Jan. 8, 2021
COVID-19 Updates
Logo for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
Artistic rendition of the Coronavirus
Thank you for serving Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) knows providers, case managers and county and eligibility partners have many questions about the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its impact on our programs. We are sharing updates on emergency policies, COVID-19 specific billing codes and other important information on our website at colorado.gov/hcpf/covid and through this and other newsletters.

The information in this newsletter provides a summary of COVID-19 guidance for Health First Colorado and CHP+ providers, Regional Accountable Entities, case managers, counties and other eligibility partners. Some audiences may receive audience specific guidance through other Department newsletters; this newsletter is a roundup of all of those communications in one place.

Providers: Please sign up for general updates, including COVID-19 information, on the Provider News webpage.

County and Eligibility Partners: Please sign up for County Connections and the HCPF Memo Series.

Statewide Resource: OnwardCO - One-stop resource for the people of Colorado impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For comprehensive public health information about COVID-19 in Colorado, refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) website. This website includes information for the general public and special resources for health care providers on patient evaluation, testing, personal protective equipment and many more topics.

Provider Leader Resource Center: Provider Leader Resource Center has been added to the Department COVID-19 website. This page contains content from prior and upcoming webinars for Provider Association Leaders and their members, as well as information for providers about member and provider recruitment. The Department is asking associations partner with us to recruit more health care providers to serve our more than 1.3 million current members and the more than 500,000 new members we expect to enroll by the end of this year. More information can be found on the Here For You, Colorado page.

Add your phone to fight COVID-19: An app to help fight COVID-19 is now available for download. CO Exposure Notifications will quickly send notifications if virus exposure is likely within the last 14 days, allowing the ability to seek timely medical attention and take action to protect others. The app is free and does not share personal information. Visit AddYourPhone.com to watch a short video about how it works and how to turn it on with Apple or Android devices.
Breaking Update!
Health and Human Services Secretary Azar has formally extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The PHE can be extended for up to 90 days at a time. This extension starts Jan. 21, 2021 and would end, unless extended again, on April 20, 2021.  We will continue to keep you updated directly and via our Public Health Emergency Planning page. 

The PHE designation is important as it allows the Department to extend continuous coverage, maintenance of effort (MOE) and other helpful policies and waivers approved by the federal government. It also provides additional FMAP funding, which is critical during this economic downturn.

Thank you for your continued partnership in serving our growing membership during this incredibly difficult chapter. 

A Message from the Executive Director Bimestefer
The staff and leadership of the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is filled with hope for 2021! We invite you to stay aligned with many of the Department’s key initiatives intended to support the members we serve, our safety net programs, Colorado families and Colorado employers as well.  Together, we can be the change in the world we wish to see and help Coloradans rise and shine through the end of this pandemic. 

First, we are excited about the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. If you need clarification as to where you and your community are placed in the distribution plan, the graphic below will provide helpful insights. Concurrent with this distribution, we will continue to collaborate with providers and our partners in public health to do our part in managing the COVID-19 pandemic while providing clear messaging to protect the health and well-being of our members and all Coloradans. So, please continue to help us message about the importance of “masking up,” social distancing and following public safety guidance until all Coloradans are vaccinated.  
With the economic downturn, many Coloradans have lost their jobs and, with that, their employer-sponsored health coverage. Accordingly, the Department will continue to connect these individuals and families to affordable health insurance coverage through Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Connect for Health Colorado commercial insurance offerings. Thank you to all the stakeholders who are engaging with us to battle the rising uninsured rate and keep Coloradans covered through this pandemic.  

On Jan. 7, the Department has its Joint Budget Committee (JBC) Hearing. In one aggregated review, we will address key issues and answer submitted JBC questions on HCPF’s Office of Community Living, Behavioral Health services and all other topics usually covered in the Executive Director hearing. Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the Department is covering more Coloradans than ever -- more than 1.4 million, representing almost 1 in every 4 Coloradans. Given that, it is no surprise that the Governor’s budget for 2021-2022 indicates that the Department will consume 29% of the state’s general fund and 35% of total state funds.
  
