Nov. 20, 2025

Physicians from around the country – including your elected Colorado Delegation – gathered in National Harbor, Md., Nov. 14-18 for the American Medical Association (AMA) Interim Meeting to debate and vote on policies on a national level, and hear speeches from AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH; AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD; and federal CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA.

Starting Saturday, Nov. 22, all CMS members will have the opportunity to cast a vote and comment on a policy proposal submitted by a CMS member through the Central Line platform that will be considered by the Board at its Dec. 5 meeting. Watch for an email from Central Line <[email protected]> containing your individualized link to vote on the Central Line policy proposal to provide feedback to the CMS Board of Directors before they take action.

Board meetings are held quarterly. Every CMS member has a representative on the Board of Directors through the 14 districts, which are geographic regions plus a component for medical students. Although not binding, the Central Line vote is considered by Board members on each proposed policy before they deliberate and take action. Immediately after the Board meeting, an email explaining the Board's decision will be sent to all CMS members to vote on whether you agree with the Board's decision. 

Since its launch, physicians have submitted dozens of proposals that have shaped CMS policy on public health, physician practice, payer reform, workforce issues, and more. If you have an idea—big or small—that can improve medical practice or patient care in Colorado, Central Line is where it can become action.

Watch for notices from Central Line, and please take this opportunity to engage with your medical society. If you have questions about Central Line, contact us by email at [email protected] or call (720) 859-1001. 

The Colorado Medical Society has signed onto a national physician coalition letter urging Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to rescind a newly announced policy that would penalize hospitals for using out-of-network physicians. The policy is slated for rollout in 11 states—including Colorado—beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Under Anthem’s plan, hospitals would face a 10 percent reimbursement cut—and potentially even removal from Anthem’s network—if they use nonparticipating physicians. CMS joins other physician organizations in warning that this approach sidesteps the No Surprises Act, disrupts long-standing contracting norms, and could disadvantage independent practices.

The letter, spearheaded by the American Medical Association (AMA), highlights significant concerns for practices that depend on hospital access to care for their patients. Rather than strengthening networks through fair contracting and administrative improvements, the policy could instead force practices into unfavorable contracts or limit which physicians hospitals can use—ultimately risking delays in care, higher costs and reduced access, especially in rural communities.

CMS joined this letter because safeguarding independent practices and ensuring stability across all practice models remains a core priority. We will continue monitoring Anthem’s actions closely and keep members and their practices informed of developments.

The Colorado Medical Society, American Medical Association and other state medical societies across the country are raising concerns about insurer policies that automatically downcode higher-level E/M claims without reviewing medical records.

Physicians increasingly report issues with Aetna, Cigna and other insurers using automated tools to downcode claims without clear justification. These policies reduce payment, threaten practice sustainability, and disproportionately affect physicians caring for patients with complex needs. Appeals can cost practices $40–$75 per claim, adding significant administrative burden.

The AMA has warned that policies like Cigna’s E/M “coding accuracy” review conflict with CPT guidelines, rely improperly on claim data rather than medical records, and lack transparency around how downcoding decisions are made. Such approaches discourage appropriate billing and increase friction between physicians and payers.

CMS demands insurers halt inappropriate downcoding and promote more transparent, targeted and education-based approaches. We are developing resources for practices experiencing inappropriate downcoding. If you are seeing patterns of downcoding in your practice, respond to this email or reach out to [email protected] to share your experience.

Your Care is at our Core: Physicians are compassionate healers dedicated to building trusted relationships with patients. Through time spent listening to patients, physicians gain the knowledge to provide the best possible care. Together, physicians and patients can navigate health care red tape in pursuit of high-quality care and positive health outcomes. Share your story to be used in CMS publications.

Dues invoices for Colorado Medical Society members for individual physicians and practices who have opted into group billing are due Dec. 31, 2025 for the membership period ending Dec. 31, 2026. Pay early to ensure you have no disruption in benefits – especially if you are Copic insured and benefit from the significant discount in medical liability insurance! If you have updates to your contact information or billing contact, please contact our membership department at 720-859-1001 or [email protected].

Renewing individual members not on a group bill, please visit cms.org/renew to access your online invoice or check your email for your personalized link.

It is strict CMS policy that your personal information is never sold or shared.

Revenue pressure is mounting. In 2024, 44% of billing companies finished the year with less than 10% gross margin, and 64% of practices still struggle to collect what they earn.

Join Ease RCM CEO Aimee Heckman and Tebra’s Amanda Zeosky and Miriam Datskovsky to learn how leading organizations are improving collections, reducing denials, and building stronger billing operations for 2026 and beyond.

Can't attend live? Register anyway to receive the recording plus our Beat Medical Billing Challenges Workbook.

Thinking about owning your own medical practice? Understanding liquidity—the cash you can readily access—could make or break your path to practice ownership. From covering early expenses to securing the right loan, liquidity plays a central role in your financial readiness. At Panacea Financial, we specialize in helping doctors at every stage of the journey. Explore practice lending options tailored to your unique situation and let our doctor-only expertise guide you step by step toward turning your practice ownership goals into reality. Read more » 

Panacea Financial is a division of Primis Bank. Member FDIC. 

Panacea Financial's Guide to Landing the Right Job After Training walks doctors through every step of the transition—from choosing the right practice setting and navigating interviews to understanding contracts, licensure, and financial decisions. It’s designed to help early-career physicians avoid common pitfalls and start strong, with practical advice and insights from our physician-led team. 

Set yourself up for success with tips from doctors who have been through the career search process before. 

Access the free guide here: Career After Training Guide - Panacea

Volunteer physicians needed to care for Colorado’s uninsured

Corvida Health Clinic (formerly Clinica Colorado) in Adams County is seeking volunteer physicians to help provide primary care to uninsured and underserved patients, many of whom are Spanish-speaking. The clinic offers flexible onboarding and scheduling to make volunteering accessible for active and retired physicians alike. Retired physicians may also qualify for Copic’s volunteer liability coverage.

If you’re interested in giving back to your community, Corvida Health Clinic—and other safety-net clinics through the Colorado Safety Net Collaborative—would welcome your support. Contact Vanessa Vergara, FNP-BC, Corvida Health Clinic medical director at 720-443-8461 or [email protected]. Visit their website to learn more about their work at www.clinicacolorado.org.

Do you have a position open at your practice? Space to sub-let? Selling your practice? Place a CMS Community Marketplace ad! CMS members receive the first month free. Contact [email protected] for more information!