General Assembly Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on what's new at the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing with our newsletter created specifically  for the  Colorado General Assembly. 
Editor's Note

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 August 2020.

Please continue to direct any questions or constituent issues to the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) legislative team:

Message from Executive Director Kim Bimestefer

This past legislative session was far from ordinary. The Department started with four legislative agenda bills and several bills advancing Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera's health care affordability roadmap. However, the COVID-19 pandemic began just as the legislature was hitting the halfway mark. As a result, the members quickly adjourned and did not return until May 26, 2020. The legislature adjourned sine die on June 15, 2020. 

Due to the pandemic, the Department collaborated with the legislature and Governor's Office to narrow our list of agenda bills. Our overexpenditure and transfer authority was subsequently passed - until 2025 ( HB20-1426). This is particularly important as we prepare for an anticipated surge in Medicaid and CHP+ membership during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. 

Legislation passed this year focused on COVID-19 response. The General Assembly made permanent many of the emergency telemedicine policy changes that the Department implemented in March ( SB20-212). We will continue to study and evaluate the use of telemedicine, lessons learned in the uptake of the new policy, emerging provider behaviors associated with the policy, and the policy and budget implications of the new law. The study will measure the impact of the new policy compared to the short- and long-term telemedicine goals of the Department. 

Thanks to our partners, members 65 and older will have access to the Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working Adults with Disabilities ( SB20-033) beginning 2022. Also, a new program was created to give taxpayers the option to be evaluated for eligibility for health coverage, including Health First Colorado and CHP+ on their tax filings ( HB20-1236). 

Bills codifying our existing policies were also passed, including coverage for routine costs associated with participation in a clinical trial ( HB20-1232), and assignment for a child in an out-of-home placement to the same managed care entity that covers the county with jurisdiction over the placement action ( HB20-1237). 

The budget played a large role in the decisions made at the Capitol this session. The Joint Budget Committee was faced with a $3.4 billion dollar shortfall. As a result, several bills aimed at reducing state expenditures within the Department were passed, including reducing the adult dental benefit ( HB20-1361), limiting the annual rate increase for skilled nursing facilities ( HB20-1362), using the increased federal FMAP ( HB20-1385) and Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability cash funds to offset general funds ( HB20-1386), and delaying implementation of wraparound services for children and youth at risk of out-of-home placement as required by SB19-195 ( HB20-1384). 

While this abbreviated session did not include all our intended policies, we look to the next session to implement our continued and emerging Department as well as Healthcare Affordability legislative priorities. 

Thank you for your collaboration and ongoing partnership.

Kim
HCPF 2020 Legislative Agenda

The Department would like to thank all legislators for their hard work this session. With their support, we passed the following Department agenda bill renewing our overexpenditure authority:
  • Limit Emergency Spending and Authorize Additional Appropriation (HB20-1426)
A brief overview of this bill and other bills impacting the Department that passed this session is available in the HCPF Legislative Session Wrap-up.
HCPF Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Budget Agenda

The Department had several budget requests that were approved by the Joint Budget Committee. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee also made reductions to the Department's total appropriation. For more information, view the FY 2020-21 Long Bill Overview. 
HCPF Needs Your Help: Help Us Spread the Word! 

The Department is asking for your help. We need your help spreading the word about our need for more Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) providers to deliver care to Coloradans. 

We need more providers NOW to help treat the influx of new Health First Colorado members. We are asking you to help us by spreading the word to your network about our immediate need. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is asking health care providers to join us in ensuring all Coloradans have access to quality healthcare during this public health crisis by becoming a Health First Colorado provider. 

Currently, the Department is offering incentives to increase provider enrollment and help provide an important public service. In an effort to increase provider enrollment, the Department is: 
  • Allowing temporary enrollment for providers during the federally designated COVID-19 emergency. 
  • Waiving the application fee and fingerprinting process for applicable providers.
  • Waiving site surveys for applicable providers.
Key Health First Colorado Provider Benefits
  • We Pay FAST: Health First Colorado pays faster than private payers, with claims paid weekly and deposited directly into a business account. 
  • Enrollment is Quick and Easy: Online enrollment means you can become a provider in just a few weeks. 
  • Quick Customer Service: Our Provider Services Call Center answers calls in less than two minutes on average and regional provider field representatives are available to assist you with more complex questions. 
  • Customize You Patient Experience: As a Health First Colorado provider, you have full control of the number of Health First Colorado patients you see, as well and whether or not your practice is published in our online Provider Directory. 
Why Become a Provider?
Becoming a Health First Colorado provider gives you the opportunity to improve the health and well-being of more than a million Coloradans.  Health First Colorado is more than health insurance -- it is a vital public service, helping nearly a quarter of our state's residents stay healthy or move toward better health. 

If you know someone who might be interested in becoming a Health First Colorado provider, please ask them to visit the Provider Enrollment website at co.gov/hcpf/provider-enrollment or call the Provider Services Call Center at 1-844-235-2387, option 2, then option 5. 
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Update

The Department is moving into the next phase of Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) implementation. EVV is a system which electronically verifies home or community-based service visits occur by tracking six points of data (including type, date and location of service; individuals receiving and providing the service; and time the service begins and ends). The EVV Colorado Code of Regulations Rule passed the Medical Services Board for an August 3, 2020 mandate date. On this day, providers of EVV services will be required to collect EVV data prior to claims submission.  

This implementation date will allow providers necessary time to incorporate EVV into business practices, prior to the Federal mandate of January 1, 2021. Beginning on January 1, 2021, claims without a corresponding EVV will deny during claims processing. Between August 3, 2020 and January 1, 2021, the Department will outreach providers to deliver technical assistance, helping them comply with the EVV mandate. 

The Department has operationalized an exemption for live-in caregivers from EVV. If a provider agency chooses to exempt live-in caregivers, these caregivers may not need to collect EVV data. The Department released an Operational Memo outlining which services are eligible for the live-in caregivers exemption, indicates provider responsibilities when declaring live-in caregivers status, and the operational methods of billing for live-in caregivers services. 
Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) Update

Hospital Workgroup Meetings

HTP hospital workgroup was convened virtually on June 18 to discuss updated program components and the HTP portal development.  

CHASE Board Meeting 

The next Colorado Health Care Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting will take place via webinar on Tuesday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Additional information about the board, as well as meeting materials which will be posted before the meeting date, can be found on the CHASE Board website. 

Community Advisory Council

A Community Advisory Council meeting will be held on Friday, June 26. The agenda and previous meeting notes can be found on the Community Advisory Council website next week.  

If you'd like to know more about the HTP, we encourage you to visit the HTP website as well as read past editions of the HTP Newsletter in our online archives. If you have additional questions about the HTP, please contact Courtney Ronner, Hospital Relations and Communication Manager.
HCPF Submits New Reports & LRFIs to the General Assembly

Since the last newsletter, the Department submitted new reports and Legislative Requests for Information (LRFIs) to the General Assembly. All can be found on the Legislator Resource Center page.
Medicaid Snapshot and County-by-County Resources

These County Fact Sheets provide an annual snapshot by fiscal year for Colorado's Medicaid program activity including average annual caseload and top five claim types for each county.
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.
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 . 
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing  
(303) 866-2993 | 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
STAY CONNECTED: