ASAP: Students say thank you! Plus, code blue for vaccine bill, revised orders for resuming elective surgeries, PPE update and more

ASAP e-newsletter: May 27, 2020

Elementary students say thank you to health care workers

Students from Buffalo Ridge Elementary in Castle Pines, Colo., produced a "thank you" video for health care workers and asked the Colorado Medical Society to share it with our members. We return our gratitude to these thoughtful students! Run time: 5 minutes 44 seconds. Watch through the video player above or this link to the CMS YouTube channel .

News and Resources

Your voice TODAY can help keep an important vaccination bill alive

CMS has voted to support Senate Bill 163, which would increase vaccination rates in Colorado by increasing regulations around vaccine exemptions. However, strong anti-vaccination voices are encouraging leadership in the House to kill the bill without it even receiving a hearing. We need your help generating phone calls and emails TODAY, Wednesday, May 27, to urge Reps. Becker and Garnett to take up Senate Bill 163 in the House. We are asking for help from physicians, particularly in Denver and Boulder, as well as organizational leaders, public health officials and anyone who has a personal relationship with Reps. Becker or Garnett.

Contact:

Speaker KC Becker: 303-866-2578, kcbecker.house@state.co.us
Majority Leader Alec Garnett: 303-866-2911, alec.garnett.house@state.co.us

Legislative update: Budget dominates truncated session

The Colorado General Assembly reconvened Tuesday, May 26. The biggest priority -- and the only bill that must pass -- is the 2020-2021 state budget. Given the $3.3 billion state budget deficit, a 25 percent reduction from last year, the "long bill" includes deep cuts to nearly every part of state spending. In Medicaid, legislators propose reversing the previously approved 1.9 percent provider rate increase and instituting an across-the-board 1 percent provider rate cut. The CMS lobby team has been active in advocating for the priorities of physicians and patients, including coordinating a letter to the Joint Budget Committee urging caution on provider rate cuts. Read the letter here .

CMS coordinated with partners in the Colorado House of Medicine to send two additional letters this week:

A letter to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis commending him on protecting certain physicians from liability as they respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency
A letter to members of Senate and House leadership urging continued support of recently expanded telehealth coverage in Medicaid and the commercial health insurance market

Revised executive order and public health order extend to June 25 limited ability to provide elective surgeries and procedures

Executive Order D 2020 080 , issued on May 26, extended Executive Order D 2020 045 permitting the limited recommencement of voluntary or elective surgeries and procedures in Colorado for another 30 days. The new executive order, along with Second Amended Public Health Order 20-29 , are effective until June 25. The Colorado Medical Society recently developed a primer to help CMS members understand what the executive order and amended public health order mean for their practices, and to provide information on other requirements, obligations and best practices as you resume providing a full range of health care services to your patients. Access the primer here .

Your CMS PPE bulk order is coming soon! Mask distribution tomorrow, Thursday, May 28

The Colorado Medical Society partnered with the State of Colorado, Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Healthcare earlier this month to secure bulk PPE pricing for members of the Colorado Medical Society. The good news is that the first portion of orders, KN-95 masks, will be distributed statewide tomorrow! Gowns and gloves will be distributed soon, within two weeks. Thank you for your dedication to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the COVID-19 section of CMS.org for helpful resources and contact CMS at membership@cms.org with PPE questions.

Sponsors

Upcoming events for physicians

CMS webinar: Social Determinants of Health and their Effects on COVID-19 Outcomes

Friday, May 29, 12 - 1 p.m.

Register today for a Colorado Medical Society webinar: Social Determinants of Health and their Effects on COVID-19 Outcomes, Friday, May 29, 12-1 p.m. Attendees can earn up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ and 1 COPIC Point. Recognizing the impact of social determinants of health on our patients and communities is crucial to all health care providers, particularly during this COVID-19 public health crisis. Expert panelists -- Jacinda Mawson Nicklas, MD, MPH, MA; Mike Pramenko, MD; and Brad Roberts, MD will give an overview of the impact of social determinants of health on COVID-19 outcomes, with a focus on smoking/vaping and obesity. More information and full accreditation statement here .

Colorado Consortium lunch and learn sessions

Wednesdays May-October, 12:30-1:15 p.m.

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s Provider Education work group is pleased to announce a series of free lunch and learn sessions Wednesdays in May through October from 12:30-1:15 p.m. Each presentation is eligible for .75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. You must pre-register here to receive CME credit ; this link also takes you to each program's individual accreditation statement, objectives and disclosures. If you’d simply like to drop-in and not receive CME credit, no pre-registration is required. The 45 minute sessions will include a didactic session followed by Q&A. Click here for a complete list of topics and dates.

All sessions will be held via Zoom at the link here . Programs will be recorded and posted online for future viewing.