WORD TO THE WISE
Newsletter: August 2020 - Volume 20, No. 8
In this issue:
  • Update from your president: Physician peer assistance services
  • Update from your CMS BOD rep: More on local-only memberships
  • PCMS update: Directory alert - new information and advertising
  • News and resources: New public health laws; Medicare physician fee schedule; CPHP Care Line; HCPF webinar
  • Local events: Save the date for the 4th Annual Symposium and Annual General Meeting
  • Other events: AAP Colorado wellness series; HCPF provider leader webinars; Consortium series
  • News from CMS: PPE ordering opportunity; virtual Annual Meeting
  • News from COPIC: Nominate a physician for the Humanitarian Award
  • News from AMA: #MaskUp to prevent spread of COVID-19
UPDATE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT: Marcel Junqueira, MD
CPHP appeal denied; physicians can contact DORA

I, like many of you, have been closely watching the contract deliberations for physician peer assistance services in Colorado. Last week, the Colorado Physician Health Program -- our current provider of these services -- saw their appeal denied by the state to reconsider the RFP conditions and basis for awarding the peer assistance contract for physicians to another organization. This action greatly concerns physicians and medical societies as the new program would require all physicians accessing the program to sign a waiver allowing the release of their information to the Colorado Medical Board. This action stands to have a chilling effect on physicians voluntarily seeking services as they would fear repercussions to medical licensure and, therefore, could harm patient safety.

Those wishing to take action can reach out to DORA Executive Director Patty Salazar at patty.salazar@state.co.us or 303-894-7866 to express your concerns with these developments.
UPDATE FROM YOUR CMS BOD REP: Brad Roberts, MD 
An update on the issue of local-only memberships

As a board member of the Pueblo County Medical Society and your regional representative on the Colorado Medical Society Board of Directors, I have been encouraged by the discussion continuing around local-only memberships. CMS leadership and the board members of other component societies around the state have contributed thoughtful dialogue on the issue and we all agree that a united House of Medicine will serve physicians best in these challenging times. I feel that one of CMS's greatest strengths are its local components and the work we do in our communities. Colorado is a unique place where members outside of the city limits of the capital are engaged and welcome. I do still believe strongly in continuing to allow local-only members and I will speak in favor of this position at the September CMS board meeting. PCMS has a part in giving significant reassurance that we, as a component medical society, will also support CMS so they can continue to do very important work at the state level. Please reply to this email with any thoughts you'd like to share with me, and thank you for your membership in PCMS.
PCMS UPDATE
Directory alert

It’s that time again to send us any updates to your listing in the 2020 PCMS Medical Directory. Sept. 30, 2020 is the printing deadline and publishing date for the 2020 PCMS Medical Directory. Please email directory@pueblocms.org any and all updated contact information such as practice name, office phone numbers (including fax), and an updated professional photo by Monday, Sept. 21, at noon.

You're also invited to place an advertisement in the Medical Directory. This exclusive opportunity gives you the chance to reach all PCMS members plus other medical professionals and patients throughout our region. View advertising rates here. Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 is the cut-off date for ads with slight flexibility for change.
NEWS AND RESOURCES
New public health laws now in effect

Effective July 15, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020, the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (“HFWA”) (SB 20-205) requires almost all Colorado employers, private or public, and regardless of size, to provide each employee paid leave for reasons related to COVID-19, in the amounts and for the purposes specified in the federal "Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act" in the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act."

As of Jan. 1, 2021, HFWA requires paid leave (1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours leave per year) for a broader range of health and safety purposes -- not just related to COVID-19, but any illness/injury, health appointment, or domestic violence-related need of the worker or a family member. In 2021, employers with 16 or more employees are covered; as of 2022, employers of all sizes are covered.

Effective July 12, 2020, the Public Health Emergency Whistleblower (“PHEW”) Law (HB 20-1415) prohibits a “principal” -- employers plus certain labor contractors and other entities that rely on independent contractors -- from discriminating, retaliating, or taking adverse action against any worker who:

  • Raises any concern about workplace health and safety practices or hazards related to a public health emergency; or
  • Voluntarily wears, at the workplace, the worker's own personal protective equipment (“PPE”), such as a mask, face guard or gloves, if the PPE is recommended by a government public health agency, provides more protection than any PPE the principal provides, and does not prevent performing the worker’s duties.

