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TopCounty Connections
October 25, 2016                                                                                       
In This Issue
County Incentives Program
FY16-17 County Incentives Program Guidance
Official guidance available below

In July 2016, the Department released formal guidance for county partners to successfully implement the FY 2016-17 County Incentives Program. Download the guidance by clicking below; it is also available on the County Administration website.

FY16-17 County Incentives Program Guide - provides frequently asked questions, forms and templates, and more.

FY16-17 Exemption Form for Unusual Circumstances - use only to request an exemption for Timeliness and/or Backlog Incentives.

FY16-17 Collaboration Incentive Template - use to report quarterly collaboration.

Process for Requesting Approval of County Trainings - use to request pre-approval of locally-developed trainings.

Training Hours Upload - use for batch upload of training hours into Learning Management System.

More information on the County Incentives Program can be found on the County Administration website or by contacting the HCPF County Relations team.
County Grant Program
FY 2016-17 County Grant Program
CFMS Coding

If your county was approved for County Grant Program funding for FY 2016-17, please ensure you use CFMS code M210.5400 to code all grant expenses.

Grant expenses should NOT be coded to county administration if the county was approved for Grant Program funding.

More information on the County Grant Program is found on the County
 Administration
 website or by contacting the HCPF County Relations team.
County Training Opportunities
Staff Development Center:

Expanding Foundations MAGI - Denver Metro

November 1, 2016 - 
November 3, 2016
8:30am - 4:00pm

Expanding Foundations Non-MAGI - Denver Metro

November 9, 2016 - 
November 10, 2016
8:30am - 4:00pm

Expanding Foundations Long Term Care - Denver Metro

November 15, 2016 - 
November 16, 2016
8:30am - 4:00pm

Online through TrainColorado:

Building Effective Relationships

Civil Rights

Client ID State ID

Colorado Address Confidentiality Program

IRS 1095-B Health Coverage Video

Medicaid Buy-In

PEAK Health App 

Single Streamlined Applications (SSAp) 101

Understanding Poverty

Your Road to Resources

Department of Health Care Policy and Financing:




Annualized Income Webinar

Other training not mentioned above may qualify for the HCPF Training Incentive. Contact the County Relations team for more information on the Training Incentive.
Quick Links and Resources
Medicaid and CHP+ Rules and Guidance

Volume 8 - Rules - direct link to Secretary of State

HCPF Forms and Rules

HCPF Agency and Directors Letters

HCPF FAQs and Training

HCPF County Relations

CBMS Enhancement Sheets - Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT)


Staff Development Center (SDC)


Training Calendar

Welcome to the October 2016 edition of County Connections!

The content in this newsletter is designed to inform county directors, management and staff in areas such as county performance, process improvement, collaboration, policy updates, upcoming due dates and more.  

The content will continue to evolve.  We encourage our county partners to give us your content suggestions. Feedback can be sent to the  HCPF County Relations team.

Please feel free to share  County Connections  with your colleagues by selecting  forward this email   at the bottom of this page.
   
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Breaking News - Policy and Process Updates

Colorado interChange Postponement and Provider Revalidation Update - TIME SENSITIVE
NOTICE: Colorado interChange postponed

Early this month, the Department announced the decision to postpone the Go Live date of the new Colorado interChange, provider web portal, member web portal and new Pharmacy Benefits Management System.

The new Go Live date is March 1, 2017.

Counties should continue to use their current processes for submitting claims, prior authorization requests and updates to the Department. Claims will continue to be processed and paid as they are currently.
 
The new Go Live date allows us to conduct more systems testing, better define system and business process changes and devote more time to working with our providers and county partners to ensure they are revalidated and enrolled in the Colorado interChange system.
 
The Department hosted a webinar for partners about the postponement. If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here. We have posted some initial FAQs from providers and partners. We will continue to compile questions and update this site.

County Revalidation and Enrollment

Counties must complete the revalidation and enrollment process to be approved as a Health First Colorado or CHP+ provider. Any county that bills the Department for services to our members, must complete the application.

Counties that have started the revalidation process should continue and submit their application as soon as possible. Counties that have not started the revalidation process should begin immediately. Counties not enrolled in the new Colorado interChange by March 1, 2017 will not be able to bill Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) or CHP+ for services.

