CAFP Weekly Newsletter for Jan. 16, 2025
CAFP Weekly Newsletter
Family Medicine Resources
Practice Compliance: New Reporting for Physicians When Offering Discounted Care in Hospitals
New reporting will be required under SB24-116, which concerns healthcare billing for indigent patients receiving services in a hospital or hospital’s off-campus setting. Family physicians should prepare for these changes, which include reporting and screening requirements, to ensure compliance and support improved access to care for indigent patients. Key updates, resources, and support are available on CAFP’s Practice Compliance Resources webpage.
Public Health: Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Reporting
The Colorado Board of Health updated reporting requirements of cCMV effective January 14, 2025. Here’s is a summary of those changes. For more detailed information, click here.
If an infant patient tests positive for cCMV or a pregnant patient delivers an infant that tests positive, you may receive a call from the SET-NET program regarding the patient’s medical chart for the purposes of compiling data.
Long-term health problems of cCMV can include hearing loss, vision loss, learning disabilities, developmental or motor delays, seizures, lack of coordination or weakness, and microcephaly. Early detection allows for interventions which can improve outcomes for patients.
Labs and providers are required to report to their local public health agency within four days any positive results from all specimen types for cCMV for infants up to one year of age.
The new, CDC-funded Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET) is conducting longitudinal observation of children up to three years of age for cCMV. The data gathered will inform a better understanding of the prevalence and impacts of cCMV in Colorado.
Public Health: Increased Syphilis Testing Cuts Projected Congenital Cases by More Than Half
CDPHE has announced a dramatic slowing in projected congenital syphilis cases. The Colorado Board of Health has also adopted a new regulation, 12 of 6 CCR 1009-1, to strengthen protections against syphilis for pregnant people and their babies. Testing of pregnant patients at certain intervals remains required under Colorado law. The new rule replaces Public Health Order 24-01, which required increased syphilis testing for pregnant people in Colorado. The order, which has now been terminated, was an instrumental tool to significantly reduce cases of projected congenital syphilis, complementing a comprehensive strategy to address the spread of the disease.
Highlights of 12 of 6 CCR 1009-1, which went into effect January 14, 2025:
- All health care facilities and physicians that medically evaluate and treat anyone who is pregnant should offer syphilis testing. Testing is required to be offered at specific points throughout pregnancy, including:
- During the first trimester of pregnancy or at the patient’s initial prenatal visit.
- During the third trimester of pregnancy.
- At the time of delivery.
- When there is a fetal death after 20 weeks’ gestation.
Find information about electronic lab reporting and other resources at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/sti-hiv-vh/syphilis-in-colorado/provider.
Academy Happenings
Represent Colorado at AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL)
NCCL will be held April 24-26, 2025 in Kansas City, MO. This is AAFP’s leadership development event that empowers delegates to lead positive change in family medicine. NCCL will inspire you to build on your leadership skills and create a lasting impact for current and future generations of family physicians. Let Erin Watwood know you’re interested by March 10.
Here are the NCCL constituencies in which you can participate:
LGBTQ+ physicians or physician allies
Women
BIPOC
New physicians (in the first seven years of practice following residency)
International medical graduates (IMG), from schools outside the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Family Medicine Award Nominations Close Tomorrow
If you’d like to nominate a colleague or your practice for CAFP’s 2025 Family Medicine Awards, please fill out this form by tomorrow, January 17. The award categories are physician of the year, teacher of the year, resident of the year, and practice award for health equity and community engagement. Learn more.
Educational Opportunity: Maternal Mortality Prevention
When: Wed., January 22; 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Where: virtual
Register
Co-hosted by CAFP and the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC). This presentation will delve into why and how family physicians can get involved in hospital-based maternal mortality and morbidity prevention efforts. Attendees will hear from CPCQC, which works with hospitals statewide to implement maternal QI programs on L&D units, as well as Dr. Rachel Lingreen, a family physician and provider champion of one of CPCQC’s QI programs, focused on primary cesarean reduction in Northern Colorado.
Federal Legislative Update: Congress Passes 3-Month Continuing Resolution, Plus Speak Out Opportunity
Last December, after failing to advance a bipartisan year-end legislative package, Congress passed a 3-month Continuing Resolution (CR) to avert a federal government shutdown. The CR includes a temporary extension of key health provisions through the end of March, including:
- Medicare telehealth flexibilities
- Funding for Teaching Health Centers and Community Health Centers
What You Can Do:
Congress did not prevent the 2.8% physician payment cut from taking effect on January 1, 2025, despite bipartisan efforts to provide relief. AAFP expressed strong opposition and has launched a Speak Out campaign, encouraging members to voice their disappointment to lawmakers over this failure. All members are urged to contact their lawmakers regarding these critical issues this year.
Advocacy efforts have already resumed with the start of the 119th Congress, which began on January 3, 2025. The AAFP remains committed to advancing family medicine priorities, including:
- Addressing challenges with physician reimbursement
- Reducing administrative burdens
- Supporting and strengthening the family physician workforce
Our continued engagement is vital as we work to achieve meaningful progress on these issues in the months ahead.
CAFP Endorses Save Our Safety Net Website to Address Medicaid Crisis
CAFP is proud to endorse the recently launched Save Our Safety Net website as part of a coordinated effort by the Colorado Health Policy Coalition (CHPC) to address the ongoing Medicaid crisis.
This comprehensive resource highlights the critical challenges facing Medicaid members and safety net providers, offering data-driven insights and personal stories from consumers and providers affected by disenrollment. It also showcases recent media coverage, amplifying the urgency of the crisis and advocating for actionable solutions.
CAFP’s support reflects its commitment to ensuring access to care for all Coloradans, particularly the most vulnerable populations. By endorsing this campaign, CAFP underscores the importance of:
- Raising public and policymaker awareness of the crisis
- Advocating for sustainable solutions to safeguard Medicaid and the health care safety net
- Highlighting the real-world impacts of disenrollment on health outcomes
As state leaders prepare to address these issues in the FY 2025-26 budget, CAFP stands united with coalition partners in urging swift action to protect healthcare access and strengthen Colorado’s safety net.