Delegation. Did you receive your ballot? They were sent overnight on July 31/Aug. 1 and again on Aug. 15. The "from" email is membership@cms.org and the subject is "Your vote matters in the 2024 CMS Leadership Election." Didn't get a ballot? Reply to this email or contact membership@cms.org.

Get to know the candidates running for 2024-2025 CMS president-elect and AMA Delegation by reading their candidate statements on the CMS Election webpage. Voting will be open through midnight on Aug. 31.

CMS election webpage

Three weeks to go! Break away to Breckenridge with CMS

There is still space to register for the 154th Annual Meeting, Sept. 13-14 in Breckenridge. We hope you will join us for the opportunity to earn up to 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 2 COPIC Points (view full accreditation on the event page).

Room availability at our host hotel is limited and the room block officially closes Friday, Aug. 23. To check for availability at the Village at Breckenridge or other neighboring properties, please call 855-948-0690 and follow the prompts to The Village at Breckenridge. Provide the group code (BBRCMS24) or group name (Colorado Medical Society 2024 Annual Meeting) and date for check-in.

View more information here

CMS has launched our new database and website; watch for an email for your website login

The Colorado Medical Society is thrilled to announce that we have recently upgraded our member database and website to better serve you. These updates will streamline your experience, making it easier to access resources, update your information, and stay connected with our latest news and events. We are committed to providing you with the best tools and services, and these improvements are just the beginning. All members will receive an email from webnotifications@cms.org this week with the subject line "Your access to your Colorado Medical Society membership." This email contains the URL to login, your CMS.org username, temporary password and password reset link. Click here to visit the new site! Questions? Contact us at (720) 859-1001 or membership@cms.org.

COMPAC endorses candidates that support physicians

The November general election will be here soon, setting the stage for state lawmaking for the next two years. We know that advocacy is one of the top priorities for CMS members. COMPAC has been busy interviewing candidates seeking office in the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives. This physician-driven process carefully selects candidates who will champion the issues that matter most to physicians. Get ready to vote in November and support the candidates that support you. Check out the latest list of COMPAC endorsements here.

UnitedHealthcare launching Gold Card program Oct. 1; share your observations with us

UnitedHealthcare is launching a Gold Card program to allow qualified practices who have "demonstrated adherence to evidence-based guidelines" to bypass the prior authorization process for certain medical, behavioral and mental health services. The new program begins Oct. 1 and the services eligible for gold card will be published Sept. 1.

As this program gets going, the Colorado Medical Society wants to hear from you about whether or not the program actually makes a difference for your practice, how it is working, and other observations if you receive gold card status or do not (and perhaps appeal this designation). Share any comments or observations by replying to this email or contacting Chet Seward directly at chet_seward@cms.org.

August recess is here – tell Congress to Fix Medicare Now!

As Congress returns home for the annual August recess, physician advocates have unique opportunities to engage with their members of Congress "back home" in the district.

According to an AMA analysis of Medicare Trustees data, Medicare physician payment has been reduced 29% adjusted for inflation from 2001-2024. The Medicare physician payment system lacks an adequate annual physician payment update, unlike those that apply to other Medicare provider payments.

Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' recent proposed rule has physicians slated for an additional 2.8 percent Medicare payment reduction on Jan. 1. This latest inexcusable cut looms despite the fact that the federal CMS also projects the increase to the MEI to be 3.6 percent in 2025.

Find out how you can take advantage of the August recess and tell Congress to Fix Medicare Now!

The Colorado Pain Society invites you to our 7th Annual Chronic Pain Conference, Oct. 11-13, 2024, in Vail, Colo., at The Hythe

Live-streaming; Live or virtual attendance; No-cost virtual option for Colorado PCPs.

This will be a CME event (up to 16 CME credits), including 5 MATE credits towards DEA license renewal requirements, for physicians of all specialties, advanced practice providers (APPs), psychologists and others interested in pain management. The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention is sponsoring a virtual primary care attendance opportunity (16 CME credits) at no cost (for PCPs only), working in conjunction with Medical Education Resources and Colorado Pain Society. Virtual streaming will be available for live and virtual attendees including lecture access for 7 days post-conference.

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Dues season is coming; thank you in advance for renewing your membership!

Dues invoices for Colorado Medical Society members for individual physicians and practices who have opted into group billing will be sent in September. All invoices are due Dec. 31, 2024 for the membership period ending Dec. 31, 2025. Pay early to ensure you have no disruption in benefits through the end of 2025 -- especially if you are Copic insured and benefit from a significant discount in medical liability insurance! If you have updates to your contact information or billing contact, please contact our membership department at 720-859-1001 or membership@cms.org.

Modernizing our dues structure to remain a strong CMS

The Colorado Medical Society Board of Directors, working with staff, took action this summer to ensure the continued strength of our organization by modernizing CMS’s membership categories and dues structure. In the latest issue of Colorado Medicine, CMS Treasurer Hap Young, MD, explains how these changes -- which take effect starting with the 2025 dues year -- will provide greater flexibility and better meet the needs of Colorado’s evolving physician demographics and marketplace. Read more here.

Thanks to our Partners in Medicine

View all Partners here

Save the date for our next Partner Lunch and Learn: Sept. 26 - what you need to know about Medicare changes

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has some major provisions that will affect all Medicare Beneficiaries in 2025, specifically when it comes to their Part D prescription Drug coverage. During this CMS Partner in Medicine Lunch and Learn, Pepple Insurance will review what those changes are and how it will impact your patients – what you can do to help them understand their options and what resources they have to make sure they have the best plan for next year. It's normal to see about 14% of the Medicare population change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7); Pepple Insurance anticipates 60% will need to change plans as a result of this new legislation set to take effect.

Job board

Do you have a position open at your practice? Space to sub-let? Selling your practice? Place a job board or classified ad with CMS! CMS members receive the first month free. Contact debra_will@cms.org for more information!

Upcoming CMS meetings and events

All Colorado Medical Society committee meetings and events are open to all CMS members and you are welcome to attend! All are held via Zoom unless otherwise noted. Find a full list of events here: cms.org/events. Questions? Contact membership@cms.org.

Committee on Professional Education and Accreditation/CME (virtual) - Thursday, Aug. 22, 4-5 p.m. Email kim_vadas@cms.org to register

Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Committee (WCPIC) (virtual) - Wednesday, Sept. 4, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Email chet_seward@cms.org to register

CMS Annual Meeting (in person) - Sept. 13-14, 2024 at the Village at Breckenridge; register today!

Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (virtual) - Saturday, Sept. 14, 2-3 p.m. Email kate_alfano@cms.org to register

Committee on Physician Wellbeing (virtual) - Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Email kate_alfano@cms.org to register

Registration is required for most meetings; non-members or those unable to be identified at the time of virtual meetings may be removed. Unsure if you are a CMS member? Contact membership@cms.org.

Let's connect!

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