County Connections Newsletter
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This newsletter is designed for the Department to inform county directors, management and staff about county performance, policy changes, process updates, upcoming due dates, and more.
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High-Impact Policy and Process Updates
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CBMS Transformation Update
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CBMS Transformation Phase 2 Outage Timeline
Below is to provide a timeline of recommended activities for CBMS users before, during, and after the upcoming CBMS Transformation Phase 2 Outage:
5:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2019 -
6:00 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2019.
CBMS, PEAK, and PEAK
Pro
will be down during this time. The mobile apps – PEAK
Health
and MyCOBenefits – will be accessible, but users cannot log in to access their Case specific information.
Friday, August 23
7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
It is recommended that CBMS users authorize cases online, rather than allow them to run in Batch. This will reduce the chance for cases to fail in Authorization Batch and potentially delayed benefits. All authorization must be done by 4:00 p.m. Anything after 4:30 p.m. will not be issued until Monday, August 26.
5:00 p.m.
All Batch jobs and Mass Update will run. Anything the CBMS user has authorized and is in EDBC Batch for Friday before 4:30 p.m. will be processed and benefits issued/updated.
Note:
- Food Assistance and Cash benefits authorized by 4:00 p.m. on Friday will be available on the client’s EBT card on Saturday.
- Medical Spans will be sent on Friday to be available to the client, so the medical facilities and pharmacies will be able to see the medical spans.
- Client Correspondences within Batch will be processed and sent out.
5:00 p.m.
All users will be locked out of CBMS, PEAK, and PEAK
Pro
.
Saturday, August 24
CBMS, PEAK, and PEAK
Pro
will not be available.
Sunday, August 25
CBMS, PEAK and PEAK
Pro
will not be available, unless doing verification activities.
6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
CBMS Production Support Team completes sanity testing in CBMS.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Small Volunteer Group will complete end-to-end testing in CBMS.
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
CBMS Project Team and identified volunteers will complete verification of CBMS.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
CBMS Project Team and identified volunteers will complete verification of CBMS.
3:00 p.m.
Go/No-Go Decision will be made on the activities performed during the outage.
4:00 p.m.
CBMS Communication will be sent out notifying users that the activities performed during the outage are complete.
Information on Backout Plan:
- Option 1: Revert back to Phase 1, and lose all new data from Sunday August 25 that has been entered.
- Option 2: Fix the issue, and continue with Updated CBMS in Salesforce.
Note:
Decision to choose one of the backup options will be determined by Work Plan Subcommittee (WPSC) and Executive Steering Committee (ESC).
Note:
Implementation of either backout plan could delay CBMS coming up until sometime on Monday, August 26, but a CBMS Communication will be sent with the details.
Monday, August 26
6:00 a.m.
CBMS, PEAK, and PEAK
Pro
will be available for normal business. PEAK
Health
and MyCOBenefits users will be able to log in to access their case information.
Monday, August 26 – Friday, August 30
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (daily)
CBMS Command Center will be open for you report any issues following Phase 2 Go Live.
To connect to the Command Center:
Call the Access Number:
720.279.0026 (Local) or 1.877.820.7831 (Long Distance)
Enter the Participant Passcode:
349141#
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to complete Phase 2 of CBMS Transformation.
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Letter from the Executive Director
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This month I’d like to address our new Department performance plan in more detail.
The performance plan is comprised of the Department's five strategic pillars. This month I will focus on the first of the five pillars:
Health Care Affordability for Coloradans — Reduce the cost of care in Colorado
Health care costs are skyrocketing and affecting everyone in Colorado—patients, providers, and public and private insurers alike. Reducing the cost of health care is vital for long-term sustainability of our health care systems. Below are four measures we have outlined for our Department efforts to reduce health care costs in Colorado, in alignment with the Governor’s promise to
Lower Healthcare Costs to Save People Money on Healthcare
:
- Education and outreach about Colorado’s Health Care Affordability Roadmap to identify cost drivers and best practices in health care.
- Develop a report by December 31, 2019 to inform effective prescription cost control policy.
- Implement a Colorado payer prescription tool by June 30, 2020 that results in lower prescription drug costs.
- Receive CMS approval for Colorado’s Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) and implement the HTP by June 30, 2020.
The entire performance plan, including more detail on the five pillars and each of these measures, is available
on our website
.
Thank you for your partnership and commitment to improving health care in Colorado.
Kim
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Updates on Proposal for Affordable Coverage Option HB 19-1004 Implementation
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The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing 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 of Health Care Policy & Financing 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.
