The Colorado Medical Society joined the American Medical Association and other state medical societies in sending a letter to federal CMS Administrator Seema Verma regarding the E&M proposal in the 2019 proposed Physician Fee Schedule/Quality Payment Program rule. 

In an effort to reduce documentation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (federal CMS) proposed to collapse coding and payment for office visits. The AMA rapidly convened a CPT/RUC workgroup on E&M. The workgroup has an aggressive meeting schedule throughout the fall.  The workgroup plans to develop a CPT proposal by early November.

 

The CPT editorial panel would then vote on the recommendations in February and the RUC then plans to develop revaluations by May. The AMA has spoken a number of times to senior administration officials about the E&M proposal and the workgroup, most recently on Aug. 14 . Because they are still in an open comment period for the proposed rule, federal officials couldn't say anything definitive, but -- according to the AMA -- they did welcome the participation of federal CMS staff in the AMA CPT/RUC workgroup and appear open to considering alternative solutions. Stay tuned.

Wondering what you can do to help fight the opioid epidemic? Interested in learning about how you can incorporate medication-assisted treatment in your practice?

 

Join health care providers from across the state the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 24, for the 1st Annual Colorado Consortium Education Symposium: Best Practices for Pain Management and Addiction Treatment. Experts in preventing and treating opioid use disorders will be discussing the latest research and best practices you can incorporate into your practice. The symposium will be held at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

 

The symposium is free. Registration information is available here.

 

The misuse and abuse of prescription opioids is a major public health crisis in Colorado, contributing to a dramatic rise in drug overdose deaths. According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 1,012 people died of drug overdoses in 2017, with 373 people dying of overdoses related to prescription opioids.

 

The event will review non-opioid pain management and best practices around medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for opioid use disorders.

 

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention is organizing the event. MDs and DOs who attend are eligible for continuing medical education credit. All others will be given a certificate of completion to submit to their professional societies.

 

Both forums are open to members and non-members to share local issues and learn what's new at the American Medical Association. CMS leaders will also be in attendance. Register through the links above.