Health Innovations                                                                                  November 2017

Help champion healthcare innovators

The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) will release its third and final application for cohort 3 in seven days, and the team is proud to tout the ways in which SIM is aligned with other state initiatives, such as 2Gen , to address all aspects of patient health.   Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, SIM helps practices integrate physical and behavioral health and succeed with alternative payment models. Integrated or “whole-person care” has been shown to improve patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs and enhance team morale. And patients recognize a difference in the care they receive at integrated practices.   “I don’t feel rushed” during appointments, said one patient, who participated on a panel during the Collaborative Learning Session last week that attracted close to 500 people. “Providers take the time to ask me questions about aspects of my health that might be different than what I went in for. It makes me want to seek medical care whereas before I’d only go as a last resort.”    Listen to another patient’s experience with integrated care in a SIM podcast and please encourage practices to apply for cohort-3 .   Pictured above: Barbara Martin, RN, MSN, ACNP-BC, MPH, SIM director, kicks off the SIM Collaborative Learning Session, which was hosted by the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine and included sessions about the practical aspects of integrating care, data collection and evaluation, engagement of patients and family members and more.

Last chance to participate in SIM SIM will release its application for the third and final practice cohort on Nov. 15. Practices are encouraged to apply for this governor’s office initiative, from Nov. 15 through Jan. 10, 2018. More information is available online along with a short video with Dr. Glenn Madrid, who talks about his practice’s experience in SIM.   SIM continues to expand access to integrated physical and behavioral health with two cohorts of 247 primary care practices and four community mental health centers. Join this group of healthcare innovators and apply for cohort-3.

SIM telehealth RFI to be released soon The SIM team is working closely with Health First Colorado (Medicaid) on a request for information (RFI) from providers, payers, and patients/patient advocacy groups to increase understanding about use, interest in expanding, and barriers to expanding telehealth/e-consults to improve access to care. The information will be used to bolster the sustainability of SIM’s telehealth efforts. Please help us by providing input when you receive the survey. For more information, contact Laurel Broten: laurel.broten@state.co.us .

Man therapy: An innovative approach to suicide prevention Working aged men (25-54 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the nation. These men, who are at the highest risk are also the least likely to receive any kind of support. They might not talk with their friends or families and are less likely to seek professional treatment. Man Therapy is an innovative approach addressing this issue. Learn more in the Latest SIM podcast and at www.mantherapy.org .   Please subscribe to SIM Soundcloud and YouTube channels to see all of our videos and podcasts, which help tell the SIM story.

Regions selected for SIM consumer engagement project In September 2017, Arrow Performance Group was awarded the SIM consumer engagement contract to engage patients in communities and help create a healthcare program that better serves their needs.   The project includes building a community engagement structure of community liaisons, community leaders and consumers in two medically underserved communities/regions by helping healthcare consumers identify barriers to healthcare.   Seven communities/regions were evaluated and rated on these three criteria: 1) Medically underserved determinants, 2) Social and economic determinates of health, and 3) How likely can the selected regions meet the project requirements.   After careful consideration, the following were selected: parts of Denver, Adams and Arapahoe counties as well as Pueblo and Otero counties. Stay tuned for more updates about this project.

RHCs link providers with local resources Regional health connectors (RHCs) met in Steamboat Springs on Oct. 25-26 for a semi-annual retreat. Listen to RHCs practicing “elevator speeches” about their work for more information about this new workforce and how it’s improving the lives of Coloradans: Cassie Rogers, Region 6 (Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Prowers, and Otero counties) gives an overview of her work. Namrata Shrestha, Region 12 (Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, and Garfield counties) talks about her project to align care coordinators across the region to increase resource sharing. Ashley Hill, Region 17 (Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Park counties) talks about her efforts to open a clinic in a county that has no primary care services. Stephanie Salazar Rodriguez, Region 21 (Denver county) explains what she can to do to help doctors better serve their patients’ social needs.   Learn more and get contact information for the RHC in your area: www.regionalhealthconnectors.org .

Respond to master patient index RFI The Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation released a draft Request for Information (RFI) for a Master Patient Index for public comment Nov. 3 - Nov. 23 through the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing .   The documents for review and public comment are the  draft MPI RFP questions  and  draft MPI RFP exhibit A .    Documents are available on the  vendor self-service site .  ·      Click "Public access" ·      Search "Master Patient Index" or number 2018000024  ·      Click "Details" on the open solicitation - Master Patient Index  ·      Click "Attachments"   All comments should be submitted to  RFPQuestions@state.co.us  by Nov. 23, 2017.

Child Health Plan Plus update Congress did not reauthorize federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program, known in Colorado as Child Health Plan  Plus  (CHP+) ,  by the September 30, 2017 deadline.   The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing issued this official statement regarding the status of CHP+ in Colorado and developed information and resources for CHP+ members and applicants, CHP+ providers, counties & eligibility partners and stakeholders & advocates.

Workforce redesign Redesigning healthcare in integrated settings requires evaluating how the workforce is trained to work and to partner with others. Colorado is tackling this issue through its State Innovation Model and developed eight core competencies for behavioral health clinicians in primary care settings. Watch this animated video to develop and deepen your skills .

Addressing compassion fatigue and burnout in integrated care Addressing the complex needs of individuals with numerous and serious behavioral and physical health difficulties increases the risk for staff to experience symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue. Read more and learn how to address compassion fatigue and burnout in integrated care settings from Christina Maslach, a researcher with work experience in the field of work burnout.

Get the qualifying APM participant look-up tool  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched an interactive look-up tool for providers to find their qualifying APM participant (QP) status based on calculations from claims with dates of service between Jan. 1 - March 31. Under the Quality Payment Program, eligible clinicians who meet certain criteria are considered QPs in advanced alternative payment models (APMs) and are therefore excluded from the MIPS quality reporting program. There are approximately 75,000 National Provider Identifiers in the first QP analysis, according to CMS. QPs identified based on the 2017 performance year will receive a 5% lump sum Medicare incentive payment in 2019. The tool will be updated with calculations from claims with dates of services between Jan. 1 - June 30. The methodology fact sheet helps providers understand how CMS determines QP status and the supplemental service payments fact sheet , which reflects supplemental service payments in APM incentive payment calculations.

Register for free upcoming learning series Mood and anxiety disorders: Screening, diagnosis, and treatment Commitment: Six weekly ECHO sessions held virtually, Thursdays from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM (MT) Oct. 12 - Nov. 16 Audience: Primary care providers in Colorado Learn more and register today (space is limited) Pediatric psychiatry: Managing and treating in primary care Commitment: Six weekly ECHO sessions held virtually, Wednesdays from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT) Oct. 25 - Dec. 6 (No session will be held Nov. 22 in honor of Thanksgiving) Audience: Pediatric primary care providers in Colorado Learn more and register today (space is limited)

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Suggested reading

Primary care alternative payment model survivor guide The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has created a primary care alternative payment model (APM) survivor guide to help primary care providers and their staff implement the department's new APM for primary care.

Quality Payment Program Coalition fast facts in 5 minutes - October The Quality Payment Program (QPP) began Jan. 1, 2017 under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). This program is an effort to drive clinician engagement and enhance the quality, cost effectiveness and health of the population. The Colorado QPP Coalition has been formed to help clinicians* and their practice teams successfully transition to the new program. Read the monthly edition of "QPP fast facts in 5 minutes" using the link above.

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The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number CMS-1G1-14-001 from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM), a four-year initiative, is funded by up to $65 million from CMS. The content provided is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.