Has prior authorization harmed your patients? We need your stories!

The Colorado Medical Society has launched a new campaign, Health Can't Wait Colorado, aimed at reducing undue administrative burdens such as prior authorizations.

• Do you have a story to share about when a patient was harmed by prior authorization? We need real examples, especially from patients and also from physicians and office staff, to advocate for reform
• We are stronger together! Join our coalition by emailing jennifer_armstrong@cms.org

Public Health Emergency is ending; help keep Coloradans covered

The Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 is expected to end May 11, 2023, and with it comes the end of continuous coverage for your patients who are covered by Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) estimates more than 325,000 Coloradans may no longer qualify for safety net coverage and the department has asked providers and practices to help keep Coloradans covered.

• Display flyers in English and Spanish in your waiting room and utilize other KeepCOCovered awareness posters, social media images, virtual backgrounds and signature tags available here
• Help connect Coloradans who no longer qualify for these programs to alternative, affordable forms of health coverage; find tools to accomplish this shared goal and more at KeepCOCovered.com

Unsure about MAT and MATE requirements?

Physicians must comply with new requirements for DEA licensing under the new Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act and Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. Here's what we know.

COPIC opioid seminars for 2023 licensure renewal

Two one-hour virtual seminars; COPIC-insured attendees will receive 1 COPIC point and 1.0-hour of CME for attending

There are just two more sessions of the COPIC virtual presentations on opioids that providers may use to meet the two hours of training requirements as stated by the Colorado Medical Board for licensure renewal in 2023. There is no cost to attend these, and one COPIC point will be awarded per session for eligible insureds. 

• Opioid Management: A Practical Approach to a National Crisis - April 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Opioid Crisis: Strategies for Reducing the Burden - April 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Fraud alert: Scammers stealing through fake HHS websites

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public to a fraud scheme that uses social media and fake websites to steal money from individuals by offering fake HHS grants. The scheme involves scammers pretending to offer you grants from HHS and asking for payment or personal information to receive the fake grants. Reminders:

• HHS will never ask you to pay money to receive a grant.
• HHS will not message you through social media to begin a grant application.
• HHS websites always use a .gov domain.
• Report grant schemes by submitting a hotline complaint or call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477; TTY 1-800-377-4950)

Colorado Consortium lunch and learn series

Upcoming session: Benzodiazepine Induced Neurological Dysfunction, Wed., March 29, 12-1 p.m. For more information, upcoming sessions, and links to on-demand recordings, visit the Consortium's website.

Medical students: Apply for CMS Education Foundation scholarships; deadlines in April

The Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation is accepting applications for medical student scholarships. Questions? Contact kate_alfano@cms.org.