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TopAt a Glance
September 28, 2018                                                                                      
In This Issue
Quick Links
In August 2018 there were 1,294,359 Coloradans enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) and 82,176 enrolled in
(CHP+).
Upcoming Events and Helpful Resources
Health First Colorado printed materials are available on our website
Health First Colorado videos for use in waiting rooms and other areas members visit are available for download on our website
New to PEAK or Need a Refresher?

The Intro to PEAK and Application Walk-Through recorded webinars are available anytime. For more information and trainings, visit the PEAK Outreach Initiative website.
Public Rule Review Opportunities

Anyone interested in a one-on-one discussion with Department staff about upcoming rules is invited to attend the Department's Public Rule Review Meeting. Information is available on the Public Rule Review Meetings web page. 

For more information, or to be added to the Medical Services Board email distribution list, please contact Chris Sykes.
Employment Opportunities

Applying for state government jobs is easy. Applications are electronic, you will receive updates, and you do not need to answer any written questions until it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications. 

Check out the website for State of Colorado jobs including the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing jobs.
Welcome to the September 2018 edition of At a Glance!

At a Glance is a Department of Health Care Policy and Financing publication which provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates. Please feel free to share At a Glance with your colleagues. Previous editions of At a Glance are available on our website.

Thank you for your interest!

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Breaking News
Colorado's Uninsured Rate: New Study
A message from Executive Director Kim Bimestefer:
 
A   new study from Georgetown University reports t he uninsured rate for low-income Colorado adults has dropped 29 percentage points since we expanded Medicaid - the largest decrease experienced by a state. The study reports the uninsured rate for adults in rural areas and small towns went from 42 percent in 2008-09 to 13 percent in 2015-16.
 
Thank you to all of you who go to work every day to improve the health of Coloradans. 

This report shows just what a difference you are making. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons are inside those figures. All those beautiful beating hearts have healthcare coverage because of the work you do every day.
Health First Colorado Member Contact Center Hours Changing
Effective October 1, the Member Contact Center operational hours will be changing from 7:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. to 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Over the past several months, the Department has done extensive analysis into how we can maximize the Member Contact Center's efficiency and best serve our members. While this slight reduction in hours may seem counter-intuitive given our wait times, this change will allow us to have more agents on the phones, particularly at mid-day when our call volumes are at their highest.

In addition to having more agents on the phone throughout the day, this change will enable us to extend our call-back feature to 3:15 p.m. The call-back feature allows individuals on hold to request a call-back from us before the close of business without having to wait on the phone.

The Department has been updating our websites and other communications to reflect this change.

Building Better Health Conference
The Department and Connect for Health Colorado are presenting several sessions at the Building Better Health Conference in Denver, October 15 and 16, 2018


Update from the Executive Director: Tools of Transformation
Dear provider leaders, county leaders and stakeholders,

I want to share some of the important work happening at the Department. Our Strategic Policy Initiatives and related goals are outlined in our Department's Performance Plan. I'll focus on tools of transformation in this message.

The Department is in the process of designing tools of transformation to improve the delivery of care to our members. With system implementations, challenges and periods of adjustment occur. In that spirit, Department staff are moving forward with a person-centered mindset and partner collaboration as foundations.

We are excited to collaborate on these innovations with providers, case managers and care takers to ensure the best outcomes for our members.

Electronic Visit Verification
In compliance with the 21st Century CURES Act, the Department is implementing an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system.

The purpose of an EVV system is to ensure members are receiving the care they need from their providers while taxpayer money is appropriately allocated. The Department has signed a contract with DXC Technology to design and implement the system. For more information on EVV implementation, visit our EVV web page.

New Provider Tools
Over the coming months, the Department will be rolling out a suite of powerful cost and quality assessment capabilities to the seven Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs), hospitals and primary care providers. The new Prometheus tool will identify Potentially Avoidable Costs (PACs) on member care, which can then be rolled up to identify opportunities at the individual physician, primary care medical home, specialist and hospital levels.