Counties that have completed the revalidation process should download and complete these training sessions. More live webinar sessions will be available in February 2017.

Not sure how to get started? Check below to find your Provider Type. Then visit our website for comprehensive instructions that will walk you through the application. If you run into any problems or have questions about the status of your application, you can call the Health First Colorado Enrollment and Revalidation Information Center at 1-844-235-2387 for assistance.

County agencies that reimburse for or provide  non-emergent medical transportation (NEMT), must enroll or revalidate as:
  • Enrollment Type: Atypical
  • Provider Type: 73 - Transportation
  • Specialty Code: Non-emergency medical (525)
A county that is also an emergency ambulance provider must enroll or revalidate as:
  • Enrollment Type: Facility
  • Provider Type: 13- Transportation
  • Specialty Code Options:
    • County Agency, Non Metro Area (124)
A county that is also a Children's Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP) case management provider must enroll or revalidate as:
  • Enrollment Type: Atypical
  • Provider Type:  11 - Case Manager
  • Specialty Code:  330
Each business location must complete a separate application
EFT Exemption Instructions (if you do not want to provide EFT information)
 
A county that also provides services as a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) direct services provider must enroll or revalidate as:
A county that also provides services only as an HCBS case management agency must enroll or revalidate as:
  • Enrollment Type: Atypical
  • Provider Type:  11 - Case Manager
  • Specialty Code:  330
Each business location must complete a separate application
EFT Exemption Instructions (if you do not want to provide EFT information)
 
A county that also provides services as a Clinic must enroll or revalidate as:
  • Enrollment Type: Group
  • Provider Type: 16 - Clinic - Practitioner
There is not a provider type called "Local Public Health Agency."  LPHA's should use the provider type 'Clinic - practitioner'.

For questions regarding the provider revalidation process, or to request assistance with your revalidation application, contact the Provider Questions Inbox.
CBMS Communication 753 - Medical Assistance (MA) Project 9584 Go-Live Update
Project 9584 Go-Live Update
 
CBMS Project 9584 - MA CBMS Updates - InterChange

The Department will be transitioning to a new claims system (the interChange) to replace the current claims system (MMIS) beginning on March 1, 2017. CBMS Project 9584 included all CBMS updates necessary to support the eligibility interface functionality including new data elements required for claims processing and reconciliation of eligibility data with the new interChange system that is required as part of this transition. This project was implemented September 18, 2016, with a go-live date of October 31, 2016.
 
To ensure that there is a seamless transition from MMIS to the interChange, the new interChange MA Eligibility Span process will go-live effective Monday, October 24, 2016, rather than Monday, October 31, 2016. The current MMIS MA Eligibility Span process will continue operating with no changes at this time.
 
Details:
 
Effective Monday, October 24, 2016 - CBMS will continue to send MA Eligibility Spans to MMIS and will also begin sending MA Eligibility Spans to the interChange for continued testing. This process will continue through February 2017.
 
Effective Wednesday, March 1, 2017, CBMS will no longer send MA Eligibility Spans to MMIS and will only send MA Eligibility Spans to the interChange.
 
From October 24, 2016 through February 28, 2017, MA Eligibility Spans will be populated/displayed within ALL eligibility span related pages in CBMS - Medical Assistance Eligibility Spans, View Medical Spans Summary, and Medical Spans Details. Effective March 1, 2017, MA Eligibility Spans will no longer continue to be populated/displayed within the View Medical Spans Summary and Medical Spans Details pages and will continue to be populated/displayed within the Medical Assistance Eligibility Spans page only.
 
The daily Medical Assistance Eligibility Span Error Report will be available starting on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, and will be located within the Medical Span folder in Cognos.
 
Please continue to submit State Help Desk Tickets when issues are identified with MA Eligibility Spans.

For questions,contact the Medicaid Eligibility Inbox.
CBMS Communication 751 - New Address for Dropping Off CHP+ Enrollment Fees and Buy-In Premium Payments
New Addresses for CHP+ Enrollment Fees and Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In Premium Payments

New Address for Dropping off CHP+ Enrollment Fees

Starting on October 24, 2016, there will be a new address where members can pay their Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) annual enrollment fee in-person. Beginning October 24, 2016, members should drop off their check or money order at 655 Bannock Street, Denver, Colorado 80204.
 
