ASAP e-newsletter: Nov. 18, 2020
CMS Town Hall tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 18, on distribution of bamlanivimab, COVID-19 surge, workforce issues and more
Earn up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Don't miss the Colorado Medical Society's Virtual Town Hall tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6-7 p.m. Expert speakers will address critical topics:

  • COVID-19 surge
  • Statewide distribution of monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab
  • Workforce issues
  • ICU overload preparations

CMS will take live and pre-submitted questions and statements about what has worked for you or what is currently challenging your practice during this pandemic. CDPHE Chief Medical Officer Eric France, MD, MSPH, MBA, will present on bamlanivimab, and Mark Johnson, MD, MPH, Georgie Washington, and others will be available to answer your questions. Physicians can earn up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for participation in this activity. Find the full accreditation information and link to register here. Submit questions or statements in advance to membership@cms.org.
Breaking: Colorado Medical Board meeting cancelled
The Colorado Medical Society and House of Medicine have been asking physicians and medical students for two weeks to sign a petition expressing extreme concern with the loss of confidentiality in physician peer assistance counseling. More than 3,300 have answered this call to action; thank you! This signature-gathering was in preparation for the quarterly Colorado Medical Board meeting originally scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 19, where further resistance to the preserving confidentiality of peer assistance services was expected by medical board staff. Yesterday, with no explanation, CMB cancelled the meeting. It is clear that our voices are being heard, and it more critical than ever that as many Colorado physicians and medical students as possible sign the petition if you have not already. CMS continues our advocacy with you and for you, especially in this time of extreme pressure on physicians. We are pivoting to other strategies to continue our pressure to maintain confidentiality and will update members soon.
Don’t forget to renew your Colorado Medical Society membership for 2021!
State updates COVID-19 dial, calls special legislative session
In a press conference held yesterday, Nov. 17, Gov. Jared Polis announced a change to the state COVID-19 dial, which indicates the level of restrictions needed in counties to reduce the spread of COVID-19. He also announced he would call a special session of the Colorado General Assembly to address COVID-19 relief. Regarding the dial, Gov. Polis added a level, purple/extreme risk, above the previous highest level, red/severe risk, for when hospital capacity risks is breached and most businesses and indoor services must be closed. The revised dial goes into effect Friday, Nov. 20. Fifteen counties, mostly in the Denver metro area, will move to the new red level.

A public health order (PHO) on the dial was released later in the day yesterday. It lays out specific capacity requirements under each color level for hospitals and other health care settings that physicians should understand. The Colorado Medical Society anticipates the imminent release of another public health order implementing a Nov. 14 executive order that focuses on elective surgeries and hospital surge plans. The Colorado Medical Society is actively advocating for physicians' offices to stay open with adherence to proper safety guidelines. Stay tuned.
Interested in giving COVID-19 vaccinations?
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment asks all facilities interested in participating in Colorado's COVID-19 pandemic vaccine response to complete their interest form here. Submission of this form is not a guarantee of receiving COVID-19 vaccine from the state of Colorado and further action will be necessary to officially enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider. Note that one interest form should be completed for each clinic location.

