ASAP e-newsletter: Oct. 27, 2021
CMS is standing up against misinformation
To combat COVID-19 misinformation, today CMS and others in the House of Medicine urged the Colorado Medical Board to take action against licensees who are spreading misleading information about COVID-19 vaccination and public health interventions. This is injuring the public and the medical board can more aggressively exercise its authority to protect the public.
CMS Virtual Grand Rounds - Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m.
Everything you need to know about COVID vax for kids, practice viability, misinformation and more

Register for a Virtual Grand Rounds on Nov. 10 to learn the latest on COVID-19 vaccines for kids and booster doses, how to make vaccinating work for your practice, and the role of physicians in protecting the public from misinformation. This webinar is hosted by the Colorado Medical Society with support from the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians and the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. More information coming soon.
Member spotlight: Don Stader, MD
Ending the stigma of opioid use disorder in the Emergency Department
CMS member Don Stader, MD, is featured in an article by the American Medical Association for his work to end the opioid epidemic. He shares his "ah-ha" moment with a patient experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2015 that led him to examine his biases and help reshape the post-discharge care plan in his own ER, in Colorado and beyond.
Update: CMS pushes for best practices in Colorado Option framework

Representatives from the Colorado Medical Society attended two stakeholder meetings this week, on Oct. 26 and 27, to be your voice at the table with the Colorado Option.

  • The first meeting was for physicians and other health care providers, during which CMS continued to emphasize the importance of value-based benefit design.
  • The second meeting was on culturally competent health care networks, which as it stands now would require physicians to self-report sensitive personal information.

ICYMI:
Is prior authorization better?
CMS needs your feedback to assist in our advocacy for practices!
How has the burden of prior authorizations changed since Jan. 1, 2020?

  • Increased significantly
  • Increased somewhat
  • No change
  • Decreased somewhat
  • Decreased significantly
Do any of the health plans with which you contract offer programs that exempt physicians from prior authorization requirements?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Unsure
Upcoming events
CDPHE webinar: Best practices for use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the pediatric population
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 12 p.m., repeating Friday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.
Learn about:

  • Storage and handling, ancillary kits, and labeling best practices.
  • Vaccine administration (body sites, dosing, dilution, co-administration, comfort holds).
  • Consent for vaccination guidance.
  • vSafe (smartphone-based tool that uses text messages to give personalized check-ins).
  • CIIS reporting requirements.
  • And more.
Partners in Medicine Lunch and Learn webinar
The Security Risk Analysis - Abyde, Nov. 10

Believe it or not, this year is almost over -- and with time flying that means annual HIPAA and MIPS Security Risk Analysis (SRA) deadlines will be here before we know it, too! This year, don't wait until the last minute. Join Colorado Medical Society's preferred HIPAA compliance partner, Abyde, on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. MST for a live 30-minute webinar on how to quickly and efficiently knock out the most crucial step in a HIPAA compliance program -- the Security Risk Analysis.
Colorado Consortium 4th Annual Education Symposium: Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The Consortium is partnering with the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine to host the 4th Annual Education Symposium. Join colleagues in medicine, public health, pharmacy and others from across Colorado to explore the fentanyl crisis in Colorado and beyond. This activity is certified for up to 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The agenda can be found on the Consortium website events page. Click here to register (Zoom). For more information regarding the Education Symposium, please contact Susanna.Cooper@CUAnschutz.edu.

ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Colorado Medical Society and The North Colorado Health Alliance. The Colorado Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement
The Colorado Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Thanks to our Partners in Medicine
Introducing CMS's newest Partner in Medicine, Panacea Financial
Upcoming CMS meetings

All Colorado Medical Society committee meetings are open to all CMS members. All are held via Zoom unless otherwise noted. Find a full list of events here: cms.org/events. Questions? Contact membership@cms.org.

  • Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs - Monday, Nov. 1, 6-7 p.m. Register

  • Workers' Compensation & Personal Injury Committee - Wednesday, Nov. 3, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Register

  • Metro Denver Legislative Night (virtual) - Wednesday, Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m. Register

  • Committee on Education and Accreditation - Thursday, Nov. 4, 4 - 5:30 p.m. Register

  • Partners in Medicine Lunch and Learn webinar: The Security Risk Analysis with Abyde - Wednesday, Nov. 10, 12-1 p.m. Register

  • Independent Physicians Task Force - Wednesday, Nov. 10, 12-1 p.m. Register

  • Employed Physicians Task Force - Monday, Nov. 15, 7-8 p.m. Register

  • Physician Mindfulness Group Meeting - Thursday, Nov. 18, 6-7 p.m. Register

Registration is required for most meetings. 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.
Let's get social!