At today’s Board of Directors meeting, your physician leaders focused on one central priority: learning that Colorado physicians are not just reacting to change — but helping shape it.
In a year defined by budget pressure, policy volatility, and growing strain on physician practices, CMS is doing what individual physicians cannot do alone: protecting the profession, strengthening your voice, and ensuring patients continue to have access to care.
The Colorado Medical Society Board of Directors discussed our work in the Colorado Health Policy Forum, advocacy, governance, and events.
Securing a physician voice in Colorado’s future
CMS is actively engaged in the Colorado Health Policy Forum, a coalition of health care stakeholders working toward a more coordinated, data-driven approach to state policy.
Through this work, CMS ensures physicians are not on the outside reacting to decisions, but at the table helping shape them. The Forum, on which we have a steering committee seat, will deliver a policy platform to the next Governor, positioning physicians to influence Colorado’s health care direction for years to come.
Strategic planned advocacy
Making an impact where it counts most, physician advocacy led the way during the 2026 legislative session, which concluded last month as you know from previous CMS reports. Now, we are cultivating relationships with legislators and planning for the 2027 session.
We anticipate 2027 may be even tougher, with budget challenges likely to bring more pressure on Medicaid, provider rates, and access. Key concerns include medical debt, medical spa regulation, health plan practices, and oversight of health care transactions. CMS will continue to link access to care with practice viability, advocate for fair insurance practices, and protect patient safety. Board involvement and leadership development remain essential as we face real headwinds together as a unified house of medicine.
Strengthening CMS policy and governance
The Board advanced key updates to the CMS policy framework, including archiving outdated policies, refining existing ones, and adopting new policies to keep CMS responsive and aligned with today’s practice environment.
Investing in connection, leadership, and community
CMS continues to bring physicians together through events and leadership opportunities, including the 2026 Annual Meeting in Vail and targeted programs for physicians and trainees across the state.
If you would like to be a physician leader in organized medicine, there could be a spot for you in your local medical society. Several societies are looking to fill Board vacancies. Reply to this email if you are interested in learning more.
Membership update
The CMS team has been diligently conducting visits to practices throughout the state. If you are interested in scheduling a visit from the CMS team to receive important updates relevant to your practice and share your feedback on current developments, also please respond to this email.
CMS exists for moments like this — when the need for a clear, collective physician voice is greatest.
Thank you for being part of that voice.
