General Assembly Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on what's new at HCPF with this 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 March 2019. 

Please continue to direct any questions or constituent issues to the Department's legislative team:  
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:  
  • Extending the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program
  • Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-Income Seniors
  • Expanded Access to the Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Cash Fund
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)
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.
Accountable Care Collaborative Phase II Resources

The second iteration of the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) began July 1, 2018. Since that time, the Department has been working closely with providers, our contractors, and stakeholders to identify and tackle questions and issues related to implementation. The most common issue identified prior to implementation has been related to member attribution to a Primary Care Medical Provider (PCMP) and Regional Accountable Entity (RAE). This is a challenge all health plans face, particularly when trying to attribute members to a specific practice. Department staff have been working hard for months to build and implement an attribution process that honors member choice and complies with federal regulation, while also connecting all members to a medical home.  
 
For more information on how the Department is addressing this issue and to access our published resources and guidance for providers, members and other interested parties, please visit the Accountable Care Collaborative Phase II page .
House Bill 18-1136 Update

The Department continues to pursue  the  1115 waiver for the provision of inpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment. To support this effort, the Department has hired Dr. Kim McConnell who is now working on the 1115 waiver application and benefit design. Kim is a licensed psychologist who brings expertise in the area of substance use disorders to the Department. The hiring of a second staff person to assist with this initiative is also underway. The Department is also in the process of securing a contractor to assist with the waiver application process.  

The Department is engaged with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is meeting with its staff on a biweekly basis. The meetings are currently focused on the development of the 1115 waiver demonstration application, as well as the implementation, monitoring ,  and evaluation components of the waiver process. In addition to its engagement with CMS, the Department is working with the Office of Behavioral Health to map the current system of S ubstance Use Disorder (S UD )  treatment providers in the state and assess the capacity of those providers.
Senate Bill 266 Update

In May 2018, unanimous approval of Senate Bill 266 (SB-266) created the Department's Cost Control Office, which has since been renamed Cost Control and Quality Improvement (CCQI). SB-266 focuses on controlling costs using data and technology, and creating and supporting the Inpatient Hospital Review Program (IHRP).  
 
The Department has continued collaborating with stakeholders to implement the Inpatient Hospital Review Program with the least amount of disruption for providers and members. Activities in January included:  
  • Convened Joint Operating Committee with the Colorado Hospital Association and member hospitals to discuss timing and implementation details  
  • Met with Colorado Hospital Association and hospitals interested in electronic data interchange related to the IHRP  
  • Sent   communications with  links to training dates and registration to over 500 stakeholders  
  • Conducted two question and answer webinars to provide additional information
  • Developed program compliance document detailing all federal and state rules with which the program complies  
For additional information on Controlling Medicaid Cost Initiatives, please visit  the   Controlling Medicaid Costs Initiatives web page ,  which includes a link to the legislative report prepared in November.
Hospital Cost Shift Report

Last month, the Department posted its Cost Shift Analysis Report draft .  The document will be considered by the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board this month. The  Colorado Sun , Colorado Springs Gazette, and others have reported on the analysis.  
HCPF Submits New Reports & LRFIs to the General Assembly

HCPF submitted many new reports and LRFIs to the General Assembly over the past month, all are on the Legislator Resource Center page:
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. 
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
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