Category: Articles

  • CMS now accepting applications for the Education Foundation Rural Track Scholarship

    Each year, the Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation (CMSEF) awards medical school scholarships to students who are in good academic standing finishing their first or second year of a rural medicine track or program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine or the Rocky Vista University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Awards in the past…

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  • CMS accepting applications for the 2025 Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship

    The deadline to apply for the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship is April 1. Scholarships will be awarded in May/June 2025. This application asks for experience in organized medicine, and requires the applicant to upload a personal statement (500-word limit), letter of recommendation and CV. A headshot is optional. Responses can be edited after submission.…

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  • Cap on out-of-pocket costs and Medicare Prescription Payment Plan

    Great news: beginning in January 2025, all Medicare plans will include a yearly $2,000 cap on covered out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. The cap only applies to drugs that are covered by their Medicare plan, making it especially important for those with Medicare to review their plan to make sure their specific drugs are covered. If…

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  • AMA report: Consumers challenged by a decade of limited options in commercial health insurance markets

    In Colorado, consumers have faced a decade of limited options for commercial health insurance, reflecting a troubling national trend of market concentration highlighted in the American Medical Association’s (AMA) 2024 study on competition. Colorado’s commercial health insurance markets remain highly consolidated, with a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) of 2,037, indicating less competition than Arizona (2,281) but…

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  • Proposed cuts to Medicaid physician pay alarms advocates; how will they affect you?

    The Colorado Medical Society is actively monitoring state budget discussions that could impact physician payment for providing care to patients with Medicaid coverage. Governor Jared Polis has proposed a budget for FY 2025-26 that includes $74.6 million in cuts ($22.1 in state General Fund) to provider payments. That includes some $16.6 million in physician related…

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  • Election Day for Colorado physicians: Work sets a strong foundation for session

    Sean Pauzauskie, MD, COMPAC chair, and Darlene Tad-y, MD, MBA, Council on Legislation chair The 2024 general election brought interesting developments for physician supporters in the statehouse, with 98 percent of COMPAC-endorsed candidates winning their bids for election or re-election. This strong showing is set to influence health care policy in practical and collaborative ways…

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  • Partner in Medicine Spotlight: Physician wellness through travel: Curating dream vacations with Cruise Planners

    For physicians juggling demanding careers and family responsibilities, finding time to unwind can seem like a distant dream. But travel isn’t just a luxury – it’s a key component of wellness. This is where a personal connection with a trusted travel advisor can make all the difference, working with one person that truly gives you…

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  • 2024 Copic Humanitarian Award-Colorado: William G. Wright, MD, MSPH, FAAFP

    Copic and the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) are proud to announce that William Wright, MD, MSPH, FAAFP, is the 2024 recipient of the Copic Humanitarian Award. Dr. Wright is a family medicine physician recognized for his dedication to physician peer support and commitment to the needs of others. Dr. Wright has been dedicated to the…

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  • Copic Comment: Grant funding to address fragmentation in health careCopic Comment:

    Gerald Zarlengo, MD, Chairman & CEO,Copic Insurance Company As Copic celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, one of the accomplishments that continues to represent how we put our mission into action is the Copic Medical Foundation. The Foundation is part of the legacy of our first external, non-physician board member, Harold “Hal” Williamson – reflecting…

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  • Three Colorado hospitals earn AMA’s Joy in Medicine Award

    Cecilia Comerford-Ames,CMS Communications Manager Three hospital systems in Colorado have been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) for their exceptional commitment to reducing physician burnout and promoting wellbeing. The Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Award was granted to UCHealth, CommonSpirit Mountain Region, and Denver Health in acknowledgment of their significant efforts to foster…

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