Mary Rice was installed as the second CMS Connection President on Friday, September 11,2009 at the Fall Meeting in Breckenridge at the Beaver Run resort

Help repeal the
Medicare SGR formula

Call your senators today at
1-800-833-6354!

Act now to keep your practice viable and protect your Medicare and TRICARE patients’ access to care. The 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut that had been scheduled to take effect January 1 has been delayed until March 1, giving us a short window of opportunity to persuade the U.S. Senate to do the right thing and permanently repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

For too many years, physicians have been threatened with huge cuts in Medicare payments, only for Congress to act at the last minute with a temporary reprieve that grows the problem and increases the cost of a permanent solution. The American Medical Association (AMA) has made it abundantly clear to members of Congress, as well as to the White House, that the days for Band-Aids^® are over.

Congress created the SGR mess and it must fix it.

Underpayment for services hurts every physician as well as patients covered by Medicare and TRICARE. Continuing this game of “kick the can” harms the stability and security of the entire Medicare system and the millions of seniors and military families it is intended to serve.

Senators need to hear directly from America’s physicians on this issue. Please call the AMA’s toll-free grassroots hotline at 1-800-833-6354 to urge your senators to permanently repeal the SGR.

Do it today for the future of your practice and the patients in your care!

 

A grassroots evolution from Alliance to Connection …. 

 

During the past year, the Colorado Medical Society Alliance has experienced some very tangible changes… new name, new logo, new mission statement, new tagline, new fiscal year, membership year, and approved e-mail voting. In addition, the annual meeting (installation of officers) was changed to be held jointly with the medical society in the fall.   

 

Today, we introduce to you the Colorado Medical Society Connection, formerly the aLLIANCE, a grassroots organization of physicians, physician spouses and medical students and their spouses.  Our new mission is to “Connect with physicians to actively participate in building a healthy Colorado.”

 

Our new logo is symbolic of who we are.  The circular seal represents connecting and continuing, and nicely complements the CMS logo.  The EKG line says that we have our pulse on the community and its needs, and that as Connection members we are ready to take action when necessary to ensure a healthy Colorado.

 

While the Alliance has long been recognized as an organization of physician spouses as well as a volunteer organization, the Connection will be recognized as a partner in the advocacy of healthcare in Colorado. 

 

The CMS Connection is building a partnership with our county alliances, CMS, COPIC, and the county medical societies.  We are all the Family of Medicine working to build a healthy Colorado.  With your participation we will become the strong connector that will bridge the family of medicine to our communities.

 

No other medical society and alliance in the country is working on a modern approach to recruitment and organization as it pertains to health care and health care reform.  Colorado is the place. Now is the time. The need is greatest.

 

Colorado has a health care crisis.  Access and cost are just two of the issues facing consumers as well as healthcare providers. The Colorado Medical Society Connection, the organization of physicians and physicians spouses, will be working together to bridge the gap between two communities -- the medical community who works to provide healthcare services and the consumers who depend on those services.  Along with being physicians and spouses of physicians, we are consumers of health care.  Join us as we build a bridge with a grassroots organization, now called the Connection that is strong, flexible, open, diverse, and effective. 

 

The new Connection is your organization.  We are a diverse, talented and influential group of people.  We will provide opportunities for Connection members to work on existing projects that the Colorado Medical Society, county Medical Societies and COPIC have in place, as well as to take on specific projects of our grassroots’ members and local organizations.  Whether it’s working for healthcare reform, educating law makers, pandemic flu preparedness, or projects we have long championed that improve health and raise awareness -- this is an organization that can connect you to your area of interest.  Connection members will build a strong relationship between the family of medicine and the community as partners for health and advocacy. 

 

The Auxiliary and Alliance members of the past have laid the groundwork before us.  Connection members will build on that foundation to respond like never before to the challenging times facing the medical profession today. 

 

We ask that you: 

·         Add your voice and expertise to others around our great state working on the critical issues impacting our communities. 

·         Add your voice and expertise to play a leadership role in remaking Colorado’s health care system.  

·         Add your voice and expertise to the Connection to effect important change and set a national standard for grassroots groups.  

·         Visit our new and improved website often @ www.cmsconnection.org 

·         Open your Connection emails and make a commitment to act on the information and pass it along to your connections in the community.

 

 

The success of the Connection will depend on you and your willingness to send your dues and contact information to give us the ability to communicate directly with grassroots members, hold events and build a direct advocacy organization.  

 

We value your choice to join us in this effort and we value your ideas and opinions as we move forward.  Membership forms were included in the recent CMS dues statements and can also be found on our website @ www.cmsconnection.org

  

We look forward to counting you as a member and a supporter of the CMS Connection. 

 

Thank you,

            

Patti Brown & Linda Culberson

CMSC Co-Presidents 2008-2009