For more information on these laws, or other Colorado wage or workplace conditions laws and regulations, please visit the Division of Labor Standards’ website.
Proposed policy, payment and quality provisions changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2021

On Aug. 3, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) effective on or after Jan. 1, 2021. At the same time, the administration issued an Executive Order on Improving Rural and Telehealth Access. Here are a few takeaways from the 1,355-page rule.

  • The proposed CY 2021 PFS conversion factor is $32.26, a significant decrease of $3.83 below the CY 2020 PFS conversion factor of $36.09 (11 percent decrease compared to last year).
  • The federal CMS proposes to implement finalized CPT descriptors, guidelines and payment rates for evaluation and management (E/M) services on Jan. 1, 2021, which will be a significant modification to the coding, documentation, and payment of evaluation and management (E/M) services for office visits. While the agency recognized the increases in the payment bundles for maternity care and a few other select services, the visits within the 10-day and 90-day surgical global surgical payment bundle remains unchanged.
  • The executive order and proposed rule aims to expand payment for telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries permanently, beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • The federal CMS proposes to continue to gradually implement MIPS in 2021 and postpones the MIPS Value Pathways participation option until 2022 at the earliest.
CPHP COVID-19 Care Line for Physicians (Care Line): 720-810-9131

The Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) reminds you to call the COVID-19 Care Line for Physicians (Care Line) at 720-810-9131 if you need support. Their staff remains here to listen and assist you in managing the stress of caring for patients. It is not too late to make sure that your dedication does not take a toll. The Care Line helps you or those who have been dedicated to medicine during this time; those who have sacrificed to help patients. You can call this line for support relating to your COVID-19 experience, or any problems you may be facing such as anxiety or depression. For more information go to their website.

CPHP continues to be our statewide peer assistance provider. They are working diligently with partners to assure they can remain Colorado's confidential expert peer assistance program.
HCPF webinar: Ensuring Appropriate Claims Payment

Implementation of the Ensuring Appropriate Claims Payment project is anticipated to begin late September. Providers are reminded this project has two components: implementation of ClaimsXten and improvements to the 3M EAPG Grouper. More information can be found in the August bulletin. An informational webinar is now available for viewing. This recorded webinar is less than 10 minutes long and provides a high-level walkthrough of the purpose, timeline and implementation of the Ensuring Appropriate Claims Payment project. Frequently Asked Questions have been published on the project web page. Email HCPF_ClaimsXten@state.co.us with additional questions.
LOCAL EVENTS
Save the date for upcoming PCMS events in 2020, re-envisioned!

PCMS 4th Annual Symposium - virtual
Save the date for the PCMS 4th Annual Symposium, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, 7 to 10 a.m. Join us for the latest information on COVID-19 -- statewide and locally -- that are important to you as a local provider. We have a great lineup of speakers in the works! There is no cost to attend. Complete details and registration coming soon.

Annual General Meeting - Virtual
Save the date for the PCMS 2020 Annual Meeting. Though the in-person meeting is not possible at this time due to the coronavirus pandemic, PCMS is considering hosting a shortened, online event featuring potential CME. Feel free to contact cheryl.law@pueblocms.org with any topics of interest. Members will also be given the opportunity to cast their votes for the PCMS Board of Directors. Please send any nominations to cheryl.law@pueblocms.org. Watch for more details and registration coming soon.
OTHER EVENTS
AAP Colorado virtual series: Honoring our healers, honoring ourselves
Remaining sessions: Aug. 20, Aug. 26, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Recognizing the need to "re-fill our cups" given the toll the past several months has taken, the American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter (AAP Colorado) invites all physicians to participate in a four-part mental health wellness series that acknowledges the importance of taking time to reflect upon issues critical to physicians and your profession. Each session will be facilitated and is designed to be a stand-alone topic, so physicians can attend as many sessions as desired. Remaining sessions are as follows: "Honoring Our Stories" (Aug. 20) and "Honoring Our Diversity" (Aug. 26). Suggested donation is $25 per session. Find more information and register here.
HCPF Provider Leader Webinars
Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17, 12-1 p.m.

