We had good news with the release of the most recent revenue forecast by the Office of State Planning and Budget. Overall, Colorado’s economy is starting to improve, the vaccine rollout is well underway, and the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will bring much needed financial relief to Colorado families, businesses, and state and local government, while further boosting the vaccine rollout. Additionally, the Colorado General Assembly is considering a stimulus package to further help our economy rebound.

The new forecast informed the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) as they work to finalize the state and the Department’s budgets through the “Long Bill,” which will be debated this month. Given the improving outlook, several budget reductions that were originally needed to balance the Department's budget were not moved forward by the JBC; further, Department priorities and important strategic investments were approved.

While we are pleased with the improving economic outlook, there are troubling signs in the forecast, including the fact that not all Coloradans are rebounding equally. Lower wage workers – our members - still have higher unemployment rates than medium and higher wage workers. Throughout this month, Governor Polis is part of a bipartisan statewide outreach tour, focused on helping the economy recover to Build Back Stronger, which could fuel investments that address this concerning reality.

As we build back, and as we continue to fight COVID-19 through vaccine rollout, we can’t leave anyone behind. That is why we are working with our Regional Accountable Entities, Single Entry Points and Community Centered Boards to reach out to our homebound members to help them schedule vaccine appointments or bring the vaccine to them as needed. We will be partnering with our Regional Accountable Entities to do additional outreach to vaccine hesitant communities as well.

But we can’t do this work alone – we need your help. As leaders, your credible, community voice matters and your example matters. I’m so proud to see so many of you posting and sharing about why getting the vaccine is important. Please also continue your local conversations to drive continual improvements in equitable vaccine uptake and feel free to direct community members to CDPHE vaccine resources for assistance.

Thank you again for your partnership in helping battle the virus, open our economy, address health disparities, and help all Coloradans rise and thrive.

Kim

On March 9, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would stop defending lawsuits related to the 2019 public charge rule, and the U.S. Supreme Court dropped the case. This ultimately means that the 2019 public charge rule will no longer apply. The application of the public charge determination reverts back to the 1999 guidance. The 1999 guidance is much narrower in scope in terms of programs considered under the public charge rule.

The only programs considered are ongoing cash assistance programs and long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense.

The rule continues to only apply to a subset of the immigrant population — those applying for legal permanent residence or a visa.

For more information about the public charge rule and who it applies to, download the Community Fact Sheet, which is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (simplified), Dari, Karen, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese.

Phase 1 of the PEAK Modernization project, which includes changes to the look and feel of key PEAK screens, will go live in April 2021.

In response to county feedback, State leadership has begun the process to improve the usability of Colorado’s Program Eligibility and Application Kit (PEAK) system through the multi-phase PEAK Modernization. 

Phase 1 will improve the look-and-feel of key screens PEAK Users interact with prior to signing into their PEAK account, including:

The CBMS Change Management and Communications Team and the PEAK Outreach Team will support you throughout this change with resources including CBMS Communications and updated PEAK User Guides.

 

Please see PEAK Modernization Phase 1 Changes FAQs document for more information. 

 f you have questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact us at the CBMS Liaison Inbox.

All Memos and their attachments can be found on the Memo Series website.

PM 21-003

The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform eligibility sites of the income and resource

eligibility rules for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 recovery rebate (also

known as COVID-19 Economic Stimulus). This memo includes guidance for all Medical

Assistance eligibility categories. Please share this memo with all eligibility staff,

supervisors, and outside agencies, as appropriate.

OM 21-036

The purpose of this Operational Memo is to communicate operational expectations from

the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF or Department) for

accessing county administration funding available to manage Medical Assistance (MA)

workload related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The Memo also

includes guidelines for submitting staffing plans and intergovernmental agreements

required to access funding.

IM 21-030

The purpose of this memo is to inform counties and eligibility sites about enrollment

changes within the CHP+ program, effective July 1, 2021.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has formally extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The PHE can be extended for up to 90 days at a time. This extension started April 21, 2021 and would end, unless extended again, on July 20, 2021. The Biden administration has indicated they will keep extending the PHE throughout 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 Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to extend continuous coverage, maintenance of effort (MOE), and other helpful policies and waivers approved by the federal government. It also provides additional enhanced federal funding, which is critical during this economic downturn.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced that as of Feb. 19 the vaccine data dashboard includes county-level vaccine administration data in beta. 