Given our share of the state’s budget, the state’s fiscal challenges and the continued rising cost of health care, the Department will maintain its focus on health care affordability strategies and initiatives. Our goals are to help protect our programs, cover all Coloradans who need us, efficiently use state resources and lead collaborative efforts with the commercial industry to drive affordability innovations and strategies that also benefit Colorado employers and Colorado families -- we are all battling the same challenges and can produce better results through collaboration. Look for a new Department health care affordability website that includes a toolkit of resources available to help communities control costs to the benefit of Medicaid, CHP+, Colorado families and our employers. Also look for a new Prescription Drug report that outlines the cost drivers and possible solutions to control them. Both of these tools will be released and discussed during our Jan. 12 Health Policy Summit, brought to you by HCPF and the Governor’s Health Cabinet. You can review the event agenda and register online. We invite you to join the more than 1,300 individuals who have already registered for this important event.  
 
The Department has been and will continue to be an active leader in the Behavioral Health Task Force blueprint and priorities implementation. Related and beginning Jan. 1, HCPF expanded the Medicaid substance use disorder (SUD) benefit to include inpatient and residential treatment. This addition will complete a full continuum of substance use disorder services offered to Medicaid members, enabling the Department to better respond to the increasing overall demand for behavioral health services.  

COVID-19 has not just increased demands for substance use disorder and behavioral health services; it has also exacerbated pervasive health care disparities. We invite your partnership as the Department identifies and shines a light on opportunities to address and close these disparities with the goal of better serving all Coloradans. 

Our Department experts will also be engaging with the current and incoming federal administration to manage through the Public Health Emergency, which is currently scheduled to end on Jan. 20. Based on emerging insights, we are confident the PHE will be extended; however, we do not have that in writing yet and are working to secure that assurance. We will also be sharing evolving federal policy priorities emerging from the new administration and their impact to the Department, our programs, our members and all Coloradans. Look for more communications on that opportunity in the coming months. 

Through this unique chapter and this calendar year, Department staff and leadership will continue to leverage our strengths, health care expertise and insights to the benefit of those we serve and all Coloradans. There is a bright light on the horizon with the vaccine now in the distribution stage. We are grateful to have your partnership on all the above work toward a better, hope-filled tomorrow. Rise and shine, Colorado! Rise and shine!  
 
Kim Bimestefer 
Executive Director 
Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Providers and Case Managers
General Guidance
 
Guidance Memos
 
Billing Guidance by Provider Type
 
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • COVID-19 vaccines are a covered benefit for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) members. Claims may be reimbursed for enrolled and qualified providers for administration of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. Pharmacists enrolled with Health First Colorado may submit claims for reimbursement of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to Health First Colorado members. Providers will receive vaccine products from the federal government at no cost. Only the administration fee associated with the vaccines may be reimbursed to providers.
  • Resources:
  • COVID-19 Vaccines Coverage and Billing email
  • Vaccine providers and public health professionals web page.
  • Vaccine information.
 
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) COVID-19 Webinars and Training
Information for County and Eligibility Partners
County and Eligibility Site Guidance
  • Executive Director and Eligibility Communications:
  • HCPF Public Health Emergency Budget Supplemental Presentation: Webinar Recording and PowerPoint- 1/5/21.
  • Executive Director Conversation with County Leadership: Webinar Recording and PowerPoint- 12/9/20.
  • December County COVID Locked-In Report Over-the-Shoulder Support Call: Webinar Recording- 12/3/20.
  • November County COVID Locked-In Report Over-the-Shoulder Support Call: Webinar Recording- 11/12/20.

Resources

COVID-19 Memo Guidance for Eligibility Sites
  •  PM 21-001: Remote Application Assistance- Issued 1/6/21.
  • PM 20-010: Colorado Emergency Economic Stimulus Payment- Issued 11/17/20.
  • PM 20-009: COVID-19 Uninsured Benefit for Testing Only- Issued 10/20/20.

In addition to the Department COVID-19 website, updates will continue to be sent out via existing channels, such as the County Connections e-newsletter and the HCPF Memo Series. Please sign up for these newsletters through the Department website.