Oct. 8, 2021
At a Glance is a Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (Department) publication that provides information on major initiatives, policy changes and program updates. Feel free to share At a Glance with your colleagues. Find previous editions of At a Glance on the Department website at colorado.gov/hcpf/publications. Thank you for your interest!
A Message from the Executive Director
Recovery Powered by Inclusion  
  
The pandemic has challenged our health care system, but it has also provided us the opportunity to innovate for a better, healthier and more inclusive future. In that spirit, I’m excited to share that we received both CMS and JBC approval of our American Rescue Plan Act Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) spending plan to enhance, expand, and strengthen Health First Colorado’s (Colorado’s Medicaid program) ability to serve members with disabilities in a home or community based setting. Many thanks to stakeholders for your collaboration throughout this process. More information is at hcpf.colorado.gov/arpaPlease join us in celebrating this accomplishment and the improvements it will create!  
 
I also want to recognize that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which commemorates the contributions of people with disabilities to our workplaces and the economy. A related initiative that is part of our HCBS spending plan includes extending and expanding the Supported Employment program, which supports Coloradans with disabilities to find and succeed in employment. As a standard, we also work to ensure employment is the first and preferred option for every member on the Developmental Disability and Supported Living Services Medicaid waivers.  
 
Our members’ voices are vital to furthering inclusion in our programs. I had the pleasure of recently meeting with our Member Experience Advisory Council, whose insights serve as a key part of our strategic process and quest for continuous improvement. I’d also ask that you help us reduce the Eligible-But-Not-Enrolled (EBNE) in Medicaid population by playing this video, Samantha's Story, in your appropriate public messaging places (like waiting rooms). Thank you for your partnership on this important work, and look for the report from the Colorado Health Institute in October that will update our state’s uninsured rate. 
 
To achieve the Governor’s goal of A Colorado for All, we have continued to identify our baseline health disparities data. That has helped inform our top health equity priorities: COVID-19 vaccination rates, maternal health outcomes and behavioral health outcomes. On the vaccine front, addressing the current 25-point vaccination rate gap between Medicaid members and the state population overall is critical to reducing spread, hospitalizations, and deaths among low-income Coloradans and people of color. Please feel free to incorporate this short slide presentation into your related messaging presentations. Thank you for your partnership in this key messaging to reduce avoidable hospitalizations.  
 
On closing maternity disparities, last month, we released a first-of-its-kind Health First Colorado Maternity Report. Health First Colorado is the primary source of health coverage for more than 40% of births in the state each year. Our maternity event, which included expert speakers and panelists, identified several opportunities where we can partner with care providers, advocates, policymakers, and Coloradans to work toward improved outcomes. We also invite you to keep abreast of the good work evolving through the Behavioral Health Task ForceBehavioral Health Administration and Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.  
 
Thank you for all you are doing to improve the health and well-being of our Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus members. We appreciate your collaborative partnership! 

Kim  
Breaking News
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update:

The Department received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Colorado Joint Budget Committee to use $530 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to implement initiatives to enhance, expand, and strengthen Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in Colorado over the next three years. Read the news release.

For more information, visit the Department’s ARPA webpage.
Sign Up for the ARPA Project Pulse Newsletter:
 
The Department is implementing a multitude of projects to expand, enhance, and strengthen the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) system from fall 2021 through spring 2024 tied to federal funding in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This newsletter will serve as a source for key updates on all project planning and implementation, stakeholder engagement opportunities, and other topics of interest related to the funding. 
 
We anticipate the newsletter to launch later this fall/winter and to be sent out monthly. In the meantime, please visit and bookmark the ARPA webpage for all the latest information and updates.  

Help Us Get the Word Out! Higher Education Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Members:

Did you know Health First Colorado and CHP+ members may qualify to get their degree for free? Members can keep their coverage even if they receive grants, scholarships or work study placements. Money received for education does not count as income.

Members can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov or on the myStudentAid mobile app in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Anyone who does not have lawful immigration status or does not qualify for FAFSA can apply for the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Please note: students cannot get free money from both FAFSA and CAFSA.

For more information, visit My Colorado Journey or email MCJ@dhe.state.co.us.
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Seeking New Members:

The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee has open positions for physicians, pharmacists and someone representing Health First Colorado members.
  
Applicants are needed for these two open positions for the term ending December 2022:
• One physician who specializes in the practice of psychiatry 
• One physician who specializes in the treatment of members with disabilities 
Applicants are also needed for these six open positions for the term spanning January 2022 - December 2023: 
• Pharmacist (2 positions) 
• Specialty Physician (3 positions) 
• Health First Colorado member representative (1 position) 
Duties, membership and other term details are on our webpage and in our Colorado Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Policies and Procedures.

Physicians and pharmacists interested in serving should submit a CV along with a completed Conflict of Interest form by close of business Oct. 22, 2021.

Applicants who are not physicians or pharmacists should submit a resume and a completed Conflict of Interest form by close of business Oct. 22, 2021.

Please send all documents to Brittany Schock via email or fax:
Fax: 303-866-3590
Member Health
Health First Colorado Member Videos: Samantha's Story:

Samantha was diagnosed with multiple rare diseases and needed help. Health First Colorado found her top-notch doctors that treat her with dignity and respect. Now she looks forward to every day.

Share Samantha's video with your social media network by using our Social Media Toolkit. If you have any questions about the materials in this toolkit, please email Sarah Eaton or feedback@healthfirstcolorado.com.
Helpful Resources
Female provider, kneeling next to parents holding small child.
Enrollment
In August 2021, there were
1,512,259 Coloradans enrolled in Health First Colorado and
57,042 enrolled in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).