Gov. Polis opts Colorado out of federal requirement for physician supervision of CRNAs

On October 19, 2023, Gov. Polis exempted all hospitals out of the Medicare requirement that certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) be supervised by a physician. Read the Governor’s letter to Medicare and the press release. 

Colorado Medical Society (CMS) is disappointed by this decision. CMS has worked closely with the Colorado Society of Anesthesiologists and others in advocacy efforts to oppose this change given key concerns about care quality and safety. In 2010 then Gov. Bill Ritter partially opt-out the state out of these requirements for critical access hospitals and specified rural hospitals. Yesterday's executive action by Gov. Polis opts all hospitals out of these federal requirements.

Resources you need for collaborative agreements with physician assistants

Important changes have occurred to the scope of practice for physician assistants (PA). After two years of fiercely fought and failed legislative attempts, SB23-83 passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Polis earlier this spring. CMS secured important amendments to the bill. The new law changes how PAs practice. Instead of practicing medicine under the direct supervision of a physician, a physician assistant must now enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician. The Colorado Board of Medicine recently finalized regulations to operationalize the law (changing what was Rule 400 to the new Rule 1.15 [starting on page 21]). If you work with PAs, then CMS encourages you to review COPIC’s excellent analysis that explains exactly how the new agreements work. CMS also encourages you to utilize the collaborative practice agreement template and the performance evaluation form template that COPIC developed and CMS supports.

CMS released a statement on the Israel-Hamas war

In the days following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Colorado Medical Society President Omar Mubarak, MD, MBA, released a statement. Read it here.

Member spotlight: Sports medicine physician embraces failure, encourages you to pursue your passion

CMS continues our monthly member spotlight series with a Q&A with Aneesh Garg, DO. Dr. Garg is fairly new to Colorado and has just set up practice in Boulder.

What advice does Dr. Garg have for physicians-in-training?

"First thing is, take it six months at a time. If you look at the entire process and totality, you’ll go crazy. Second, you’d better be doing it for your reasons and nobody else’s. A therapist told me one time you have to give yourself permission to live your life. It’s a pretty freeing and empowering statement!"

Reminder: All Colorado physicians are invited to a webinar with FBI agent on behavioral health assessments

Oct. 25, 6-7 p.m.; earn up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

The Northern Colorado Medical Society and Boulder County Medical Society will host a virtual CME seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.: “Behavioral Health Assessments and Understanding the Relationship Between Suicidality and Homicidality.” Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel Krug, who works with the FBI Behavioral Task Force will give a unique perspective on assessment tools and local resources available for mental health care. We need physicians' input into this complex issue! Physicians can receive up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. More information, accreditation and link to register here!

Last chance: Register for final module in Foundations in Equity series - Oct. 26

Earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

One module remains in the four-part Foundations in Equity series brought to you by the CMS DEI Committee. Even if you missed the other modules, you can still attend and benefit from the final module! We will also offer one make-up session per module; more information coming soon. The speaker is Rita Lee, MD, director of the Health Equity in Action Lab (HEAL), part of the Anschutz Medical Campus.

• Module 4: Equity in Action (Zoom only), Thursday, Oct. 26, 6-7:30 p.m.

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