CMS Updates
CMS releases the annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule.

The final rule prioritizes CMS’ investment in primary care and chronic disease management by increasing payments to physicians and other practitioners for the additional time they spend with patients, especially those with chronic conditions. The rule allows non-physician practitioners to provide the care they were trained and licensed to give, cutting red tape so healthcare professionals can practice at the top of their license and spend more time with patients instead of on unnecessary paperwork.

Becker's Hospital Review 6 Takeaways:
  • Physician payment update
  • Telehealth expansion
  • Supervision updates
  • Coding changes
  • Medicare Shared Savings Program
  • Scope of practice changes.

To read Becker's Hospital full summary, CLICK HERE.
CMS announces changes to Physician Self-Referral Regulations.

CMS finalized changes to outdated federal regulations that have burdened healthcare providers with added administrative costs and impeded the health care system’s move toward value-based reimbursement. The Physician Self-Referral Law, also known as the “Stark Law,” generally prohibits a physician from sending a patient for many types of services to a provider that the physician is employed by, or otherwise receives payment from—regardless of what that payment is for. 

The rule finalizes many of the proposed policies from the notice of proposed rulemaking issued in October 2019, including:
  • Finalizing new, permanent exceptions for value-based arrangements
  • Finalizing additional guidance on key requirements of the exceptions to the physician self-referral law
  • Finalizing protection for non-abusive, beneficial arrangements 
  • Reducing administrative burdens that drive up costs
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is actively planning for the anticipated approval, allocation and distribution of one or more COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks.
WDH is working across the state to enroll early COVID-19 vaccine providers. Due to the fact that available vaccine doses will be limited to begin with, public health agencies will be most appropriate to coordinate and plan for early vaccine administration at the county level. While the exact date is unknown, we do anticipate being able to allocate vaccine to other providers when available vaccine doses increase. 

Please visit the Wyoming Immunization Unit website to complete the enrollment agreement if you are interested in being a COVID-19 vaccine provider when amounts of vaccine increase in 2021.  

If you have any questions please reach out to your local Public Health Nursing Office, local Health Department, or Angie Van Houten, WDH Community Health Section Chief (angie.vanhouten@wyo.gov, 307-777-2067).
Draft Prioritized List of Critical Population Groups for COVID-19 Vaccination in Phase 1a (early limited doses of vaccine available)
Board of Pharmacy Update
WY BoRx took action at their most recent board meeting to approve emergency rules authorizing WY pharmacists to administer the anticipated COVID-19 vaccine. 
On September 9th, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorized state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccinations once available to patients aged 3 years and older.

On December 2nd, the WY BoRx convened to consider an emergency rule adding vaccines for COVID-19 to the Wyoming Pharmacy Act Rules Chapter 16: Immunization Regulations. The rule was approved. If enacted by Governor Gordon, this emergency rule will be in effect for 120 days after filed.
Wyoming Symphony Orchestra
The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra is so appreciative of the work and care that healthcare workers have provided over this difficult period and want to show appreciation by bringing Holiday Music to frontline workers.

If you work in healthcare, WSO would like to offer you FREE access to the live stream of the Holiday Brass concert on December 5th and 6th!

Email rebecca@wyomingsymphony.org with your name, position, and workplace and we will provide you with an access code to the concert! If you have any questions, call the WSO office at 307-266-1478.  
Online Learning Opportunities
WMS launched an online learning calendar.
Visit for online learning and CME opportunities.
Rockpointe Presents:
Telemedicine in Asthma Management: What Clinicians Need to Know
Dec. 9 
Dec. 15

Rockpointe Presents:
Dermatology and COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting: What Clinicians Need to Know
Dec. 9
A Message From The Doctors Company
COVID-19 and Patient Safety in the Medical Office
As the pandemic hits its third nationwide surge, families are gathering for the holidays, and medical offices in states that were not strongly affected by the first and second waves of the virus may now be facing an influx of COVID-19 patients. Healthcare professionals must continue to proactively take steps to safely manage patients while protecting clinical staff.
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