Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM)
Monthly Newsletter
September, 2015
In This Issue

Multi-Payer Collaborative FAQ

Colorado payers, both public and private, are working together to develop a  framework  for achieving whole person care through comprehensive practice transformation. Using this framework, payers will be expanding value-based payments within their own networks to practices engaged in transformation activities, and meeting specific milestones. Practices will be able to participate to advance their knowledge and demonstrated ability to support this model of care, at the level that makes the most sense to them. A wide range of participants, from practices in the early stages of transformation to groups with extensive transformation experience, will be included in the initial cohort.  Read more about the Multi-Payer Collaborative and SIM.
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Boards and Commissions Accepting Applications for SIM Advisory Board

The SIM Advisory Board is expanding to include four additional members to beappointed by the Governor:
  • Two representatives of organizations that represent the interests of health care consumers;

  • A representative recommended to the Governor's Office by a statewide association of hospitals;

  • A representative of a health plan recommended to the Governor's Office by a statewide association of health plans.
We encourage anyone who is interested to apply through the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions using the following link before Friday, September 18:

Request for Applications for Practices to Participate in SIM

The University of Colorado is finalizing a Request for Application (RFA) that will be released on or near September 15. The RFA will solicit applications from primary care practices to be considered for inclusion in the first cohort of SIM practices. The practices that are selected to participate will receive technical assistance and financial support to integrate physical and behavioral health and test value-based payment models.  There will be a webinar-style forum held on Wednesday, September 23, from 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM to discuss the RFA and will provide interested parties an opportunity to ask questions. Please click here to sign-up for the open forum.
 
Please refer to the links below for additional information:
New Funding Partnership Supports Collaboration, Integration Across Behavioral Health Spectrum

The Denver Foundation and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), with funding from SIM, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership designed to improve the accessibility and impact of behavioral health services across Colorado. Today, the organizations opened a three-year cycle of funding for collaborative programs that address the spectrum of behavioral health issues statewide. Funds will support existing collaborations between three or more organizations that work together to address behavioral health issues at the local level. In particular, CDPHE will leverage SIM funds to support behavioral health prevention and screening while the Denver Foundation will fund projects related to increasing access to behavioral health treatment. Applicants may apply to either funding source or both.
 
"This funding collaboration offers an unprecedented opportunity to help maximize the impact local health and community partners can make in improving behavioral health outcomes throughout the state," said Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
 
The Request for Applications and additional information is available online at:

 
The application deadline is 5pm MT on Friday, October 16, 2015.
 
SIM Office Plans Outreach Tour

The SIM Office is planning an outreach tour, tentatively scheduled for November 2015. The tour will include 6-8 locations throughout the state, and will primarily focus on connecting with our stakeholders outside the metro area. Once the locations are finalized, the SIM Office will reach out to all of our stakeholders to solicit feedback on people we should make sure to invite and topics they'd like to hear addressed. 
Colorado Opioid Epidemic Symposium on September 24 and 25

The North Colorado Health Alliance, the Colorado Consortium on Prescription Drug Abuse, and other partners are planning a Colorado Opioid Epidemic Symposium at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on September 24th and 25th.  Click here for detailed information and instructions on how to register for this event.
In the News

SIM is on Twitter
 
The SIM Office is now on Twitter! Follow us @SIM_Colorado to read about how Colorado is transforming the way health care is delivered, and stay up to date with the latest SIM news.