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Stay up-to-date on what's new at HCPF with this newsletter created specifically for the Colorado General Assembly.
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This newsletter is published monthly while the legislature is in session, and quarterly outside of the legislative session. The next edition will be published in May 2019.
Please continue to direct any questions or constituent issues to the Department's legislative team:
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Message from Executive Director Kim Bimestefer
As many of you know, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing has been working to secure more timely, detailed financial data that allows for greater transparency into hospital expenditures. Such insights are critical to better control the largest part of health care spending while driving effective affordability policy going forward.
That's why it was such a positive step forward when Governor Polis signed
HB19-1001
into law. The measure will allow the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to fully analyze hospital financials to the betterment of employer health care costs, state-funded benefit plans, and the health care affordability interests of all Coloradans.
The bill passed with strong bipartisan support in the General Assembly. The effort was led by
Representative Chris Kennedy and
Senators Bob Rankin and Dominic Moreno
with 38 co-sponsors in the House and 14 co-sponsors in the Senate. For more information about the bill,
read the Governor's press release.
I want to thank
Rep. Kennedy, Sen. Rankin and Sen. Moreno
for their leadership and partnership. Their collaboration helped us achieve this important Health Care Affordability milestone. I also want to thank our hospital partners for their collaboration.
Clearly, this kind of achievement requires many of us to work together to solve problems, work with common goals in mind and be relentless in our efforts to lower health care costs for all Coloradans.
We appreciate your leadership.
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HCPF's 2019 Legislative Agenda
The 2019 legislative session convened on January 4, 2019. A brief overview of the Department's legislative agenda is on the Department's website. This year, our agenda bills focus on:
The Department also supports the following bills:
- Hospital Transparency (HB19-1001)
- Proposal for Affordable Health Care Option (HB19-1004)
- Dental Services for Pregnant Women Enrolled in CHP+ (HB19-1038)
- Lieutenant Governor Concurrent State Services (HB19-1127)
- Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor (HB19-1129)
- Import Prescription Drugs From Canada (SB19-005)
- Sunset In-home Support Services Program (SB19-164)
- Behavioral Health Supports for High-risk Families (HB19-1193)
- Investments in Primary Care to Reduce Health Costs (HB19-1233)
- Licensing Behavioral Health Entities (HB19-1237)
- Continue Complementary or Alternative Medicine Program (SB19-197)
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HCPF FY2019-20 Budget Agenda
A summary of the Department's discretionary budget requests submitted for consideration to the Colorado General Assembly, as part of the Governor's FY201
9
-
20
budget, is now available
. These requests focus on improving customer service, program oversight and compliance, as well as supporting innovation.
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Hospital Transformation Program
Community and Health Neighborhood Engagement
The pre-waiver year of the Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) is dedicated to the Community and Health Neighborhood Engagement (CHNE) process and is seen as a cornerstone of the program. The CHNE process is intended to build on the strong spirit of collaboration within Colorado's health system and efforts and partnerships already underway. State-wide hospitals participating in the HTP are required to engage organizations that serve and represent the broad interests of the community, including clinical providers, to identify community needs and resources.
Hospitals will be required to document how they are engaging community partners, the feedback they are receiving, and how they will continue to engage community partners throughout the duration of the HTP. Hospitals will submit a final report at the end of the pre-program CHNE process, focusing on their efforts to prioritize community needs, select target populations, identify possible initiatives and any partnerships, and outline future CHNE activities over the duration of the HTP.
Important CHNE dates:
- November 30, 2018- Hospitals submitted their CHNE Action Plan to outline how they will conduct the CHNE process. These Actions Plans are available to the public upon request.
- April 19, 2019- Midpoint Report due date. Hospitals will report on CHNE work over the first half of the pre-waiver process. A Midpoint Report template as well as Midpoint Report training is available on the HTP website. These reports will be made available to the public by request once the Department has completed its reviews and the reports are finalized, around the middle to end of May 2019. We will send out a notification when those are available.
- September 20, 2019- Final Report due date. Hospitals must submit a Final Report at the end of the pre-waiver CHNE process, which will include information about the entirety of the process but with a primary focus on their efforts to prioritize community needs, select target populations, identify initiatives, and develop any partnerships.
Those interested in e-updates about the HTP should
sign-up through the HCPF website
. To complete the sign-up process, enter your contact information and click the "Hospital Transformation Program" box.
If you have additional questions about the HTP, please contact Courtney A. Ronner, Hospital Relations and Communication Manager, at 303-866-2699 or [email protected].
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House Bill 18-1136 Update
The Department is moving forward with the drafting of an 1115 waiver to provide inpatient and residential substance use disorder benefit. Staff have gathered information on key aspects of the benefit including substance use disorder treatment system capacity, availability of medication assisted treatment, current patient placement criteria and utilization management practices. The Department is working with CMS to understand all requirements of the waiver as the benefit is being designed. Stakeholder input is being solicited and regular updates on the project are now being communicated by newsletter and updates on the Department's website. A series of open forum stakeholder meetings are being planned.
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Inpatient Hospital Review Program Live
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HCPF Submits New Reports & LRFIs to the General Assembly
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Medicaid Snapshot and County-by-County Resources
The County Fact Sheets have been updated for FY2017-18 and will continue to be updated when new data is available. These fact sheets provide an annual snapshot by fiscal year for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) activity including average annual caseload and top five claim types for each county.
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Legislator Resource Center
The
Legislator Resource Center
on our website is available to help legislators and legislative staff easily find information. It includes links to reports, fact sheets and overviews of the budget process to help inform legislators.
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Follow HCPF on Social Media
We invite legislators to follow us on social media to stay informed of news and happenings at the Department. You can follow us on
Facebook
,
Twitter
and
LinkedIn
.
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Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
(303) 866-2993 | 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
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