For the fastest processing, members can still pay online at Colorado.gov/PEAK or mail their check or money order to P.O. Box 17548, Denver, CO 80217.
 
The member enrollment fee letter is scheduled to be updated to include the new in-person address for dropping off payments in spring 2017.
 
New Address for Dropping off Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In Premium Payments

Starting on October 24, 2016, there will be a new address where members can pay their Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In monthly premium in-person. Beginning October 24, 2016, members should drop off their check or money order at 655 Bannock Street, Denver, Colorado 80204.
 
For the fastest processing, members can still pay online at Colorado.gov/PEAK or mail their check or money order to P.O. Box 5010, Denver, CO 80217.
 
The member premium letter is scheduled to be updated to include the new in-person address for dropping off payments in spring 2017.

For questions,contact the Medicaid Eligibility Inbox.
Stakeholder Meeting Registration - County Dispute Resolution Process - TIME SENSITIVE
Upcoming Stakeholder Meeting to Provide Feedback on Health First Colorado County Dispute Resolution Process

As part of the implementation of House Bill 16-1277, the Department is convening a stakeholder meeting led by the Department's LEAN experts to solicit feedback from county and community partners on proposed guidelines for the county dispute resolution process for eligibility determinations on:

November 9, 2016
9:30 am - 11:30 am

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
303 East 17th Avenue
11th Floor, Conference Room 11AB
Denver, CO 80203
  
In addition to the in-person meeting, a webinar option for attendance is available.  Click here to register for the in-person or webinar option.  

The webinar will be recorded and made available at a later date.
Frequently Asked Questions - Retro Closing and Exceptions to 10 Day Noticing
Retro Closing and Exceptions to 10 Day Noticing FAQs Now Available

Beginning on March 20, 2016, the Department implemented changes to the policy and logic in the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) for retroactive or retro-closing and noticing for ongoing cases and redeterminations. 


Annualized Income FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions now available

Effective July 1, 2016, the Department implemented a policy to use annualized income for certain MAGI Health First Colorado and CHP+ eligibility determinations.
 
A new resource listing FAQs about annualized income, including detailed examples about this new policy, is now available on our website.

Changes to parent or Caretaker Relative coverage - Webinar and FAQs
Department implements federal requirement

Beginning October 1, 2016, the Department is implementing a federal requirement that certain parents or caretaker relatives living with a dependent child under the age of 19 are required to enroll the child in qualifying health coverage, called minimum essential coverage, for the parent or caretaker relatives to be eligible for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program). 

For more information, check out our  webinar hosted with PEAK Outreach and  FAQs about this policy change. For information about changes to CBMS, see the Staff Development Center September build training.


Updates to Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and Colorado.gov/PEAK

Several updates to CBMS and PEAK were implemented on October 16, 2016, to prepare for the upcoming open enrollment season.

Connect for Health Colorado/Medical Assistance Summary of Updates for October 2016:

C4HCO Annualized Social Security Income Update

Self-attested Social Security Actual Annual Income will be used for Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC)/Cost  Sharing Reductions (CSR) determinations rather than the annualized amount generated by the interface that  is used to verify social security income (BENDEX). This amount will display in PEAK and CBMS. CBMS users will  need to update the Actual Annual Income field if customers indicate that the actual amount is different than  the system generated amount.

C4HCO FDSH Receive and Transmit Interfaces

This project will create an interface between CBMS and the Federal Data Services Hub (FDSH) to verify information, including annual income, for households that include at least one member who is eligible for APTC/CSR. This verification is done in real time through Apply for Benefits (AFB) and certain reported changes through Report My Changes (RMC).

If C4HCO is unable to verify this information, the regular Verification Checklist (VCL) will be sent requesting that customers provide proof of their current annual household income within 90 days. If customers do not provide proof of their annual household income, they may lose APTC/CSR eligibility for failure to provide the requested documentation.

A new question will be added to the application asking, "Do you agree to allow Connect for Health Colorado to use income data, including information from tax returns?" If this question is answered with a "no," or is left blank, households will receive the standard VCL to provide proof of their annual household income.

For all CBMS projects implemented in October, refer to the October 2016 Enhancements Sheet.

County Performance
Timeliness for September 2016
Timeliness numbers for the month of September 2016 are in! 