Prometheus will also enable providers to improve their referral patterns towards more cost effective, quality physicians and hospitals. It can further enable hospitals to identify and self-correct inefficient, lower quality care delivery. RAEs can use it to target members for care management. The Department will also empower it to drive members seeking provider locator services to higher performing providers. Clearly, we are excited to roll out the Prometheus tool.

Physician Prescribing Tool
Upon the unanimous approval of SB 18-266 the Department is preparing to release a Request for Information for the development of a new Prescription Drug Prescribing Tool to be used by physicians. Payers and providers will benefit from the use of a shared prescribing tool that loads all the prescription drug reimbursements, plan designs, and co-pays by carrier into a single tool that connects to the patient's electronic medical record (EMR). The tool then employs all those facts to provide the physician with insights into the most efficacious prescription to prescribe to each patient. The Department is working closely with stakeholders to draft the Request for Information to ensure the tool is developed with the input of our provider and payer partners.

Ultimately, prescribing physicians will have one tool that incorporates the insights from their patients' medical condition, their Rx plan design and formulary to enable more efficacious prescribing patterns. To physicians and providers, this also drives increases Value Based Performance Payments while improving quality care. For carriers, cost performance and quality outcomes improve.

The Department will continue to share updates as the development of these cost saving person-centered tools of transformation progress.

As always, we appreciate your partnership.
 
Thanks,
Kim Bimestefer
Partnerships to Improve Population Health 
Substance Use Disorder Services Stakeholder Meeting
The Department is preparing to host a meeting on October 26, 2018, to engage stakeholders in the implementation process of residential and inpatient substance use services as directed by HB18-1136.  This bill adds inpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment as a benefit under Health First Colorado, conditional upon federal approval.
 
This meeting will brief stakeholders on the Department's initial efforts, review legislation requirements, and initiate stakeholder feedback to develop a collaborative approach regarding implementation. 
 
All meetings will be open to the public, with the first scheduled on Friday, October 26 from 10-11 a.m. on the 7th floor of 303 E. 17th Ave, Denver CO 80203.  Information on sequential meetings will be released when available. 
 
For more information, please contact Natasha Brockhaus

Colorado life expectancy estimates available neighborhood-by-neighborhood
For the first time, public health officials, community leaders and others working to improve health in Colorado have access to census tract-level data to measure and compare differences in life expectancy neighborhood-by-neighborhood.

The
Community Health Equity Mapping Project has  maps describing variation in factors that affect health, such as poverty, education, disability, chronic disease and acute health events.

Delivery Systems Innovation
Accountable Care Collaborative Phase II Resources
The Department has launched a new section of its Provider & Stakeholder Resource Center dedicated to implementation updates  on known system, policy and other issues related to the launch of ACC Phase II. 

Operational Excellence
New Verification Checklist Webinar
On October 15, 2018, the Colorado Benefits Management System will begin sending a new Verification Checklist (VCL). 

The new VCL's language and layout has been updated for improved readability. The Department worked in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Human Services, Connect for Health Colorado and stakeholders throughout the process. The new VCL was also consumer tested in English and Spanish and edited to incorporate feedback.
 
Join the Department for a webinar on the new VCL. This webinar will be offered twice with the same content. Space is limited, and the recording will be available online after the live sessions.
 
The first session will be offered October 11, 2018, 10 - 11 a.m.

The second session will be offered October 11, 2018, 1 - 2 p.m.
 
The Staff Development Center will also release a web-based VCL course as part of their October build training.


Connect for Health Colorado New Eligibility System Webinar
Connect for Health Colorado is providing webinar training opportunities for county workers on their New Eligibility System on October 3, 2018

Webinars will be recorded and posted on CO.Learn for those who cannot attend on October 3. These training hours will count towards the HCPF County Incentives

Specific links/ call-in information for these webinars will be sent out via SDC training network, CBMS communication, and CHSDA Roundup emails the second week of September. 

For more information, contact Jessica Smith

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.

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