Livewire: Legislative update; plus PRF reporting period 2 deadline extension, MAID webinar and more

May 2022

Legislative session ends: Quick highlights for Colorado practices

The Colorado General Assembly adjourned Wednesday, May 11. The Colorado Medical Society secured important victories and experienced some losses this session and, as always, there is still work to be done in the interim and beyond. Here are three top lines for Colorado practices.

HB 22-1115 Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) passed and will fund integration of a physician's electronic health record with the PDMP to streamline clinical workflow and enhance use of this tool.
HB 22-1302 Health Care Practice Transformations passed bringing another payment reform program to primary care physicians currently using or considering using integrated care models. Eligible physicians will be able to apply for a grant from the program established by this bill; more information to come when those funds become available.
HB 22-1325 Primary Care Alternative Payment Models (APMs) passed and puts Colorado on the cutting edge of payment reform. While CMS secured important protections for physicians in the bill, there is still work to be done to ensure APMs work well for physicians and patients. Expect to hear from us in the coming months about how you can be involved with the stakeholder process.

Provider relief funds deadline extended for reporting period 2

The deadline for providers to request to submit a late Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Period 2 (RP2) report has been extended to May 18 at 9:59 p.m. MT / 11:59 p.m. ET.

Physicians who received more than $10,000 in provider relief funds and did not submit their Period 2 report must act immediately by submitting a late Reporting Period 2 report request by Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Period 2 spanned from July 1, 2020 thru Dec. 31, 2020, and included physicians who see patients with Medicaid and CHIP coverage. If a provider did not submit a Period 2 report and does not hear from HRSA, click here to learn more about the late reporting request form or call (866) 569-3522. See more information and a step-by-step guide from the American Medical Association here.

Webinar: 5 years into Colorado's Medical Aid in Dying Law: What Do Physicians Think? Thursday, May 19, 7-8 a.m.

The Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus invites you to attend a webinar on Colorado's Medical Aid in Dying Law during which expert speakers Hillary Lum, MD, PhD, and Eric Campbell, PhD, (pictured) will present the results of a recent survey of 300 Colorado physicians. Don't miss this important webinar! RSVP today.

Teaching climate change in just 45 seconds: Three easy scripts

How can we talk with our patients about the health risks of climate change without disrupting the office visit? This important topic can be time-consuming and even controversial. This month, My Green Doctor explains an easy solution (login required) that may work well in your practice.

My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit for members of the Colorado Medical Society. Members use My Green Doctor’s “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, and help create healthier communities. The program adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting or weekly office “huddle,” making small changes at each meeting that over time really add up.

Everyone in your practice can register as Partner Society members at www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (en Español!) and can use the discount code MGDCOMS to save $60 instantly and give full access to My Green Doctor for free. Ask your practice manager to register today and to put My Green Doctor on your next agenda. You can do this!

CMS supports this free program for its benefits to practices and sustainability. CMS does not earn revenue for your participation or referrals.

Save the date: July Regional Summit and CMS Board of Directors Meeting in Denver - July 23-24, 2022

The Colorado Medical Society is planning the July Regional Summit and Board of Directors Meeting. It will be held July 23-24 in Denver, featuring Saturday afternoon professional development and a Saturday evening reception and dine-arounds. Watch for registration coming soon!

Thanks to our Partners in Medicine, who support Colorado physicians and practices!

Confused: https://calendly.com/abyde392/hipaa-compliance-consultation?month=2022-03

Thinking: https://app.abyde.com/hipaachallenge/colorado-medical-society

Happy: https://abyde.com/signup/

Job board

A longtime internal medicine physician in Rifle, Colo., will retire in the next year and is looking for a physician to take over the practice who is committed to serving a rural population. The sale of the practice includes the building. If interested, please call 970-625-5521.

Hospitalist, Frisco CO. PRN hospitalist shifts available in Summit County CO. 2-6 shifts/month. Please call 303-885-4673 to discuss.

Physician office space to share, available July 1, 2022, in renovated house on South Wadsworth Blvd. near Alameda Ave. Read more here.

Internal Medicine Physician - Opportunity for an Internist to join our outpatient, multi-specialty, clinic full time, at Estes Park Health, located in Estes Park, Colorado. Read more here.

Position available: Family Practice or Internal Medicine trained physician in Southern Colorado. Read more here.

Place a job board advertisement by contacting dianna_fetter@cms.org.

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