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 April 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

As the spread and response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) evolves, the Department is working closely with Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and other government agencies to coordinate information for the public, our providers and our members. The health of the people we serve and all Coloradans is our utmost concern and top priority.

Please direct your constituents to the CDPHE website for the most accurate, up to date information. This information is based on the most recent data and guidance from authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There is also information for medical providers on the CDPHE site and links to all related media releases regarding COVID-19.

In addition, for Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) questions, we have created a one-stop resources page at colorado.gov/hcpf/covid. There, we have resources specifically for our members, providers, and county and eligibility partners. Information about benefits and other health care specific information will be updated as it becomes available. We are taking proactive steps - including looking at additional ways to leverage telemedicine during this time - and are working closely with our federal partners on program flexibility to improve access to care.
As Governor Polis said, we're going to get through this together. Thank you for your partnership as we meet this challenge. 

Kim
HCPF 2020 Legislative Agenda

The 2020 legislative session convened on January 8, 2020. A brief overview of the  Department's legislative agenda can be found on the Department's website. This year, our agenda bills focus on:
  • Children's Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP) Waiver Rulemaking (SB20-171)
  • Renew Overexpenditure and Transfer Authority
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities: Establishing a Demonstration of Need and Technical Changes
Other bills the Department is supporting:
  • Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions (HB20-1160)
  • Drug Production Costs Transparency Analysis Report (SB20-107)
  • Expand Canadian Prescription Drug Import Program (SB20-119)
  • Health Care Contract Hospital System Carriers Providers (HB20-1264) 
HCPF FY 2020-21 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 Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 budget, is now posted on our website. These requests focus on improving customer service, benefits management, compliance and controlling costs. The requests include strategic investments in technology to support pharmacy benefits and payment reforms. 

Colorado Affordable Health Care Option Expected Rates

The Department, along with the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) released the expected reimbursement rates for all Colorado hospitals under the proposed Colorado Affordable Health Care Option ( HB20-1349). The reimbursement rates are derived from a proposed formula developed by the DOI and the Department as the final part of the recommendation delivered to the Legislature as required by HB19-1004. 


The formula is applied on a hospital by hospital basis, to establish the maximum reimbursement rate for that hospital. The amount is described as a percentage of the payment rate that each hospital receives from Medicare. 

Read the full press release on our website. 
Public Charge Rule

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's public charge rule went into effect on Monday, February 24. As you may have heard, this rule changes which public benefits may be taken into consideration in some immigration determinations. This rule may impact members of Colorado's immigrant communities. Please visit this link to view helpful resources. 
Colorado Submits Importation Plan

The Department submitted formal comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) draft Canadian Importation rule. The Department's comments were provided in two forms - a formal comment letter as well as within a draft Section 804 Importation Program (SIP). 

SB 19-005, a bipartisan bill passed last year, directed the Department to pursue purchasing prescription drugs from Canada. All imported drugs would have to follow strict federal guidance around safety and be: FDA-approved; sample tested for quality, authenticity, and degradation; tracked and traced according to federal supply chain law; and relabeled to meet U.S. labeling requirements.

For more information, please visit our Drug Importation website. 
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Benefit Update

Federal approval process

The State of Colorado is seeking approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for three components (1115 waiver, Medicaid State Plan, and 1915(b) waiver) that will authorize coverage for residential and inpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment services. Colorado is engaged with CMS and is working toward obtaining approval for all components before the new benefits open in July 2020. 

SUD Capacity Assessment and Planning

The Department completed 11 of 12 Regional SUD Capacity Stakeholder Meetings scheduled through March 2020. After these public meetings and SUD treatment capacity assessments conclude, a capacity expansion plan - developed in conjunction with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, Regional Accountable Entities, Managed Services Organizations and external consultants - will document gaps in the SUD service continuum and propose plans for the use of existing resources to address deficiencies. 

For presentation slides, regional stakeholder meeting summaries and additional information, please visit the Department's SUD webpage, Ensuring a Full Continuum of SUD Benefits. 
Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) Update

HTP application materials

A new section has been added to the HTP website in the drop-down list titled "Hospital Transformation Program Application Documents." This section contains the below documents pertaining to the HTP hospital application process:
  • Hospital application.
  • Application background and instructions.
  • Application Review Criteria.
  • Intervention proposal.
  • Letter of Partnership template.
  • Ongoing Community and Health Neighborhood Engagement Requirements.
Please reach out to the Matt Haynes at [email protected] , Special Finance Projects Manager, with any questions regarding these documents.

Update on federal authorities

As the federal comment period closed on Feb. 9 for the HTP 1115 demonstration waiver, the Department of Health Care Policy & Finance is engaged with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in discussion of each of those components and is working toward obtaining approval for all components in advance of the target implementation date of October 2020.

HTP Road Show training for hospitals

The HTP team would like to thank all those who attended in-person HTP Road Shows that took place across the state over the month of March. 

The Department will host a statewide webinar on Thursday, March 19 for all those who were unable to attend the hospital training sessions. Details will be forthcoming. If you would like to attend the webinar, please contact Joe Sekiya, HTP Program Coordinator, at [email protected].  Presentation slides will be available on the HTP website by Monday, March 23.

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
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