Don't miss your opportunity to learn more about Crisis Standards of Care for Colorado, and earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and 1 COPIC Point. Join us tonight, Monday, April 13, 6 - 7:30 p.m. for Virtual Grand Rounds. Expert speakers will discuss the revised Crisis Standards of Care for Colorado, including the authorization and activation process, what you can and can't do with PPE, the process for care and triage, and more. There will be time for questions from participants following presentations from the panelists. Register here. Find more information and the accreditation statement here.

Join us for the next virtual physicians' town hall Wednesday, April 15, 6 - 7 p.m. Register here. The town hall will be moderated by CMS President David Markenson, MD, MBA.

Panelists are:

The Colorado Radiological Society invites you to the CRS Virtual Meeting, Thursday, April 16, 7 - 8:30 p.m. MDT: “Update on COVID and the Imaging Experience in Colorado.” This meeting is co-sponsored by the Colorado Medical Society. It features short clinical updates from Jared Eddy, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist at National Jewish Hospital, and Debra Dyer, MD, FACR, Chair of the Department of Radiology at National Jewish Health. Use this link to join.

The Colorado Medical Society joined the American Medical Association (AMA) and other medical societies across the country in a successful advocacy push to get financial support for physician practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the immediate disbursement of the first $30 billion out of the $100 billion that Congress allocated to hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund distribution policy adopted by HHS reflects the recommendations from organized medicine made to Secretary Azar last week, although it is not exactly what we proposed. In part, the differences stem from the administration's approach of first disbursing $30 billion and later determining how the remainder of the funds will be allocated. Getting these funds flowing to help sustain many physician practices as the COVID-19 response continues is an important step that will pave the way for further disbursements in the near future. Read more here.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) recently announced some changes to enhance flexibility and extend time frames for physicians that are concerned about their ability to maintain their board certification. The statement notes: "Any physician who is currently certified and has a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement due in 2020—including an assessment, point requirement or attestation—will now have until the end of 2021 to complete it. Physicians currently in their grace year will also be afforded an additional grace year in 2021. We recognize that each of you faces a different situation, and many of you have been planning to take assessments in the fall. As of now, all fall 2020 MOC assessments will be offered as planned, so you can still take an exam this year if you’d like. We will send information later this spring about additional assessment dates in 2020 and 2021, and how to select one.” Read more here.

UnitedHealth Group, through UnitedHealthcare and Optum, has announced it is accelerating payments and other financial support to health care providers in the U.S. to help address the short-term financial pressure caused by the COVID-19 emergency. UnitedHealth Group’s move to accelerate claim payments to medical and behavioral care providers applies to UnitedHealthcare’s fully insured commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid businesses. Other financial support currently includes the provision for up to $125 million in small business loans to clinical operators with whom OptumHealth is partnered.  Read more here.

CDPHE is currently partnering with Kaiser Permanente to help provide COVID-19 testing to symptomatic health care workers and first responders -- including those who are not Kaiser members -- who do not have access to testing through their employer. Testing is available at eight locations between Loveland and Pueblo. To schedule an appointment, contact CDPHE at 303-692-2700 and ask to speak with a clinical consultant about Kaiser testing. Once approved by CDPHE, you will be able to schedule an appointment at one of Kaiser’s testing tents if appointment slots are available. Tests are run at the CDPHE laboratory and results will be reported out by CDPHE directly to the patient. Thank you to the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians for this news alert.

Many retired physicians, physicians in specialties not directly caring for COVID-19 patients or medical students have asked how they can join in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any medical professional can complete the form on the Help Colorado Now website and indicate your experience to be matched with the needs of hospitals, testing sites or care facilities to provide in-person care. There are volunteer and paid positions available. Read more and complete the form here.

A second opportunity, especially for physicians who may be at high risk for COVID-19, comes through the Colorado COVID-19 Innovation Response Team organized by Gov. Jared Polis. The team will provide telehealth/telemedicine support to ~800,000 uninsured and under-served Coloradans. They need medical professionals and administrators to donate their time to provide these free telehealth visits. This work will be performed entirely from home, primarily via telephone and/or video calls. Callers will provide their symptoms over the phone, and those who need medical attention will be triaged to a queue for telephone-based care. Sign up to volunteer here .

The Colorado Medical Society and Colorado Psychiatric Society hosted a webinar on Friday, April 10, "Staying well amidst the crisis," during which panelists outlined best practices for physician wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic and why this crisis is different from others. Watch the archived version of the webinar here.

The Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) has established a support line for any Colorado physician or physician assistant to call for support in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. By contacting the Care Line at 720-810-9131, you will be linked with a physician peer who will listen and discuss stresses associated with the COVID-19 crisis, and caring for those suffering from the disease. Calls are free of charge and confidential to the extent allowed by the law. Call today or find more information on the CPHP website.

The COVID- 19 public health crisis is an especially difficult time for health care professionals. Headspace, a meditation platform, is offering free access to Headspace Plus for all U.S. healthcare professionals working in public health settings. Helping those who care for us, care for themselves. Read more here.