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Your home for health care advocacy updates straight from Colorado's Capitol Hill. |
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The Colorado General Assembly adjourns today, concluding a legislative session defined by contradictions. The House of Medicine faced intense scope of practice battles, while simultaneously enjoying broad collaboration to find solutions for Colorado’s struggling health care workforce. CMS also engaged on important issues such as streamlining prior authorization, payment reform, and public health.
We had great wins because of the engagement of Colorado physicians. Thank you! We encourage you to stay engaged in the political process. You are our most valuable partner.
The CMS Council on Legislation, comprised of a diverse group of volunteer physicians, determine CMS's positions on bills and how to allocate our lobbying effort based on bill language, existing CMS policy, the political landscape, and the needs of physician members like you. Look for a more detailed session wrap-up in the upcoming issue of Colorado Medicine.
In the meantime, here is a snapshot of this session’s key issues impacting physicians:
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DEFEATED - HB22-1095 Physician Assistant (PA) Collaboration Requirements
- This bill sought to drastically expand the scope of practice of PAs and defeating this bill was a key win of the session. We refuted that removing all supervision would help rural areas and reiterated the importance of PAs in the physician-led health care team. The defeat of HB22-1095 was a win for patient safety and the preservation of the team-based approach to care.
PASSED AND FUNDED - SB22-172 Colorado Rural Health-care Workforce Initiative
- CMS supports investments in the health care workforce that will make sure we have the care providers we need now and in the future. A number of bills CMS supported sought to bolster a healthy health care workforce. SB-172 will expand the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s successful rural track training program to other institutions and health care professionals across the state.
PASSED - SB22-226 Programs to Support Health-care Workforce
- CMS joined a group of organizations representing a diverse array of health care professionals, specialties, practice settings, and priorities in supporting this bill that focuses on the resilience and retention of our state's health care workforce.
PASSED - HB22-1115 Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
- This bill will fund integration of a physician’s electronic health record with the PDMP to streamline clinical workflow and enhance use of this tool.
PASSED - HB22-1278 Behavioral Health Administration
- The deficiencies of Colorado’s mental health system are well documented and this bill’s passage will help meet urgent needs through a cohesive, coordinated system.
DEFEATED - HB22-1384 Naturopathic Doctor Formulary
- With CMS advocacy, sponsors killed this bill aimed at expanding the ND formulary to allow for a robust stakeholder process in the coming interim. CMS and our Scope of Practice Committee look forward to being involved.
PASSED - HB22-1302 Health Care Practice Transformations
- Another payment reform bill, primary care physicians currently using or considering integrated care models will be able to apply for a grant from the program established by this bill. Watch for further information when those funds become available.
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AMENDMENT FAILED - HB22-1233 Sunset Continue Regulation of Optometry
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CMS and our House of Medicine partners worked hard to protect patients and oppose scope of practice expansions by optometrists. Despite best efforts, the bill passed and is awaiting the Governor's signature. It will allow optometrists to perform scalpel and injection procedures around the eye and laser surgeries into
DEFEATED - HB22-1064 Prohibit Flavored Tobacco and Regulate Synthetic Nicotine
- One of the session's most hotly-debated bills HB22-1064 was killed in the Senate only a few days before the end of session. While CMS and our partners knew this bill would be a difficult fight, it was important to show a united front of concerned physicians and health care providers. Stronger regulation of the tobacco industry is a long game and CMS remains committed to protecting consumers.
DEFEATED - SB22-149 Improve Marijuana Industry Regulation
- This bill aimed to codify more robust regulation of the marijuana industry. CMS was in a moderate support position on the bill; however, it died in committee.
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SB22-078 Prior Authorization Exemption Health-care Providers
- CMS has heard loud and clear from physicians about the hassle and cost to patients of prior authorization. The legislature ran out of time to approve a prior authorization "gold card" program for providers who demonstrate safe and consistent practices through their prior authorization approval percentages. Work will continue to reduce cost and administrative burdens for patients and physicians alike.
HB22-1325 Primary Care Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
- This precedent-setting bill is one of the ways Colorado is on the cutting edge of payment reform. While CMS secured important protections for physicians in the bill, there is still important 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 implementation process.
HB22-1284 Health Insurance Surprise Billing Protections
- While saving patients from surprise and balance billing has always been our priority, CMS and our partners worked hard to add an amendment allowing providers to bundle like claims in the out-of-network arbitration process, thereby saving valuable time and money. While we were unsuccessful in those efforts, we did protect reimbursement rates from further cuts.
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The CMS Bill Tracker is your tool to stay up to date with health care legislation! |
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Action on bills doesn't stop at sine die
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Help inform the creation of a Health Care Services Reserve Corps Program |
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HB21-1005 creates the Health Care Services Reserve Corps Task Force at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The purpose of the task force is to evaluate and make recommendations on the creation of the reserve corps through which medical professionals could cross-train to be able to serve the state in an emergency or disaster and receive a benefit for their service.
What was your pandemic experience like? Do you have thoughts on staffing and function deficits, throughput challenges, supplemental staffing, and potential incentives for participants in a reserve corps?
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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.
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Thank you to these advertisers for supporting CMS publications |
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All Colorado Medical Society committee meetings and events are open to all CMS members. Find the latest list of events on the CMS events webpage, cms.org/events. Upcoming meetings are listed below. Email membership@cms.org for more information.
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Beers with Peers (in person) - Wednesday, May 11, 5-7 p.m., Aurora. Register
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Committee on Physician Wellbeing (virtual) - Thursday, May 12, 7-8 a.m. Register
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Committee on Professional Education and Accreditation (virtual) - Thursday, May 12, 4-5 p.m. Email gene_richer@cms.org to register
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CDPHE listening session with all physicians: Health Care Services Reserve Corps (virtual) - Thursday, May 12, 6-8 p.m. Register
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5 years into Colorado's Medical Aid in Dying Law: What Do Physicians Think? (virtual) - Thursday, May 19, 7-8 a.m. Register
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Physician Mindfulness Group Meeting (virtual) - Thursday, May 19, 6-7 p.m. Register
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July Regional Summit and CMS Board of Directors Meeting (in person) - July 23-24, Denver; save the date - more information coming soon
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CMS Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting (in person) - Sept. 16-18, Breckenridge; save the date - more information coming soon
Registration is required for most meetings; non-members or those unable to be identified at the time of virtual meetings may be removed. Unsure if you are a CMS member? Email membership@cms.org.
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