 |
|
Stay up-to-date on what's new at HCPF with this newsletter created specifically for the Colorado General Assembly.
|
|
As a reminder, this newsletter is published on a quarterly basis outside of the legislative session; the next edition will be published in November 2019. We will return to monthly publishing during the next legislative session, beginning January 2020.
Please continue to direct any questions or constituent issues to the Department's legislative team:
|
|
|
|
Bonnie Silva Named Office of Community Living Director
Bonnie Silva has been selected as our Director of the Office of Community Living (OCL). Bonnie brings a wealth of experience, insights, expertise, and passion to this key role within the Department. Learn more about Bonnie's appointment in our press release.
Tracy Johnson Named Medicaid Director
Tracy Johnson has been selected as our new Medicaid Director. Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in health policy and program development, research and evaluation. Learn more in our press release.
Updates on Proposal for Affordable Coverage Option HB19-1004 Implementation
The Department and the Colorado Division of Insurance held introductory stakeholder meetings in late May and early June around the implementation of the Proposal for Affordable Health Coverage Option (HB 19-1004). The bill requires the Department and the Division of Insurance to develop and submit a proposal to the General Assembly by November 15, 2019 concerning the design, costs, benefits, and implementation of a state option for health care coverage.
ACE Kids Act Update
Senate Bill 17-267, Sustainability of Rural Colorado, required the Department within 120 days of the enactment of the federal "Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act" to seek any federal approval necessary to fund the implementation of an enhanced pediatric health home for children with complex medical conditions.
On April 18,
2019, President Trump signed the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1839) into law. This act included the language of the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act, also referred to as the ACE Kids Act. The legislation stipulates that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shall promulgate rules by October 2020. The earliest date states may implement enhanced pediatric health homes with the additional federal matching funds is October 1, 2022. As such, the Department cannot formally request federal approval at this time.
The Department will engage with our federal partners, monitor and review guidance and rulemaking as it becomes available, and identify resources necessary for federal approval when that process is defined. The Department intends to collaborate with stakeholders and keep interested parties apprised of all developments.
|
|
|
Message from Executive Director Kim Bimestefer
Over the past five years, the Department has implemented multiple initiatives to combat overprescribing and excess opioid utilization within Health First Colorado. These initiatives, along with provider education and heightened public awareness of the opioid crises, have resulted in a
more than 50 percent reduction
in the number of opioid units dispensed to Health First Colorado members and a
44 percent reduction
in the number of members using opioids from January 2014 - December 2018.
Some of our Department initiatives over the past five years include:
- Tightened criteria on short-acting opioids and added quantity limits.
- A pain resource webpage with information on opioid use/misuse, pain assessment guides, risk assessment tools and methods to reduce opioid use safely and effectively.
- A Chronic Pain Disease Management Program to help train providers in appropriate use of opioids.
- Limiting initial prescription fills to a 7-day supply and limiting the member to two refills.
- Reducing the daily maximum dose from 300 MME/day to 200 MME/day.
- Implementing a dental opioid policy limiting members to three, four-day prescription fills.
Additional information can be found in our press release
,
which includes a year-by-year evolution of our opioid policy intended to combat addiction and opioid overprescribing. In 2020, the Department will launch a tool for all providers to help them reduce the chances of addiction among their patient populations. The tool is being designed in collaboration with physician groups, insurance carriers and stakeholders.
Together, we are tackling excess opioid utilization, which is protecting our members from the devastating consequences of addiction while ensuring access to proper pain management therapy. Thank you for your partnership as we work to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.
|
|
|
Hospital Transformation Program
Update on HTP Timeline
In June, the Department
informed stakeholders
of the transition to a State Plan Amendment (SPA) for the initial implementation of the developed Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) components. Since then, many stakeholders have reached out to Department staff with questions about the timing of outstanding program components.
In order to
answer these questions, we have created a document outlining the tasks and program design components remaining before the SPA and Section 1115 waiver can be submitted to CMS.
This document
can be found on the HTP website.
Update on HTP Stakeholder Engagement Forum
As reported in the last
HTP Newsletter
, the Department will host multiple HTP Stakeholder Engagement Forums to give all those involved in the program an opportunity to provide feedback to the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board and Department staff. Thank you for all of your responses to the HTP Stakeholder Engagement Survey we shared. Currently, we are working to identify a facilitator and will begin hosting meetings in the fall. Updates about the forum can be found in future HTP Newsletters. Stay tuned!
Community & Health Neighborhood Engagement Final Report
Final Reports for the Community & Health Neighborhood Engagement (CHNE) process are due September 20, 2019. The
Final Report template
and
Final Report review criteria document
can be found on the HTP website. Final Reports must be submitted in .pdf form by September 20, 2019 at 5 pm to the HTP email address. and reports received after this deadline will not be considered. Following the submission date, the reports will be reviewed by an independent analyst. The reports will not be scored and the Department will work collaboratively with participants as they work on their applications to address any questions or concerns that may arise from the Final Report.
In preparation for the Final Report submissions, the Department will be holding virtual office hours to go over the report template and review criteria, as well as answer any questions stakeholders have. Virtual office hours will be held on Tuesday, Aug 20 and Thursday Aug 22 from 3 - 4 p.m. MT and additional information can be found in
a special alert sent to stakeholders
.
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 A. Ronner, Hospital Relations and Communication Manager, at 303-866-2699 or via email.
|
|
|
The Home and Community Based Services- Children's Habilitation Residential Program (HCBS-CHRP) waiver was amended effective July 1, 2019 to include the following changes:
- The eligibility requirement that the child or youth be in Child Welfare to access the wavier was removed.
- The waiver case management functions was transferred from the County Departments of Social/Human Services to the Community Centered Boards.
- Two new services to support children and youth to remain in the family home or transition back to the family home after out of home placement were added.
- References to the Colorado Department of Human Services as the administering agency for the waiver were changed to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing as the administering agency.
Corresponding emergency rule revisions were adopted by the Medical Services Board effective July 1, 2019. The rules will be presented to the Board September 13, 2019 for final consent.
|
|
|
HCPF Submits New Reports & LRFIs to the General Assembly
|
|
|
Medicaid Snapshot and County-by-County Resources
The County Fact Sheets will be updated with new data reflecting the FY 2018-19 information later this summer.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
