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Upcoming Events and Helpful Resources
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
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Welcome to the May 2019 edition of
At a Glance!
Thank you for your interest!
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| A Message from the Executive Director |
We're very excited that our Department legislative agenda will: extend the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (
HB19-1302
), allow more seniors to access the Low-income Senior Dental Program (
HB19-1326
) and allow additional grant funding to support nursing home innovation (
SB19-254
).
Thanks to work with partners, In-Home Support Services (
SB19-164
) and Spinal Cord Injury Waiver (
SB19-197
) will continue. Pregnant women enrolled in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) will now have dental coverage (
HB19-1038
).
Many bills focused on behavioral health, including bills that will ensure parity for behavioral and physical health (
HB19-1269
), create a statewide system for children and youth behavioral health (
SB19-195
), and streamline the licensing process for behavioral health providers (
HB19-1237
).
The Department is involved in implementing Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera's
health care affordability roadmap
. The roadmap includes legislation that improves transparency for our hospital partners (
HB19-1001
), increases hospital accountability for community needs (
HB19-1320
), creates a public health coverage option
(HB19-1004
), allows Colorado to import prescription drugs from Canada (
SB19-005
), creates a reinsurance program (
HB19-1168
) and an innovative pilot program to address high health insurance costs (
HB19-004
), and addresses "surprise billing" (
HB19-1174
).
Thank you for your leadership and ongoing collaboration,
Kim Bimestefer
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DentaQuest Will Administer Child Health Plan
Plus Dental Benefits Beginning July 1
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Effective July 1, 2019, DentaQuest will take over administration of the Colorado Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) dental program from Delta Dental. DentaQuest is the current administrator of the Health First Colorado dental benefit and an experienced administrator for Medicaid and Medicare dental benefits for more than 24 million members across 28 states.
Providers caring for children enrolled in CHP+ are invited to join DentaQuest's network of providers. Contact the recruitment department toll-free at 855-873-1283 or email
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The second session of the
72nd
General Assembly adjourned on May 3
, 2019.
The Department's three bills passed during this legislative session.
For more information, contact David DeNovellis. |
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Free Module: Integrating Health Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
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Primary care teams interested in learning more about integrating behavioral and physical health for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can take advantage of free modules funded by the State Innovation Model (SIM).
Continuing medical education credits are available for those who qualify
.
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Hospital Transformation Program Update
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Additional quality scoring measures available
An updated draft of proposed Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) quality scoring measures
has been added to the Department's website. The April 29 draft includes the definitions and data sources for each statewide and local measure. This document is a working draft and will be updated as our hospital and quality workgroups continue to meet and refine the measures and specifications. The process for finalizing quality scoring measures will include collaboration and input from key stakeholders including the Department, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board, the Colorado Hospital Association, participating hospitals, and broader stakeholders participating in the program. Additional information about quality scoring measures can be found in the
Scoring Framework Proposal
. Please do not hesitate to contact the HTP team at [email protected] with additional comments or concerns about scoring measures.
Midpoint Reports
On April 19, hospitals participating in the HTP submitted their Community and Health Neighborhood Engagement (CHNE)
Midpoint Reports
. A comprehensive overview of
the CHNE process can be found beginning on Page 9 of the HTP Concept Paper. Currently, the Department is reviewing Midpoint Reports and sharing findings with hospitals. The review process is to ensure the Department has the most complete picture of how the CHNE process is progressing before plans are available to external stakeholders and the public in June 2019. The Department is using this as an opportunity to look for missing information or areas of clarification, as well as provide feedback and allow for any revisions. Reports are being reviewed by an independent reviewer against the requirements found in the Guidebook, Midpoint Report template, and Midpoint Report review criteria.
Final Reports from HTP participants are due September 20, 2019. 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.
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Partnerships to Improve Population Health
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New State Innovation Model Resources for Men's Mental Health and Wellness
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State Innovation Model (SIM) metro local public health partners released new messaging for the "
Let's Talk Colorado" campaign that focuses on men, who are at high risk for untreated mental health issues and suicide.
This customized messaging was prompted by the SIM-funded
call-to-action report that identified a need for specific outreach to men, who are not as likely to seek the whole-person care they need.
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Delivery Systems Innovation
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On June 24, 2019, the Department will host an informational meeting to share its vision for monitoring and evaluating Health First Colorado member access to care.
The meeting will include planned actions and ongoing processes to evaluate and address identified access to care issues, as well as current regulatory requirements, including the triannual Access Monitoring Review Plan. A webinar will be scheduled later in the week for those unable to attend. Anyone who is interested may participate.
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| Substance Use Disorder Benefit Update |
Stakeholder Meetings
The Department held its second stakeholder meeting on May 28, 2019. Slides and a meeting summary will be posted on the SUD webpage under the "additional information" tab as soon as they are available.
A series of meetings are planned for June 18 and 19. These meetings will focus on the most current thinking on the benefit. Stakeholders will be invited to provide input on the proposed benefit and other general issues that relate to the waiver. The content presented in the June meetings will be the same at each location.
Meeting dates and locations are as follows:
Wednesday June 18, 2019, 3:30 -5:30 p.m. - Colorado Springs
Thursday June 19, 2019, 8 - 10 a.m. - Greeley/Fort Collins area
Thursday June 19, 2019, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Web-based Zoom meeting
Exact locations will be announced closer to the meeting dates.
1115 Waiver Application
The Department continues to work toward developing the residential and inpatient benefit and drafting the waiver application. A framework for the benefit will be complete during June. Departmental staff and contractors will also have an early draft of the waiver application by May 31. The Department has begun to build a project plan for the monitoring and evaluation requirements and is keeping an eye to those requirements while designing the benefit. Departmental staff is also receiving technical assistance from the National Governor's Association to develop the monitoring and evaluation plans.
SUD system and benefit implementation planning
The Department continues to examine capacity of SUD treatment providers, including medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management and residential treatment through the state. The Department is considering ways to meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) requirements related to assessment and level of care decision making. Department staff have met with state criminal justice partners to consider how the benefit will intersect with services that are required by those entities.
For more information, sign up for our Substance Use Disorder Newsletter or contact Kim McConnell.
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| Accountable Care Collaborative Phase II Resources |
The next iteration of the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) began July 1, 2018. As a reminder, the Department has published resources and guidance for providers, members, and other interested parties on CO.gov/HCPF/ACCPhase2.
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The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & 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: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).
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At a Glance
