ASAP e-newsletter: Jan 5, 2021
Continued shortages of COVID vaccine supply, differing local vaccination strategies, and recent changes to the state’s phased approach to vaccinations (to include patients that are 70+ years old and other essential workers) have caused confusion and frustration for many physicians that have not yet been vaccinated.

CMS continues to strongly advocate that physicians and their teams that are on the front line must be vaccinated as soon as possible. CMS has learned that the state will be sending a letter to all Phase 1 providers (look for that as soon as tonight) in an effort to focus these efforts. Watch for that communication. We also learned that the state will launch a public form later this week to help coordinate vaccinations for remaining phase 1A and 1B populations. 

We have compiled a list of current resources including scheduling contacts. Follow this link and click the Where to Get Vaccinated button. (this list is updated frequently)
Distribution of COVID-19 vaccine: What you need to know...
Sharing info in real time – So you don’t miss a thing.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6:00pm-7:30pm

Topics:
Statewide distribution changes
Local health strategies
Plans for patient population vaccinations

Don’t forget to renew for 2021.
Your membership is more important than ever!
Encourage COVID-19 vaccination with #CMSWhatsYourWhy
Share YOUR reason to get a COVID-19 vaccination. If you choose to receive one, take a photo and share your why using the hashtag #CmsWhatsYourWhy to reassure the public of the safety, efficacy and importance of this and other vaccines. Learn more at www.cmswhatsyourwhy.com.
-CMS Members in the SPOTLIGHT-



In this moving article, CMS member, Deborah Saint-Phard, MD shines a light on “the immense strain of living at the intersection of an epidemic of racism, COVID-19 and a surge of physician burnout.” Thank you Dr. Saint-Phard for sharing your perspective and helping lead the way toward meaningful, lasting change. We stand with you!


An article co-written by CMS member, Matthew K. Wynia, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, is the No. 1 most-read National Academy of Medicine (NAM) paper of 2020. The paper, dated March 5, 2020, discussed the crisis standards of care principles for scarce resource allocation during an epidemic. The article received the most mainstream media attention of any article released by the NAM, with more than 100 news outlets referring to it.


Let us know of other great work by CMS physicians: membership@cms.org
Sponsor
Upcoming events for physicians
Upcoming CMS committee meetings
All Colorado Medical Society committee meetings are open to all CMS members. Find the latest list of events on the CMS events webpage, cms.org/events. Upcoming meetings for January are listed below with registration links and agendas, if available. If not yet available, use the "request the agenda" link to be notified by a CMS staff person when the agenda has been published.


Registration is required; non-members or those unable to be identified at the time of the meeting will be removed from the meeting. Unsure if you are a CMS member? Email membership@cms.org.
Special thanks to our sponsors...
Global Payments Integrated is the endorsed member benefit partner for payment processing and more. Accept payments in office, by phone, mail or on your website. Global Payments Integrated's health payment solution automatically posts payments to the patient ledger. We find savings for more than 80 percent of practices that take advantage of their FREE payment evaluation.* As a CMS member, you know you are getting the best rates for your practice.

Call 877-841-0606 or email startnow@globalypay.com today for your FREE payment evaluation.

The Abyde software solution is the easiest way for any sized medical practice to implement and sustain comprehensive HIPAA compliance programs. Abyde’s revolutionary approach guides providers through mandatory HIPAA requirements including the Security Risk Analysis, HIPAA training for doctors and staff, Business Associate Agreements, customized policy documentation and more! Contact: Peyton Davis, Director of Education at pdavis@abyde.com or 727.400.3962. Visit abyde.com to learn more!
Compliments of CMS: Reduce patient callbacks, HIPAA compliant, RX Savings up to 75%, click for free customization COLORADO DRUG CARD.

View a flyer on how to prepare for the "twindemic" of flu and COVID-19.
Mary Jo Heins is a former medical practice manager. As an independent Medicare insurance agent, she now helps people with all facets of Medicare – objectively and fee free.

  • Enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B
  • Supplement v Medicare Advantage
  • Rx plans - mapping medication regiments to the best formulary
  • Dental/Hearing/Vision plans
  • Patient education sessions at your practice

303-916-6992
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Emergency Preparedness Staffing Services: Favorite Healthcare staffing is prepared to assist facilities facing increased patient census due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Favorite is proactively communicating with health care professionals and other staff to mobilize a workforce for our clients enacting an emergency staffing plan. We are screening staff who have worked emergency and disaster relief projects with Favorite in the past and are assessing their availability for rapid response. For more information, contact Derek Reid, Executive Director, at 913-481-3963 or DReid@FavoriteStaffing.com. www.FavoriteStaffing.com
2021 CMS Election: Call for nominations
The nomination period for the 2021 Colorado Medical Society Election is open through Jan. 31, 2021. The Colorado Medical Society encourages all members to consider nominating a colleague or self-nominating for one of the open leadership positions: president-elect (one position) or AMA delegation (eight positions). The election manual, which contains all of the information a potential candidate needs about the duties, eligibility, requirements and election process, is available on the CMS website. Read more here.
Let's get social!