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 June 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

Please Help Us Keep Colorado Covered and Enroll New Care Providers

As Coloradans struggle with record unemployment in the fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) is projecting a surge of more than 500,000 Coloradans between April 1 and Dec. 31, reflecting a 40%+ increase in Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
members. During this difficult time, the passionate staff at HCPF is working hard to keep Colorado covered!

Given this goal, it is critical that we help Coloradans easily navigate their way to the right health coverage solution. That means providing clear guidance on what Health First Colorado and CHP+ cover, how to apply, how to find a doctor and who to call with questions. To that end,  we have developed a coverage guidance tool that answers these questions and ultimately helps Coloradans stay covered during this economic downturn. We appreciate your help sharing this tool broadly so we can reach the Coloradans who need this support. Please post this link on your organization's website, share it via social media and forward it to your customers, associates or constituents. In tandem, we are sharing this tool via our social media channels. You could further help us keep Colorado covered by "following us" and sharing our posts on Facebook and Twitter. 

We would also appreciate your help recruiting care providers to serve our Health First Colorado members. Many physicians and other providers want to continue serving their patients who transition from commercial coverage to our coverage; at the same time, our new members often want to continue to see their preferred providers for care. To accomplish those shared goals, we need to enroll new providers into Health First Colorado. Providers can enroll at this join us now link. Feel free to share this link on your website, as well. 

Last, we appreciate your collaboration in thoughtfully balancing the state budget, given the tremendous reduction in available funding. HCPF represents 26% of the state's general fund and 33% of total funds, so it is critical that our Department do our part, despite our projected 40%+ membership surge. Your attendance at our many webinars, your shared suggestions for budget cut alternatives and your engagement throughout this difficult process is very much appreciated by me, our leadership team and our staff. Thank you for all you are doing to be part of the solution! 

Kim
HCPF 2020 Legislative Agenda

The Colorado General Assembly recessed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 14, 2020. The legislature will reconvene for an abbreviated session on May 26, 2020. A brief overview of the Department's updated legislative agenda can be found on the Department's website. During the limited session, the Department is supporting the following bills: 
  • Renew Overexpenditure and Transfer Authority
  • Expand Canadian Prescription Drug Import Program (SB20-119)
  • Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions (HB20-1160)
HCPF FY 2020-21 Budget Agenda

The Joint Budget Committee made changes to the Department's budget on May 6, 2020. A summary of the Department's original budget requests is posted on our website. In light of the decisions made by the Committee on May 6, the Department submitted comebacks to the JBC. The Department comebacks can be found in OSPB's FY 2020-2021 Comeback Requests for Executive Agencies. 

Learning from COVID-19: Telemedicine Background & Policy Considerations

Telemedicine was a covered benefit prior to COVID-19, but it was not heavily utilized. An emergency rule presented and passed by the Medical Services Board during an emergency board meeting on March 20, 2020, altered the Department's telemedicine policy to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency rule will continue until July 18, 2020. 

The Department wants to learn from the emergency policy changes to better understand what an appropriate permanent policy would include to achieve the shared goals of improving access to care especially to seniors and those with disabilities, as well as in rural and frontier areas, while ensuring appropriate use of this medium, and being fiscally prudent in difficult times.

To learn more about what the Department is working on regarding telemedicine services, visit the Learning from COVID-19: Telemedicine Background & Policy Considerations Fact Sheet.   
Understanding Medicaid's Budget: Medicaid Funds Overview

HCPF's budget is funded by both state and federal monies. The percentage the federal government pays depends on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) calculation and state and federal laws related to the populations covered. 

As a result of COVID-19, the federal government is providing states a temporary 6.2% increase to its matching rates, temporarily reducing the amount of State General Fund required to fund these programs. 

For a detailed overview of how Medicaid populations are funded, view Medicaid's Matching Funds Overview Fact Sheet and the Child Health Plan Plus Matching Funds Overview Fact Sheet.  
Non-Emergent Medicaid Transportation (NEMT) Update 

A contract has been awarded to the vendor, IntelliRIde, to begin managing the Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefit for all counties in Colorado. 

Expanding management of the NEMT benefit to one statewide broker will help us improve customer service to both our members and our county partners. By moving to a single statewide vendor, the state is better able to ensure more consistent, streamlined operations and infrastructure, including improved access for members and reduced administrative burden for counties. We are not changing or terminating the NEMT benefit. This is only a change to NEMT administration. 

IntelliRide already operates in nine counties, and is working to expand its network to the rest of the state as quickly as possible. Although the contract is effective July 1, 2020, IntelliRide may experience delays in credentialing providers in some counties because of logistical constraints due to COVID-19. Because of this, counties will continue to provide NEMT services to members until IntelliRide is fully operational in their county. The timeline for this transition will vary from county to county to ensure no interruption to members' NEMT benefit. 

County administrators of NEMT can continue to bill for NEMT services delivered until the transition occurs and will be paid using already established administrative funding. HCPF, which oversees the NEMT benefit, will work closely with counties and IntelliRide to track progress and determine where additional support is needed. 

The Department is providing regular updates at county directors meetings and a monthly NEMT administrators call. If you have question about the transition, email   NEMT@state.co.us . 
Resources for Coloradans Impacted by COVID-19

Onward.org can help connect Coloradans with services, funds and jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource is the result of collaboration with the Governor's Office, state agencies, community partners and Bitwise Industries. Please visit the website and share with anyone who is struggling, or may bee the help: onward.org. 
Getting Care Through Medicaid & CHP+

The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on many Coloradans. Many have lost their jobs and employer-sponsored health benefits. During this pandemic, it is especially important for all Coloradans to have health care coverage. When it comes to health coverage, the State may be able to help. The Department offers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Both are public health insurance programs available to Coloradans who quality. 

For more information and to see if you qualify, view the Getting Care Through Health First Colorado & Child Health Plan Plus. 
Website to Help Address Health Care Workforce Shortages and Improve Care

The Department, along with ADvancing States and Centene Corporation have come together in a unique public-private partnership to develop and launch ConnectToCareJobs.com, a new website to help address health care workforce shortages during the COVID-19 public health emergency and beyond. The site will connect residential care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living facilities) that need employees with health care professionals who need jobs.

Health care professionals with skills appropriate for a residential care facility environment are invited to visit the website now to create an account. 
Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) Update

HQIP Update

The Hospital Quality Incentive Payment (HQIP) Program Data Collection Tool (DCT) opened to users on May 1. In light of COVID-19, the Data Collection period has been extended an additional 30 days until June 20,2020. We held a DCT training webinar on April 29, 2020. That webinar was recorded and can be found along with additional information on the Department HQIP website.   

Community Advisory Council 

The Community Advisory Council meeting was held on April 24. Council members used the time to talk about the best ways to continue community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meeting notes will be on the Community Advisory Council website next week. The council plans to meet again in late June and details will be forthcoming in this newsletter. 

CHASE Board Meeting

The next Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting will take place via webinar on Tuesday, May 26 at 3 p.m. Additional information about the board, as well as meeting materials which will be posted before the meeting date, can be found on the CHASE Board website. 

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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