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is hosting monthly provider webinars on the third Thursday of the month from 12 - 1 p.m. The dates for the provider webinars will be Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17, 2020. These webinars will cover key updates from the Department on COVID-19 and other implementation updates and will be a forum to discuss what the "new normal" in health care may look like following the pandemic. HCPF encourages you to save the dates and attend if you can. If you are not able to make the webinar(s), the meetings will be recorded and archived online. The virtual meeting will be held at this link. Find more information on the Provider Leader Resource Center webpage: colorado.gov/hcpf/provider-leader-resource-center.
Lunch and Learn sessions: Wednesdays through October

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s Provider Education Work Group continues their series of free lunch and learn sessions, held each Wednesday, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Each presentation is eligible for 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. To receive CME credit, you must pre-register here.

If you would simply like to drop in, no pre-registration is required. For a complete list of topics and dates, please visit the Consortium website. All sessions will be held via Zoom at this link / Password: 620980. All events will be recorded and posted online for future viewing.
NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY
CMS working for you: Order PPE supplies to protect your practices
Plus, save the date for the virtual CMS Annual Meeting Friday, Sept. 25

The Colorado Medical Society has teamed up with ActionPPE.org to once again give Colorado physicians access to medical-grade PPE supplies. All items are already in a warehouse in the United States, preventing any delays through customs, and orders ship quickly and directly to your office. View product details and certificates for KN95 or disposable tri-fold masks, disposable gowns and face shields here -- actionppe.org/3/cms/ -- and share this link with your colleagues.

Also, the in-person Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting may have been cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic but your medical society is planning a shortened, virtual event! It will feature education; an address by AMA President Susan Bailey, MD; the swearing in of Sami Diab, MD, as CMS president; recognition of outgoing president David Markenson, MD, MBA; social time; and more. Watch for more details and registration coming soon!
NEWS FROM COPIC

Nominate a physician for the COPIC Humanitarian Award
Do you know a Colorado physician who deserves to be recognized for going beyond the scope of practice to improve lives in his or her community? If so, please consider nominating him or her for the annual COPIC Humanitarian Award. Nominations are being accepted through Aug. 31, 2020. The award provides a $10,000 donation to be awarded to a Colorado health care-related nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choice.

To nominate a physician, visit www.callcopic.com/about-copic/copic-humanitarian-award to download a nomination form or email Meredith Hintze at mhintze@copic.com.
NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Spread the message of #MaskUp to stop the spread of COVID-19
The data is in -- wearing a mask saves lives. According to the CDC, if everyone wears a mask, over the next 4-8 weeks we could drastically reduce cases of COVID-19. So even if you feel fine, #MaskUp to protect yourself and those around you.

As physicians and medical students, you can help patients understand their risks for transmission through clear and simple communication, rooted in science. Use the AMA's campaign toolkit to share these images on social media, in your office, and anywhere in between. ama-assn.org/maskup
MISSION: Facilitating meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County through social networking, education, and advocacy! 

VISION: To create a medical society that serves as a venue for collaboration for the betterment of healthcare in Pueblo County, and improve the practice of medicine and life of medical professionals, locally.
Board Officers: President: Marcel Junqueira, MD; President-Elect: open position; Treasurer: Kathleen Brown, MD; Past-President: Tom Greidanus, MD | Directors: CMS Representative Brad Roberts, MD; Teresa Braden, DO; Ross Patrick, MD; Jacob Mathew Jr., DO; Cheryl Walker, DO; and Kevin Weber, MD | Chief Executive Officer: Cheryl Law, MA, MNM
This newsletter is intended for the members and interested persons of the Pueblo County Medical Society. If you have received this and wish to opt-out call 719-281-6073 or use the “unsubscribe” link below.
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