September 2021
Primary care practices can access practice grants to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts

Gov. Jared Polis announced earlier this month that Colorado will provide practice grants of up to $120,000 to Colorado primary care practices to aid them in providing COVID-19 vaccinations to their patients. This solution is a direct benefit of the advocacy work CMS has been doing on your behalf to make sure you have the resources you need in the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Practices are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The COVID-19 Primary Care Vaccination Program is funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and administered by the Colorado Health Institute (CHI).

Watch the COPCPVax Grant Eligibility & Enrollment Webinar

To help you navigate the new grant program, the Colorado Medical Society co-hosted a webinar on the new COPCPVax grant program on Sept. 10.

United agrees to give physicians ERISA rights in connection with repayment demands

Has your practice received a repayment demand from United after purportedly determining that it overpaid a claim for a patient who executed an Authorized Representative Designation or an Assignment of Benefits? A recent class action settlement gives out-of-network physicians important rights under ERISA in connection with repayment demands. Physicians now have the option to respond to United’s repayment demands and essentially say, “I dispute your claim. If you intend to pursue this further, I insist that you give me all of my patient’s rights under ERISA and prove it in an ERISA hearing.” If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Diana Huang (diana.huang@ama-assn.org).
Welcoming CMS's newest Partner in Medicine:
Sharkey, Howes & Javer
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Survey: New prescriber tool for Colorado Medicaid 

A company contracted with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) recently sent a survey to prescribers requesting they complete a 5-10-minute survey regarding Prescriber Tool adoption. CMS encourages all practices to complete the survey to aid HCPF in assessing prescriber awareness and readiness, potential barriers, and quality metrics. The prescriber tool is a significant priority for HCPF. 
Biden-Harris administration expands vaccination requirements for health care settings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (federal CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced on Sept. 9 that emergency regulations requiring vaccinations for nursing home workers will be expanded to include hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings, and home health agencies, among others, as a condition for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The decision was based on the continued and growing spread of the virus in health care settings, especially in parts of the U.S. with higher incidence of COVID-19. The federal CMS is developing an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period that will be issued in October. Read the full release here.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Screening resources for your patients

During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, physicians are encouraged to talk to your patients about the nature and risk of prostate cancer, and help them make an informed decision about screening.

More Information:

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Upcoming events
CMS is proud to support CMGMA's Fall Conference
Register for pre-conference workshops, sponsored by CMS
  • Featuring the latest hot topics in practice management
  • Colorado Medical Society will present pre-conference workshops on Sept. 22 to enhance registrants' conference experience
  • View the event brochure
  • Register here
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Thanks to our Partners in Medicine, who support Colorado physicians and practices!
What products or services would be most valuable to your practice?
As the Colorado Medical Society builds a robust program of valuable and vetted partners through the Partners in Medicine program, we need your input! What types of products, services or resources would be most helpful to your practice and others like yours? Share your ideas; email dianna_fetter@cms.org
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