Academy Happenings

Celebrating You This Holiday Season

Dear CAFP Members,As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work you do every day as family physicians. This time of year encourages reflection, and when I think about the impact you’ve made in your communities, I’m filled with gratitude and admiration. Your dedication to caring for individuals and families—through the joyful, challenging, and everything-in-between moments—is nothing short of remarkable. You are the foundation of health and healing, often the first call for those in need, and the trusted support that so many rely on. Your work goes beyond medicine. It’s about connection, compassion, and service. It’s about showing up, even in hard times, and making a difference in ways big and small. Your impact reaches far beyond the exam room, shaping healthier, stronger communities across Colorado.

As you take time to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones, I hope you also find time to reflect on the incredible work you’ve done this year. Your contributions are invaluable, and my colleagues and I are so proud to have you as part of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians. Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, peace, and well-deserved rest. Here’s to an inspiring 2025 ahead! With heartfelt appreciation, Ryan and the CAFP team

CAFP Joins CHPC Letter Urging Congress to Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

In collaboration with the Colorado Health Policy Coalition (CHPC), CAFP has signed on to a letter urging Congress to extend the enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) for health insurance, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.

The letter highlights the severe consequences of allowing these enhanced tax credits to lapse, including a significant increase in out-of-pocket costs for health insurance premiums, a rise in Colorado’s uninsured rate, and destabilization of the state’s insurance marketplace.

Without Congressional action:

• Premium costs for the ~190,000 Coloradans currently receiving tax credits will increase by 50% or more, with even steeper increases of 73% for rural enrollees.
• Low and moderate-income families will face premium hikes of 100-150%, driving coverage out of reach.
• Coloradans earning above 400% of the federal poverty level will lose access to tax credits entirely, with disproportionate impacts on mountain and rural communities.
• 57,000 Coloradans who gained coverage under the enhanced credits risk becoming uninsured again.

This issue is particularly urgent as Colorado begins its insurance rate-setting process early in 2025. Failure to act swiftly will create instability in the insurance market, disrupt the operations of Connect for Health Colorado, and force consumers to face unaffordable premiums.

CAFP and coalition members call on Colorado’s Congressional delegation to act by the end of the year to prevent a cascade of catastrophic consequences, including loss of affordable coverage, destabilization of the health insurance market, and increased strain on providers treating uninsured Coloradans, particularly in rural areas.

By extending these vital premium tax credits, Congress can ensure continued access to affordable coverage, protect the health and financial well-being of Coloradans, and support the stability of Colorado’s healthcare system.

Other Academy Happenings

Nominate a Colleague for the FM Awards
We’re now accepting nominations for the 2025 Physician of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Resident of the Year, and Practice of the Year awards. We welcome you to learn more and nominate someone who inspires you before January 17, 2025.

Sign up for Doctor of the Day
Doctor of the Day is the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians’ unique volunteer opportunity with state lawmakers to highlight family physicians’ values. Volunteer Doctors of the Day serve as the on-call physician for a day at the Colorado State Capitol where they provide consultation and urgent medical care to legislators, Capitol staff, and visitors while witnessing the legislative process firsthand.

Vote for the New Members of CAFP’s Board of Directors
Elections are open until January 7, 2025 for the new members of CAFP’s Board. Read about the candidates, see our current Board, and cast your vote here.

Renew Your Membership
You got into family medicine for your patients, and we’re here to support your efforts to excel in caring for them. Click here to see a few of the ways you can continue to take advantage of your AAFP membership when you renew before January 1, 2025.