Your home for health care advocacy updates straight from Colorado's Capitol Hill.

Policy Pulse newsletter: May 18, 2021

Colorado Option Bill - Update

HB21-1232 Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option was heard before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee yesterday. Many physicians and physician advocates testified during the nearly nine-hour hearing. The bill was ultimately laid over while work on amendments continues. Two senators with longstanding positive relationships with the Colorado Medical Society -- Sen. Rhonda Fields (D-Arapahoe County) and Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Larimer County) are working hard to craft an amendment to remove mandatory physician participation. But they are under a great deal of pressure to pass the bill as it stands, without this pro-physician amendment.

We urge to you contact Sen. Fields (phone: 303-866-4879 or email) and Sen. Ginal (phone: 303-866-4841 or email) today to thank them for their tireless support of physicians. Consider the following message: Address them as Senator Introduce yourself, including where you practice -- especially if you live or practice in their district Thank you for standing up for us and the patients we serve. I can only imagine the amount of pressure you are under but I wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated. We support your leadership on this issue and appreciate your continued support to remove mandatory physician participation from the bill.

Senator Rhonda Fields 303-866-4879 rhonda.fields.senate@state.co.us Senator Joann Ginal 303-866-4841 joannginal52@gmail.com

Many thanks to the physicians who have provided testimony on the Public Option so far.

Dr. Susan Bailey Dr. Ricky Dhaliwal Dr. Sami Diab Dr. Dave Downs Dr. Shoaib Fakhri Dr. Carolyn Francavilla Dr. Mark Johnson Dr. Taj Kattapuram Dr. Jeffery Krawcek Dr. Jeremy Lazarus Dr. Chris Linares Dr. William McNitt Dr. Daniel Moon Dr. Neal O'Connor Medical Student Monica Patten Dr. Mike Pramenko Dr. Mike Ramseier Dr. Patricia Weber Dr. Anna Weyand Dr. Hap Young Dr. Claire Zilber

Ways to get involved

Interested in being involved? Here are some options to consider.

Colorado Medical Society physician credentialing bill on its way to passage

SB21-126: Timely Credentialing of Physicians by Insurers by Sen. Rhonda Fields (D-Arapahoe County) and Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Adams County), passed out of the House Health & Insurance Committee today. Having already passed the Senate, it heads to the Appropriations Committee, then to the full House for a vote where it is expected to pass. This bill establishes a clear and reasonable timeline for the credentialing process and improves communication between carriers and participating physicians. Special thanks to involved members and stakeholder partners like the Colorado Medical Group Managers Association for their partnership on this bill.

Check out the Colorado Medical Society Bill Tracker Explore health care related bills under consideration and positions voted on by the Council on Legislation.

Why should I donate to COMPAC?

Our positive relationships with Sen. Fields and Sen. Ginal are textbook examples of the impact of your COMPAC and Small Donor Committee donations. We first met them through the COMPAC candidate interview process and have fostered this relationship through campaign support and open dialogue. The bottom line is, your contributions to COMPAC and the Small Donor Committee support pro-physician candidates. Donate today!

Special thanks to the CMS Partners In Medicine

View all Partners in Medicine here Upcoming Partners in Medicine Lunch and Learn events: Abyde: HIPAA Compliance in 2021 - June 9, 12-1 p.m. Register HippoHealth: Telehealth - June 23, 12-1 p.m. Register

Upcoming CMS 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 are listed below. Email membership@cms.org for more information. Physician Mindfulness Group Meeting - Thursday, May 20, 6-7 p.m. Guest speaker: Dr. Wendy Zerin. Register CMS Board of Directors Meeting - Friday, May 21, 1-5 p.m. Register Agenda Committee on Value in Health Care - Tuesday, May 25, 6-7:30 p.m. Register Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Committee - Wednesday, June 2, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Register 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.

Visit our website, CMS.org

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