Jan. 8, 2025

How are the changes in the practice environment affecting you? What does it mean for the profession of medicine in Colorado? How does that compare to other states? We need your input! 

CMS is partnering with the American Medical Association on a survey to help identify specific pressures faced by physicians—including commercial payer practices and other environmental/market factors—that may nudge physicians into alternate practice arrangements such as private equity (PE).

Looking at independent practice owners, employees, physicians in PE arrangements, and former practice owners-turned-employees or physicians in PE arrangements, the survey aims to gauge the impact of specific payer practices on physician practices, as well as to discover reasons why practice owners might enter alternate financing arrangements.

It also touches on the nature of the practice environment within such arrangements. Results will be used to inform how CMS can best support physicians across different practice arrangements in a time of increased consolidation in health care.

The Colorado Medical Society is the largest physician organization advocating for you at the state Capitol. The 2025 legislative session starts today, Wednesday, Jan. 8, and for the next few months during session we will be advocating for you on bills that impact medicine. 

We want you to be engaged and strive to keep you informed! Watch for opportunities to respond to our legislative action alerts, share your expertise with lawmakers, or educate the community through the media. A call to opt-in to exclusive members-only advocacy news -- in addition to PolicyPulse, our all-member advocacy newsletter -- will be sent out soon. 

An article penned by Colorado Springs leader Vinh Chung, MD, for the Colorado Springs Business Journal explores how trust empowers teams, fosters innovation, and drives purpose. Chung is a member of the Colorado Medical Society and El Paso County Medical Society, and a decorated speaker and author.

He writes: "Instead of asking, 'How do we find meaning at work?' we should be asking, 'How do we foster trust with one another?' Trust goes both ways. If we want to be trusted, then we must first be trustworthy. Nowhere is this more poignant than in health care. Trust is the only currency in medicine. It is the only currency between two people, at home, at work or in public. Trust is the glue that holds our society together and gives us meaning. Serve others in a trustworthy manner, and your work will matter."

On Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, from 12 - 2 p.m. MT, in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Matt Wynia, MD, MPH, will lead a powerful discussion titled "How Healers Became Killers: Eugenics, Power, and Justice.” Wynia is a CMS member and director of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Center for Bioethics and Humanities.

This hybrid program delves into the chilling history of eugenics, tracing its influence on Nazi racial policies and its connection to U.S. racial laws, revealing how medicine has been used to perpetuate oppression.

Joined by Spero M. Manson, PhD (Little Shell Chippewa), who will provide insights into the medical treatment of Indigenous peoples, the event challenges attendees to confront uncomfortable truths about medicine’s role in societal inequities. With reflections on history and exploration of contemporary issues like health disparities and genetic ethics, this thought-provoking event underscores the ongoing responsibility of medicine to advance justice and safeguard human dignity.

Find more information, location and registration on the RSVP page here.

Copic is pleased to announce that they will be offering two free, 1-hour CME presentations live via Zoom regarding opioids. Medical providers may use these presentations to meet the two hours of training requirements as stated by the Colorado Medical Board for licensure renewal in 2025. All Colorado physicians can attend these sessions and attest to the training even if you are not insured with Copic. View more information and accreditation through the link below.

Copic Medical Foundation seek applications for programs focused on reducing fragmentation across care settings—a critical challenge in patient safety. Fragmentation in health care can lead to missed diagnoses, medication errors, delayed treatments, and patient/provider dissatisfaction. Whether it’s testing new ideas or expanding existing ones, they are looking for projects that have the potential for broader application and meaningful impact. Don’t miss the chance to contribute to this important work; the deadline to apply is Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. For more details and the application form, visit www.copic.com/foundation.

The nomination period for the 2025 Colorado Medical Society all-member election is open through Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. The 2025 election will occur in August. Nominees who have declared their candidacy so far are listed below.

President-elect
Sean Pauzauskie, MD

AMA Delegation
Amy Duckro, DO, MPH
Carolynn Francavilla, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation
Jan Kief, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation
Lynn Parry, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation
Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation
Brigitta Robinson, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation
Michael Volz, MD, incumbent AMA Delegation

The Colorado Medical Society is committed to promoting diversity in every facet of organized medicine and encourages all members to consider nominating a colleague or self-nominating for a leadership position this year or in the future.