Call for nominations: 2017 President-elect, AMA Delegates and Alternate Delegates
The nomination period for the 2017 CMS all-member election will be open Jan. 1-31, 2017. We are asking all members to consider nominating a colleague or self-nominating for one of the open leadership positions: President-elect (1 position open), AMA Delegates (3 positions open) and Alternate Delegates (3 positions open).
Access the election guide by clicking here. It provides important information on the duties, eligibility, terms of office and honorarium for each open position, as well as candidate requirements, campaign guidelines, election process, and more.
Potential nominees can review the position descriptions and qualifications for office starting on page three of the election guide and the candidate requirements on page five of the election guide. Please email CMS CEO Alfred Gilchrist at [email protected] if you have additional questions.
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Medicaid "Go Live" date has been postponed until March 1, 2017
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance announced this morning that the conversion date for moving to the new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), the Colorado interChange, has been postponed until March 1, 2017. This will allow more time for providers to complete the revalidation process, and allow additional time for training on the web portal as well as testing. The Department wants to ensure that providers are not adversely impacted by the system change. Providers should continue to use their current processes for submitting claims, prior authorization requests and provider enrollment updates to the department. Claims will continue to be processed and paid; there will be no delay this month. Providers should also continue efforts to revalidate. If you have not yet started the process, CDPHE urges you to start immediately. Use this link to find resources and get started. If you have completed your revalidation you are encouraged to begin the online training courses for use of the new web portal. If you missed a live session, the recorded sessions will be available later this month. Additional provider resources can be found here.
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Physicians must post notices of nondiscrimination by Oct. 17
Under new HHS rules implementing the ACA nondiscrimination provision, covered entities (which includes most health care providers) must post and publish new mandatory nondiscrimination statements and taglines by Oct. 17, 2016. The final rule coordinates existing federal nondiscrimination laws, regulations, and policy regarding race, color, national origin, age and disability as they apply to health care coverage and care. The rule codifies HHS's long-standing policy guidance on language assistance for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and incorporates provisions of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) to prohibit disability-based discrimination in health programs and activities. The rule applies to those who provide or administer health-related services or insurance coverage and receive "federal financial assistance." Federal financial assistance includes Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, meaningful use incentive payments, HHS grants, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gain-sharing demonstration projects, federal premium and cost-sharing subsidies, etc. The rule does not apply to physicians who only receive payments from Medicare Part B (traditional Medicare), unless they are also receiving meaningful use incentive payments. Covered physicians must
- By Oct. 17 post a notice of nondiscrimination and taglines in the top 15 languages in the state.
- Designate a compliance coordinator and adopt grievance procedures (applicable to group practices with 15 or more employees).
- Covered entities are encouraged to develop and implement a language access plan.
For more information and sample documents, click here.
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Division of Insurance approves health insurance plans for 2017
The Colorado Division of Insurance has approved 277 health insurance plans for the individual market in 2017 and 667 plans for the small group market. The individual market (plans not connected to an employer) makes up about 7.7 percent of the Colorado population who have health insurance (around 450,000 people), while at least 51 percent of Coloradans get their insurance through a small or large employer. DOI reviews the cost of health insurance premiums and checks that they meet state and federal regulations. They do not set insurance premiums.
Premiums for individual plans (not from an employer) will increase by 20.4 percent on average. An individual's age and residential location will impact his or her premium, making it higher or lower from the average. In the small group market (health plans for small employers), increases are more moderate, averaging 2.1 percent. The DOI attributes this to insurers in this market having more experience working with this market and a better understanding of how to price their products.
Colorado consumers who receive tax credits for their insurance may see their premiums decrease. A person who currently receives a tax credit for their 2016 insurance and who enrolls in the same plan for 2017 will see an average decrease of 11 percent for their subsidized premium, despite actual premium increases for plans.
The Division of Insurance is engaging a workgroup of representatives from Colorado hospitals, physicians and insurance companies to address increasing health care costs. This group will release its recommendations in December.
Read more here in a DOI press release.
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The time is now: Prepare your practice for compensation changes
Enroll in the Transforming Clinical Practices Initiative (TCPi) today and access a free support network designed to help your practice deliver patient-centered care and navigate compensation changes driven by the Medicare Quality Payment Program (also known as MACRA) that will also affect commercial carriers.
Data collected beginning January 2017 will affect your future compensation. The earlier you enroll, the sooner TCPi can help you evaluate, plan, measure and transform your practice. Click here to learn more and enroll.
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Colorado Naloxone for Life: Narcan Training and Distribution
The Colorado Office of the Attorney General, working in partnership with the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, is funding the purchase of 2,500 Narcan dual-packs for law enforcement personal and first responders in 17 counties with high rates of drug overdose deaths and training in how to administer Narcan. Law enforcement personnel and first responders who attend and complete the training and who are from the following counties will receive a free Narcan rescue kit: Adams, Baca, Bent, Clear Creek, Crowley, Delta, Dolores, Fremont, Huerfano, Jackson, Las Animas, Mesa, Otero, Ouray, Phillips, Pueblo and Sedgwick. Although law enforcement personnel and first responders are the primary intended audience, this two-hour training is open to any individual interested in learning how to administer Narcan, the nasal form of Naloxone. The training is free to attend and registration is required. To register, visit: http://bit.ly/CONFL. Read more on CMS.org.
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Oct. 21 and 28: Digital Marketing for Docs
The Denver Medical Society, Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and Society of Physician Entrepreneurs presents "Digital Marketing for Docs," a two-session seminar designed to provide practitioners with the knowledge and skills they need to build their brand using social media. The event will be held Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 7-9 a.m. and breakfast is included. The registration fee is $99 for both sessions for DMS, SoPE or CSEPS members or $199 for non-members. Register at: http://bit.ly/2c0i788. View a flyer here.
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COPIC Insurance Company is Colorado's leading medical liability insurance provider. Three out of four physicians choose COPIC for this critically important coverage. CMS members receive a 10 percent premium discount from COPIC.
For more information, call (720) 858-6000 or visit www.callcopic.com.
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Carr Healthcare Realty exclusively represents healthcare tenants and buyers. We assist medical practices in all types of lease and purchase negotiations: New Offices, Expansions, Relocations, Practice Acquisitions, and Lease Renewals. Visit: www.carrhr.com
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GreenLight is the national leader in web-enabled behavioral health testing with over half a million assessments in 35 states. GreenLight is designed to help physicians enhance patient care, improve population health and add incremental revenue to the practice. Visit www.Greenlight.md or call 866-602-1778.
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The average physician can save $38,000 by refinancing their student loans with LendKey! CMS members get a $400 cash bonus when refinancing through this partnership.
Rates as low as 2.14% variable and 3.25% fixed. Visit www.LKrefi.com/co-med. Phone: 888-549-9050 Email: [email protected]
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You are unique.
More than 50% of physicians feel they have more complicated financial needs than other professions. Our firm works with physicians and their families to tackle these unique challenges. Call (720)-887-1299 or visit www.goldmedalwaters.com.
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Compliments of CMS: Reduce patient callbacks, HIPAA compliant, RX Savings up to 75%, click for free customization COLORADO DRUG CARD.
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