Continue to stay up to date by visiting the Colorado COVID-19 website.

One in four Coloradans are covered by Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program). Coloradans from across the state and all walks of life get their health care from Health First Colorado, including people who never thought they’d need public health insurance. 

Health First Colorado gave Raina and her daughter the tools to cope with grief following the untimely deaths of her husband and mother. Watch Raina’s story and listen to Health First Colorado members tell in their own words how Health First Colorado was there to help. Other Health First Colorado members want Coloradans to know that they may qualify for quality health care coverage. Learn more at HealthFirstColorado.com.

Effective July 1, 2021, all Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) eligible members will be automatically enrolled into a CHP+ Managed Care Organization (MCO). As a result, health care services for CHP+ members will no longer be delivered through the CHP+ State Managed Care Network (SMCN), currently administered by Colorado Access.

All CHP+ members enrolled to the SMCN will be transitioned into a CHP+ MCO on July 1, 2021, which includes prenatal individuals, children, and presumptively eligible individuals. There are five CHP+ MCOs in Colorado, and members will be enrolled into an MCO based in part on the county in which they live. Members will receive letters before July with further information about their enrollment, as well as additional information from the CHP+ MCO they are enrolled with for information about accessing healthcare benefits. Members can contact their new MCO with any questions they may have about utilizing their healthcare benefits.

There will be no changes to CHP+ benefits, CHP+ eligibility, or CHP+ cost sharing amounts as a result of this transition.

If members have any questions about the SMCN ending, they can call CHP+ SMCN Customer Service at 1-303-751-9051 or 1-800-414-6198 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. For TDD/TTY, call 1-888-803-4494. For any questions about CHP+ Enrollment, members can call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 1-303-839-2120 or 1-888-367-6557 (State Relay: 711).

For more information about the CHP+ program, please visit the CHP+ Webpage.

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law in response to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. The American Rescue Plan (also called the “COVID relief package”) expands financial help for health insurance by giving more money to and reaching more people, and making health coverage offered through health insurance exchanges, including Connect for Health Colorado, more affordable. In Colorado:

 

Coloradans who have received unemployment benefits for at least one week in 2021 can qualify for $0 health insurance premium options for a health insurance plan that lasts the rest of the year when they sign-up through Connect for Health Colorado. 

The best way to find out if folks in the community you serve qualify for either $0 or low-cost health insurance plans is by using our anonymous Quick Cost and Plan Finder tool and working with a certified expert. Our experts do not charge to help navigate enrollment and ensure all financial help is received. To find a certified expert visit Connect For Health's Assister site.

I hope these changes will provide some comfort to those in your community who are uninsured! Thank you for being a great partner and helping keep Colorado covered by sharing this information with your community. Please feel free to reach out to Jessica Smith.

For additional information please refer to the County Administration webpage.

As a reminder, each incentive's Operational Memo should be a main reference for where and how to pull reports.

When:

 

Questions? Reach out to Rahem Mulatu.

FY 2020-21 Competitive Grants are coming to an end. Presentations on each county grant project will take place on June 15, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Rahem Mulatu.

The FY 2021-22 grant application will be available in May after the Joint Budget Committee passes the Long Bill. If counties want to discuss potential grant projects for next Fiscal Year, reach out to Rahem Mulatu.

If your county has opted into the COVID-19 Locked in Report Targeted Grant, please make sure to charge the grant for staff time spent on the Locked-in Report.

If your county has been unable to work the report or anticipates that your county will be unable to use grant funds, please reach out to Rahem Mulatu.

The ME Review Team would like to thank the staff at Sedgwick and Kit Carson county for all of their cooperation and partnership. Your involvement has been instrumental in the Departments efforts to launch this new initiative.

The ME Review Program will consist of qualitative and quantitative reviews of different “modules” encompassing various Medical Assistance business processes. The “modules” are designed to help improve the Department’s understanding of eligibility site operations and, if needed, to provide targeted technical assistance for those eligibility sites in need of additional support.

Under the ADA and other non-discrimination laws, a member with low English proficiency should be provided with a qualified certified interpreter to ensure impartial, accurate, and confidential communications. These services are available through Language Line Services.

Additionally, individuals with a visual or hearing disability should be provided with auxiliary services through a certified professional. In order to comply with this requirement, it is expected that Eligibility Sites have a language line provider on retainer.

Questions? Reach out to Steve King.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications was measured at 98.13 percent.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations was measured at 97.85 percent.