The largest organization of physicians in Colorado, CMS champions health care issues that improve patient care, promote physician professional satisfaction and create healthier communities in Colorado.
As a medical professional, planning for the future is crucial, not just for your patients but for your own well-being and that of your loved ones. Simplified issue life insurance with a long-term care benefit can be a valuable addition […]
Colorado physicians should be aware of an important change in Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements for medical license renewals. Starting with the 2027 renewal cycle, physicians will be required to complete at least 30 hours of approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ […]
Kim Warner, MD, CMS President Advocacy is the backbone of our profession. It shapes policy, protects our ability to care for patients, and ensures that health care policy is heavily influenced by physicians: the people who understand it best. It […]
Kate Alfano, CMS Director of Communications At Clinica Family Health and Wellness, actions taken over the past year tell a devastating story – one that is unfolding across Colorado. Medicaid disenrollments have driven thousands of patients into the ranks of […]
Marc Glickman, FSA, CLTC Life insurance and long-term care insurance traditionally serve two different but essential purposes in financial planning. Life insurance provides financial protection for your loved ones after you pass away, while long-term care insurance helps cover the […]
Kim Vadas, MABMH, CHCP, FACEHP, CMS Director of Continuing Medical Education and Recognized Accreditor Programs The Colorado Medical Society’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) program aims to enhance learners’ awareness, knowledge, competence, and performance across several critical domains. These key areas […]
Scott A. Humphreys, MD, Medical Director, Colorado Physician Health Program I have interviewed thousands of physicians over decades; everyone was foundationally affected by how their life was shaped during medical training. It’s a period marked by immense growth, but also […]
Gerald Zarlengo, MD, Chairman & CEO, Copic Insurance Company Difficult patient encounters are something all medical providers may face and patient factors such as strong emotions, somatization, unrealistic expectations, and mental health issues commonly contribute to these. Additionally, we need […]
Noah Goldman, Founder and CEO, Clyck Running your practice is already a full-time job. Between patient care, administrative duties, and staying on top of industry changes, who has time to figure out marketing? But here’s the thing: patients today expect […]
Rebecca Kornas, MD, FACEP, and Cody Belzley While most of the world has seemed to move on from the COVID crisis, Colorado’s health care safety net is still reeling from its impacts. We’re counting on Colorado’s lawmakers to chart a […]
CME requirements for licensure: What you need to know During the 2024 legislative session of the Colorado General Assembly, representatives introduced House Bill, HB24-1153 Physician Continuing Education. The bill was finalized and signed by Gov. Jared Polis on June 4, 2024. The legislation […]
Copic is pleased to announce that we 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 […]
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 […]
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), […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Michael H. Gendel, MD, Medical Director Emeritus,Colorado Physician Health Program As physicians, we often speak about health, wellness and wellbeing interchangeably, but these concepts – while interconnected – represent different dimensions of our professional and personal lives. When all three […]
Adapted from the inaugural address of the 2024 Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting Kim Warner, MD Take a moment to recall your funniest and most disastrous medical story. Mine was my first cesarean section. It was my first night call […]
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is HERE – Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. You can review your plan and make any changes for next year. Most people this year will NOT NEED TO CHANGE. The originally anticipated upheaval to Medicare […]
September is Suicide Prevention Month and Sept. 17 was National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. More than half of physicians know a physician who has considered, attempted or died by suicide. We can all help prevent physician suicide by helping to […]
Today, Sept. 17, is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (#NPSADay). #NPSADay is a reminder and a call to action to make time to talk – and to act – so physicians’ struggles don’t become mental health emergencies. The Colorado Medical […]
Hap Young, MD, CMS Treasurer Over the last several months the Colorado Medical Society’s Board of Directors, working with staff, took action to ensure the continued strength of our organization. This entailed modernizing CMS’s membership categories and dues structure. Our […]
May 31, 1956 – June 9, 2024 James R. Regan, MD, passed away on June 9, 2024, shortly after his 68th birthday. He is remembered for his empathetic nature and a remarkable career in Internal Medicine spanning over four decades. […]