New for you: The Colorado Medical Society is collecting resources on COVID-19 vaccines and regularly updating a dedicated page of CMS.org. View the new resource page here.
Sponsor
Discounted N95 masks available through CMS partnership
The Colorado Medical Society has partnered with ActionPPE.org and more than 30 medical associations on a group-buying program to procure Honeywell H910 Plus NIOSH N95 respirators at $3.85 each. This is a limited-time opportunity to secure PPE in critically short supply during the current increase cases of COVID-19. Those who want to participate must place their orders through this link and select “SPECIAL Group Buy Honeywell N95 Respirators.” If the minimum is not reached and ActionPPE can't place the order, practices will receive prompt refunds. There is no risk. The order will be placed as soon as they reach 500,000 ordered units. The last date to submit an order is Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. MDT. First orders start shipping Dec. 14, 2020 (initial orders may ship sooner).
CMS's unique partnership with Delta Dental of Colorado
Poor oral health can lead to and escalate serious overall health issues. That’s why dental insurance is important and why the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) has collaborated with COPIC Financial Service Group and Delta Dental, the state’s leading dental benefits provider, to offer CMS members an affordable dental benefits program for their employees and their families. Designed for small- to medium-sized organizations, this plan offers a combination of flexibility and cost savings to fit your group’s needs. CMS worked closely with COPIC Financial Service Group to develop this association plan for its members. Find out more here.
Upcoming events for physicians
Frontline providers call with Governor's COVID-19 Response Team
Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
All frontline health care providers are invited to join a call with the Governor's COVID-19 Response team. This call will include an epidemiology and policy update with a majority of time spent on open discussion and Q&A. The governor’s office is specifically interested in hearing from community-based physicians. It will be held tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Zoom URL here. Meeting ID: 862 2437 8529; Passcode: 840538; Call: 346 248 7799 
CMS Virtual Town Hall: Colorado's Behavioral Health Blueprint
Dec. 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
Save the date for a CMS Virtual Town Hall: Colorado's Behavioral Health Blueprint. This event will feature expert panelists talking about next steps for behavioral health. More information coming soon.
Colorado AHEC: Burnout and Healing in the Face of a Global Pandemic
Dec. 8, 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Rapid changes in health care delivery have significantly affected the well-being of clinicians and other workers, along with their loved ones. Join Colorado AHEC for their next session in their NEAR Lite 2020 Virtual Conference. The presenter is Benjamin D. Anderson, MBA, MHCDS, vice president of rural health and hospitals for the Colorado Hospital Association. The live session will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, 12:10-1:10 p.m. More information here. Register here.
HCPF stakeholder meeting for Colorado pain management providers
Dec. 9, 5-6 p.m.
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing invites Colorado pain management providers to a virtual stakeholder meeting on Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to outline a project HCPF is currently working on for development of Centers of Excellence in pain management. Find more details regarding the project and meeting here.
Upcoming CMS committee meetings
All Colorado Medical Society committee meetings are open to all CMS members. Find the latest list of events on the CMS events webpage, cms.org/events. Upcoming meetings for November and December are also listed below with registration links and agendas, if available. If not yet available, use the "request the agenda" link to be notified by a CMS staff person when the agenda has been published.


Registration is required; non-members or those unable to be identified at the time of the meeting will be removed from the meeting.
Sponsors
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View a flyer on Life of the Coronavirus that you can display in your office: English | Spanish

November is National Diabetes Month! View a special flyer on diabetes prescription savings here.
Mary Jo Heins is a former medical practice manager and past president of Colo MGMA. As an independent Medicare insurance agent, she now helps people with all facets of Medicare – objectively and fee free.

  • Enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B
  • Supplement v Medicare Advantage
  • Rx plans - mapping medication regiments to the best formulary
  • Dental/Hearing/Vision plans
  • Education sessions via Zoom

303-916-6992
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CMS's Jane Nugent Cochems Trust provides financial help for physicians in need
The Colorado Medical Society administers grants from the Jane Nugent Cochems Charitable Trust to offer short-term financial help to physicians in need. The average grant to approved applicants ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, although larger amounts can be approved. The application process is simple and the review process is completely confidential. Application deadline: Dec. 1, 2020. To download an application form, go to cms.org/about/cochems-trust. For more information, contact Tom Wilson at the Colorado Medical Society at 720-858-6316 or tom_wilson@cms.org.
2021 CMS Election: Call for nominations
The nomination period for the 2021 Colorado Medical Society Election is open through Jan. 31, 2021. The Colorado Medical Society encourages all members to consider nominating a colleague or self-nominating for one of the open leadership positions: president-elect (one position) or AMA delegation (eight positions). The election manual, which contains all of the information a potential candidate needs about the duties, eligibility, requirements and election process, is available on the CMS website. Read more here.
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