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications for the month was measured at 98.84 percent.   The Department and its county partners have registered 27 consecutive months above 95 percent timeliness.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations for the month was measured at 97.99 percent.   The Department and its county partners have registered 8 consecutive months above 95 percent timeliness.

This could not have been accomplished without the hard work of our county partners.  Many thanks!

The following counties were below the 95.00 percent benchmark for the month of September 2016.

Applications 
Redeterminations
Custer - 90.91% Baca - 91.96%
Saguache - 94.94% Gilpin - 94.20%
San Juan - 60.00% Gunnison - 81.90%

Kiowa - 82.61%

Moffat - 94.87%

Ouray - 92.41%
Saguache - 78.48%

Medicaid Eligibility Quality Improvement Plan (MEQIP)
MEQIP Reminders

A reminder to our county partners:  the Quarter 1 MEQIP Report, covering review period July, August, and September of 2016, is due on November 1, 2016.

As part of the FY 2016-17 County Incentives Program, the Department will be monitoring accurate authorization rates reported on each county's MEQIP Report.  In order to earn Incentives funds through the MEQIP Incentive, the county must report a 90% or greater accurate authorization rate over the entire review period.

Also, please ensure you are sending all MEQIP Reports and documentation to the MEQIP Inbox, instead of the program manager directly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and further guidance on the MEQIP and other Incentives can be found in the FY 2016-17 County Incentives Program Guide, found on the County Administration website.

For more information on MEQIP, contact Gina Martinez, MEQIP Program Manager.

Process Improvement and Collaboration
Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) - County Communications Updates
Now Available: Health First Colorado Posters and Fact Cards!

In response to your requests for materials to help promote the new name for Colorado's Medicaid program, Health First Colorado, the Department now has the following materials, which we will be delivering them to you during scheduled county visits this fall.
  • 11 x 17 and 24 x 36 posters announcing the new name (English and Spanish)
  • Cards that highlight the top frequently asked questions about the new name
These printed materials are made possible thanks to generous funding from the Colorado Health Foundation. Please use these materials in your public areas to help promote Health First Colorado, and let your county liaisons know if you need additional materials.

If you have not yet updated your public-facing communications, including your website and printed materials as they are reprinted, please do so now! All references to Medicaid and Colorado Medicaid may be updated to Health First Colorado.

For further guidance on updating your messaging, please visit the Department's Health First Colorado Stakeholder Information web page. If you have not yet participated in the recorded webinar about the name change, log on to COLearn to participate in the recorded presentation for credit toward the HCPF County Incentive Program for FY16-17. 

For more information on the Department's rebrand effort, contact Debbie Fimple, Health First Colorado Grant Manager.

Back to Top
Department Updates
Wanted!  Contact Information for County Websites
Wanted: Contact information for your web content manager!

The Department would like contact information for the county staff person who manages your website content, so we can send him or her resources and news to more efficiently serve your population. Please send the name and contact information (email and phone) of the web content manger to Joel Risberg at: joel.risberg@state.co.us.

Partner Updates
From Covering Kids and Families
Desk Aid for Immigration Statuses Eligibility for Health Insurance Programs

Colorado Covering Kids and Families, working with the Department and Connect for Health Colorado, has created a job aid to assist eligibility and community-based workers with immigration statuses and eligibility.  This job aid explains immigration eligibility guidelines according to immigration status/category and class codes for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan  Plus (CHP+), and qualified health plans with or without financial assistance through Connect for Health Colorado.

The job aid can be accessed through the Covering Kids and Families website.

Nondiscrimination Policy
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or disability. Learn more about our Nondiscrimination Policy.
 
ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).
 
CHÚ Ý: N ế u b n nói Ti ế ng Vi t, có các d ch v h tr ngôn ng mi n phí dành cho b n. G i s 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).

For further information about this policy, to request free disability and/or language aids and services, or to file a discrimination complaint, contact: 

504/ADA Coordinator
1570 Grant St
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6010, Fax: 303-866-2828, State Relay: 711

Civil rights complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights electronically through the  Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal  or by mail, phone, or fax at: 

1961 Stout Street Room 08-148 
Denver, CO 80294 
Telephone: 800-368-1019, Fax: 202-619-3818, TDD: 800-537-7697 
Complaint forms are available online .
 
For more information, please visit our website at