Cecilia Comerford-Ames, CMS Communications Every year, the Colorado Medical Society Educational Foundation (CMS-EF) proudly awards scholarships to promising future physicians. CMS-EF offers two distinguished scholarships: the Gilchrist Student Leadership Scholarship and the Rural Track Scholarship. The Rural Track Scholarship financially […]
Colorado physicians represent you in Chicago Kate Alfano, CMS Director of Communications Your elected delegation of Colorado physicians traveled to Chicago in June to represent you at the American Medical Association House of Delegates meeting and conduct other business on […]
Alexis Pepple, MBA The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has provisions pertaining to Medicare prescription drug coverage. We have seen small changes in 2023 and 2024, but much more significant changes will impact 2025 Medicare plans. Here is a chart […]
Gerald Zarlengo, MD, Chairman & CEO, Copic Insurance Company This year marks the 40th anniversary of Copic. It is a milestone we are honored to celebrate and a testament to the purpose that was set forth by our founders. We […]
Laura F. Martin, MD, Associate Medical Director, Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) I miss my friends. How I’ve gotten to this place is a story I have heard countless times told by my patients, peers and loved ones. Prior to […]
You’re invited to the 154th Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting Join the Colorado Medical Society and your peers from around the state in Breckenridge for the 154th CMS Annual Meeting Sept. 13-14. Attendees will experience cutting-edge programming on artificial intelligence, […]
As I reflect on my year as president of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS), I am proud of the strides we made together. Our work showed the strength of our organization and the importance of your membership. When you receive […]
The Colorado Medical Society is proud to support Copic in their award of the Copic Humanitarian Award, which is given to a physician who has shown outstanding volunteer medical services and contributions to their community. Nominations are accepted through Aug. […]
Register today to join us Sept. 13-15 for CMS’s signature event of the year where colleagues, thought leaders, students, and supporters come together as a community to champion medicine in Colorado. Here are a few highlights of the 154th Annual […]
The Colorado Medical Society seeks physicians and medical students of all walks of life, perspectives, backgrounds, practice settings, career stage and geographic location to volunteer to join a CMS committee. Most committees have open positions starting in the fall, and all […]
In the recent legislative session, House Bill 24-1058 Protect Privacy of Biological Data made history by passing both chambers with near unanimity. On April 17, it became the first law of its kind in the nation, signed by Governor Polis, […]
The health care labor shortage is a staffing crisis we can no longer ignore. While most people attribute the staffing shortage to COVID-19, the truth is that it was an issue long before the pandemic and will continue to be […]
The COPIC Medical Foundation was established in 1991 with the goal of creating a nonprofit that could support our mission of improving medicine in the communities we serve. Today, the Foundation’s efforts extend across multiple states, have impacted the lives […]
Welcome to the 154th Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting in beautiful Breckenridge September 13 and 14, 2024. Join us at CMS’s signature event of the year where colleagues, thought leaders, students, and supporters come together as a community to champion […]
The Colorado Medical Society consistently polls members to tailor our services to your needs. Your input guides how we adapt to the ever-changing health care landscape. CMS conducted a survey in the first quarter of 2024, polling member and non-member […]
When we embarked on our journey into medicine, we were prepared for challenges: the weight of high expectations, the relentless hours, the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, and the delicate dance with life, death and illness. Yet, amidst these anticipated trials, […]
A monumental session for physicians and patients The Colorado General Assembly concluded its 2024 legislative session on May 8, adjourning sine die. This session was marked by significant victories for physicians and patients alike, showcasing the power of organized advocacy […]
Physicians often cite advocacy as a top priority for the Colorado Medical Society and this year, I had the opportunity to see firsthand how pivotal this work is to our members and patients. Given our demanding day jobs, we depend […]
The Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on Wednesday, May 8. This session featured some of the most important priorities to physicians, and we would not have gained so many legislative wins without your help. Success by the numbers: HB24-1472: Raise Damage Limit […]
Updated May 8, 2024 In a May 1, 2024 communication, HCPF officially confirmed the fix to the initial hospital care code audit: “We have halted mailing on this audit and will ensure that no other notices are mailed for medical claims billed […]
As you know, the Colorado Medical Society—in partnership with Coloradans Protecting Patient Access (CPPA), COPIC and the Colorado Hospital Association—has been deeply engaged in a legislative effort to avoid potentially catastrophic ballot measures from the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) […]