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Colorado Senate strips dangerous language from naturopath sunset legislation; your voice was heard
Dear Colleague,
I am so pleased to report that the Colorado Senate this morning stripped language from legislation that would have allowed naturopaths to treat patients with intravenous minerals and amino acids, as well as hormones. This provision was added earlier in the legislative session by the House of Representatives to a routine bill to reauthorize the regulation of naturopaths (NDs) under Colorado's sunset review process.
Your contacts with members of the Senate over the past four days were instrumental in helping to persuade the Senate to stop this ill-conceived and dangerous provision from becoming law. The vote to strip the language was unanimous.
In reviewing the provision earlier in the year, the CMS Council on Legislation was very troubled by language associated with the authorization to treat, specifying that nothing would have limited the ability of an ND to make an independent judgment or to require supervision by a physician or APN. In addition, there was concern with the term "hormone" because it was not defined and would have been open to a more broad and more dangerous interpretation and authorization for NDs to treat patients.
The Senate decision today was an important vote for patient safety. I wish to thank all CMS members who took the time to call your legislators. Your voice was heard. Please be on the lookout for updates on the CMS managed care reform legislative package and an attempt by Colorado's personal injury lawyers to expand the value of a lawsuit in upcoming issues of Colorado Medicine and ASAP.
Best Regards,
Katie Lozano, MD, FACR
CMS President
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Remembering the 70th anniversary of the Nuremberg doctors' trials
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Nuremberg doctors' trial, at which 20 Nazi physicians were tried for heinous crimes against humanity. To remember the trial and reflect on its continuing significance for health and society today, a series of events is planned on all four University of Colorado campuses and in the community during the nationally-declared Week of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, April 24-28, 2017. The events are part of the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities' Holocaust Genocide and Contemporary Bioethics program.
Events include the following:
- Monday, April 24, 12-1 pm, lecture: "How Healers Became Killers: Nazi Doctors and Modern Medical Ethics"
- Monday, April 24, 1:30-3 pm, panel discussion: "The 70th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Doctors' Trials: Lessons and Legacies for Today's Health Professionals"
- Monday, April 24, 6 pm, panel discussion/community event: "The 70th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Doctors' Trials: Lessons and Legacies for Health and Society"
- Wednesday, April 26, 12pm, presentation with panel response: "The 70th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Doctors' Trials: Lessons and Legacies for Law and Society"
- Wednesday, April 26, 7-8:30 pm, community event, presentation and panel discussion: "Agency in the Midst of Oppression: Jewish Doctors, Ghettos and Public Health"
- Thursday, April 27, 12-1:30 pm, presentation and panel response: "The 70th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Doctors' Trials: Lessons and Legacies for Today"
To RSVP and for additional details, visit
www.coloradobioethics.org.
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Walgreens launches permanent prescription medication disposal sites in Colorado
Walgreens has announced the launch of permanent prescription medication disposal sites, located throughout Colorado. Walgreens' medication disposal kiosks are free to use, and will help to ensure Coloradans can safely and easily dispose of medications that are no longer needed. Properly disposing of unused, unwanted or expired medications, including controlled substances and over-the-counter medications, can help to prevent misuse of those drugs and lower the risk of abuse by a friend or family member.
The current select Walgreens pharmacies in Colorado with safe medication disposal kiosks are:
- Aurora - 12051 E. Mississippi Ave.
- Brighton - 1821 E. Bridge Street
- Colorado Springs - 3480 N. Academy Blvd.
- Denver - 1111 S. Colorado Blvd.
- Fort Collins - 2190 W. Drake Road
- Grand Junction - 240 W. Park Drive
- Highlands Ranch - 9141 S. Broadway
- Longmont - 1041 Main Street
- Pueblo - 2900 W. Northern Ave.
- Thornton - 4001 E. 120th Ave.
- Wheat Ridge - 4401 Wadsworth Blvd.
For a list of additional medication take back sites, click here.
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There's still time! RSVP for the Physician skills series program in Denver, Saturday, April 22
Earn up to 3.5
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ at the next program in the CMS Physician Leadership Skills Series, to be held in Denver on Saturday, April 22, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Register here.
CMS members will learn about multi-generational leadership. Health care requires teamwork, and for physicians that often means leading and working with people of different ages and generational attributes. Find more information on the full series, including the CME accreditation statements, and access registration
here.
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Help federal CMS improve its Quality Payment Program (QPP) website
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking for participants to complete a 10-15 minute online task to improve the design and usability of its Quality Payment Program (QPP) website,
https://qpp.cms.gov/. The goal is to create a website that meets the needs of the clinician community, while streamlining processes and minimizing undue burdens for program participation.
If you are interested in helping the agency to improve the site,
click here and complete the 10-15 minute task by Monday, April 24. The purpose of this task is to help organize the content on the QPP website. There is no right or wrong way to complete the task; they simply want to get your perspective.
If you have any questions about this task or future studies contact UserWorks at
cms@userworks.com or call 301-431-0500. You can also contact the head of QPP user research Kayenda Johnson at
kayenda.johnson@cms.hhs.gov or call 202-705-8488.
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QPP fast facts in 5 minutes
Get the help you need to prepare for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Quality Payment Program (QPP) through the Colorado QPP Coalition. The coalition released the first in its series of "QPP Fast Facts in 5 minutes," which will be published regularly on the coalition webpage,
www.cms.org/coqpp, and in coalition members' newsletters.
