In this quarter's president's letter, NCMS President Claire Murphy, MD, gives an update on the many projects NCMS has been advancing over the spring and early summer, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. From local candidate interviews to launching the NCMS Book Club to meeting with health systems and more, your NCMS leadership has been busy. Read more here.

Thanks to all of the physicians and practice managers who submitted contact information updates for the 2020 NCMS Physician Directory and Patient Resource Guide. Request copies for your office or make further changes to your listing online by emailing kate@nocomedsoc.org.

September book club: Join us in reading and discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

NCMS launched a Physicians' Book Club this summer to engage northern Colorado physicians in a sphere outside of medicine, work toward greater wellness and build community. Start reading today and join us for our next virtual discussion on Sept. 14, 7-8 p.m., during which NCMS member Stephanie Lockwood, MD, will lead us in dialogue about the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. According to the publisher, the book "tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew. It’s a story inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we’re made of." Sign up to receive notices about upcoming book clubs through this Google form.

NCMS will host a virtual Legislative Night on Wednesday, Oct. 7. All northern Colorado legislators and COMPAC-endorsed candidates have been invited. The evening will feature dialogue between physicians and our representatives/candidates on the top issues of medicine in a town-hall-style event with small group breakouts. Attendees will be invited to submit questions or topics for potential inclusion in the program. Stay tuned!

The Colorado Medical Society has teamed up with ActionPPE.org to give Colorado physicians access to medical-grade PPE supplies. All items are already in a warehouse in the United States, and orders ship quickly and directly to your office. View product details and certificates for KN95 or disposable tri-fold masks, disposable gowns and face shields here -- actionppe.org/3/cms/ -- place your order, and share this link with your colleagues.

Two new laws in Colorado -- the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act and Public Health Emergency Whistleblower Law -- require paid sick leave and protection from discrimination or retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions. Read more here.

Implementation of Ensuring Appropriate Claims Payment project is anticipated to begin late September. Providers are reminded this project has two components: implementation of ClaimsXten and improvements to the 3M EAPG Grouper. More information can be found in the August bulletin or through a brief, recorded informational webinar. The webinar provides a high-level walkthrough of the purpose, timeline, and implementation of the Ensuring Appropriate Claims Payment project. Frequently Asked Questions have been published on the project webpage. Email HCPF_ClaimsXten@state.co.us with additional questions.

Due to record unemployment in the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is projecting a surge of more than 500,000 Coloradans between April 1 and Dec. 31, reflecting a more than 40 percent increase in Medicaid and CHP+ members. They are calling on providers to help by:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced major changes to Medicare physician payment for 2021 regarding the PFS conversion factor, Evaluation and Management Services, payment for telehealth and quality reporting programs. Read more here.

The data is in -- wearing a mask saves lives. According to the CDC, if everyone wears a mask, over the next 4-8 weeks we could drastically reduce cases of COVID-19. As physicians and medical students, you can help patients understand their risks for transmission through clear and simple communication, rooted in science. Use the AMA's campaign toolkit to share these images on social media, in your office, and anywhere in between. ama-assn.org/maskup

Do you know a Colorado physician who deserves to be recognized for going beyond the scope of practice to improve lives in his or her community? If so, please consider nominating him or her for the annual COPIC Humanitarian Award. Nominations are being accepted through Aug. 31, 2020. The award provides a $10,000 donation to be awarded to a Colorado health care-related nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choice. To nominate a physician, visit www.callcopic.com/about-copic/copic-humanitarian-award to download a nomination form or email Meredith Hintze at mhintze@copic.com.

Save the date! The Colorado Medical Society will host a virtual Annual Meeting on Friday, Sept. 25. It will feature education; an address by AMA President Susan Bailey, MD; the swearing in of Sami Diab, MD, as CMS president; recognition of outgoing president David Markenson, MD, MBA; social time; and more. Watch for more details and registration coming soon from CMS.

Recognizing the need to "re-fill our cups" given the toll the past several months has taken, the American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter (AAP Colorado) invites all physicians to participate in a mental health wellness series that acknowledges the importance of taking time to reflect upon issues critical to physicians and your profession. Each session is designed to be a stand-alone topic, so physicians can attend as many sessions as desired. Remaining sessions are as follows: "Honoring Our Stories" (Aug. 20) with Meghan Treitz, MD, and "Honoring Our Diversity" (Aug. 26) with Nita Mosby Tyler, MD. Suggested donation is $25 per session. Find more information and register here.

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s Provider Education Work Group continues their series of free lunch and learn sessions, held each Wednesday, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Each presentation is eligible for 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. To receive CME credit, you must pre-register here. If you would simply like to drop in, no pre-registration is required. For a complete list of topics and dates, please visit the Consortium website. All sessions will be held via Zoom at this link / Password: 620980. All events will be recorded and posted online for future viewing.

We welcome our new members to NCMS, the largest component chapter of the Colorado Medical Society. Your membership connects you to your colleagues and a host of benefits through NCMS and CMS. Go to www.nocomedsoc.org or www.cms.org to learn more.

Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities here or by contacting nocomedsoc@gmail.com.

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