Click here for the first installment, which includes basic questions-and-answers to QPP participation, eligibility and reporting options.
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Don't forget: AMA will host a MACRA/QPP webinar this Thursday, April 20 at 5 p.m. MT
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) represents the most significant change in Medicare physician payment policy in over 25 years, and physicians have the opportunity to pick their pace of participation during the 2017 Quality Payment Program (QPP) transition year.
A webinar this Thursday, April 20, at 5 p.m. MT will help physicians and medical society staff understand both MIPS and APMs.
Register here.
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Become a CMS leader
Nomination period open through April 30 for AMA delegates and alternate delegates
Time is running out to self-nominate for one of CMS's leadership positions of AMA Delegate and Alternate Delegate. The nomination period closes April 30, 2017. Overall, there will be four Delegate and four Alternate Delegate positions elected in an all-member election this August. The term of the positions will begin Jan. 1, 2018 and continue for two years through Dec. 31, 2019.
Read more about these positions in the the election guide,
available here. Questions? Contact
dean_holzkamp@cms.org.
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You're invited: Prime Health Innovation Summit - May 4
The Governor's Office of eHealth Innovation, the eHealth Commission and Prime Health invite you to join other statewide health care thought leaders at the Prime Health Summit on May 4.
Register here.
At this event, you'll discuss and define Colorado's greatest health innovation needs and best practices in integrating innovation into care models, patient satisfaction/engagement, enhancing value and interoperability. Attendees will help align key innovations and initiatives with the state's overall strategy and plans, identify unique entrepreneurial opportunities, help curate and advance digital health innovations across the state, and leverage the digital health innovation community in meeting statewide goals and objectives.
It will consist of facilitated breakout discussions resulting in an assessment of the state's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the following areas:
- Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorder and Integration
- Chronic Disease Management
- Social Determinants of Health
- Transition from Fee-For-Service to Value-Based Care
- Information and Sharing - Breaking Down Silos
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CPEP to present programs on prescribing controlled drugs and pain management
Prescribing Controlled Drugs: Critical Issues and Common Pitfalls©
May 16-18, 2017, Denver, CO
CPEP, in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Center for Professional Health, is offering Vanderbilt's highly
regarded Prescribing Controlled Drugs: Critical Issues and Common Pitfalls© course. This three-day
course is designed to teach appropriate prescribing practices, facilitate understanding of personal
motivations in the patient encounter as understood within the framework of family systems theory, discuss
personal responsibilities with patients, and cultivate new skills in substance abuse identification. Course fee is $2,525. Up to 22.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits available. Download a program flyer here.
Enhance your Knowledge - Improve your Care
May 19, 2017, Denver, CO
CPEP's new course, Basics of Chronic Pain Management, is a one-day seminar that will help you treat a growing population of chronic pain patients with safety and confidence. This course is
designed for clinicians who manage or encounter patients with chronic pain. It is not intended for pain
management specialists. Course fee is $550, with a discount for those enrolled in "Prescribing Controlled Drugs." CME credits pending. Download a program flyer here.
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COPIC Insurance Company is Colorado's leading medical liability insurance provider. Three out of four physicians choose COPIC for this critically important coverage. CMS members receive a 10 percent premium discount from COPIC.
For more information, call (720) 858-6000 or visit www.callcopic.com.
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Is your lease expiring within 18-months? If so, we can help. Carr Healthcare Realty is the nation's leading provider of commercial real estate services for healthcare tenants and buyers. Visit: www.carrhr.com
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The average physician can save $38,000 by refinancing their student loans with LendKey! CMS members get a $400 cash bonus when refinancing through this partnership.
Rates as low as 2.14% variable and 3.25% fixed. Visit www.LKrefi.com/co-med. Phone: 888-549-9050 Email: customer.care@lendkey.com
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You are unique.
More than 50% of physicians feel they have more complicated financial needs than other professions. Our firm works with physicians and their families to tackle these unique challenges. Call (720)-887-1299 or visit www.goldmedalwaters.com.
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Physician Program offers you Exclusive Benefits!
Full suite of consumer, commercial, and mortgage products in the Denver and Colorado Springs markets. Visit www.academybank.com/swatts or call 303-531-1190 (Office); 303-408-4648 (Cell); and email swatts@academybank.com
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Compliments of CMS: Reduce patient callbacks, HIPAA compliant, RX Savings up to 75%, click for free customization COLORADO DRUG CARD.
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Time is money! FREE banking services designed for medical professionals. Call 303-840-8484 today to schedule your appointment with a Relationship Banker.
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Improve patient care with our health information exchange services - query patient records via secure web portal, receive real-time encounter notifications, and exchange clinical documents securely.
www.corhio.org
720-285-3200
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Resources and top questions about Colorado's interChange
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Almost two months after go-live of the new claims payment system, the Colorado interChange, Medicaid officials are updating and adding new resources to help physicians, practices and staff continue learning and fine-tuning their use of the system. Visit the provider portal and provider resources page to access all resources.
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Join in!
National Park Prescriptions Initiative: ParksRx Day, April 23
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The National Park Prescriptions Initiative (ParkRx) is a national movement to strengthen the connection between health care, parks and public lands to improve the physical and mental health of individuals and communities. More than 40 Park Rx Day events have been registered for April 23, 2017 in parks and communities all across the country. One event has been registered in Colorado, at Mestizo Curtis Park in Denver. To learn more about ParkRx Day, click here.
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