A series of regional meetings will be held to get community feedback on:
- Eligibility and population for whom the state option may be available
- Affordability considerations and state health infrastructure
As dates and locations are finalized they will be added to this page. You can submit formal written comments to
HCPF_1004AffordableOption@state.co.us
. The formal comments will be posted on the webpage linked above.
August 27, 2019 - Durango, 9:30 to 11:30 am
La Plata County Fairgrounds, Pine Room, Extension Building, 2500 Main Avenue, Durango CO 81301
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Dr. Tracey Johnson Named Colorado's Medicaid Director
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The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing announced today that Tracy Johnson, Ph.D., will join the Department as Colorado's Medicaid Director. Johnson will oversee the Department's Health Programs Office, which administers public health insurance programs for Coloradans including Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Laurel Karabatsos has served as Interim Medicaid Director for the last several months and will fill the Deputy Medicaid Director role upon Johnson's start date.
"We are pleased Tracy is joining Health Care Policy & Financing," said Kim Bimestefer, executive director. "Tracy's experience, passion and expertise will make her an outstanding addition to the HCPF Executive Leadership Team."
"It is truly an honor to join the HCPF team in this role," Johnson said. "I look forward to advancing health equity for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members, improving member health, and tackling emerging demographic and cost challenges."
Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in health policy and program development, research and evaluation. Most recently, Johnson was with Denver Health and Hospital Authority (DHHA) where she served as DHHA's Director of Health Care Reform Initiatives. She led Denver Health's implementation of federal health care reform, specifically in the areas of delivery system and payment reform. Prior to that, she served as principal of her own health policy consulting firm and in state government. Throughout these roles, she has directed numerous research and consulting projects across the population health spectrum - health insurance coverage, population segmentation/data analytics, delivery system design, health system financing and payment models, safety net provider issues and health equity.
Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an M.A. in Biomedical Ethics from the University of Virginia.
Johnson joins the Department effective September 4, 2019.
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Recent Memo Series Issued to Counties
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PM 19-006
The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform stakeholders of changes to In-Home Support Services (IHSS) effective August 1, 2019.
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OM 19-039
The purpose of this operational memo is to advise the eligibility sites of the increase to the Community Spouse Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) and Shelter Allowance. Please share this letter with all eligibility staff, supervisors and administrators that manage nursing facilities, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and other outside agencies, as appropriate.
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IM 19-049
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (Department) invites the public to comment on proposed waiver amendments to the following Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers: Persons with Brain Injury (BI), Children’s Extensive Support (CES), Children’s Home and Community-Based Services (CHCBS), Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP), Children with Life Limiting Illness (CLLI), Community Mental Health Supports (CMHS), Developmental Disabilities (DD), Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD), Persons with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and Supported Living Services (SLS).
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HCPF Informational Updates
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Hospital Transformation Program Update
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Update on HTP timeline
In June, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (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 analysist. 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’re 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
Courtney.Ronner@state.co.us
.
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Substance Use Disorder Benefit Update
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Waiver Application
The Department is in the process of finalizing the waiver application and is in regular communication with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to obtain feedback on program design and ensure the waiver submission aligns with federal requirements. The Department plans to submit the waiver application to CMS in October, following the public notice and comment period in August and September.
Public Comment Period
The Department invites the public to provide comments on the waiver application during the upcoming public comment period. Following the public comment period and prior to submission, the Department will review and assess all public comments, and amend the waiver application, if appropriate. Please visit the
Ensuring a Full Continuum of SUD Benefits webpage
for additional information coming soon regarding the public comment submission process, public hearings, and the proposed Section 1115 Waiver Demonstration Application for public comment.
Substance Use Disorder System and Benefit Implementation Planning
Department staff have begun working on system changes that, when introduced in 2020, will allow for billing of services. The Department met with state criminal justice partners to discuss the intersection of the newly covered services and the population involved in criminal justice, and continue to work with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health on matters related to implementation, including assessment requirements and licensure alignment with American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) treatment criteria.
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Counties will now be able to see current Medicare Buy-In transactions to track the status of a client's Buy-In as needed. This information will appear on the Buy-In Summary Screen.
The Medicaid Buy-In training and handouts will be updated to reflect these changes.
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Public Rule Review Meeting
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Public Rule Review meetings
are an opportunity for stakeholders to have one on one conversation with the Department's rule author regarding draft rules.
Public Rule Review meetings happen on the second Monday after the second Friday of each month. Stakeholders can attend in person or can e-mail feedback to the rule author before the rule goes to the Medical Services Board.
This does not take the place of public testimony at the Medical Services Board meeting and anyone who wishes is invited to come to the MSB meeting to address the Board directly.
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County Grant & County Incentives Programs
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FY 2018-19 Incentives Closeout
- Incentives earned funding has been disbursed
- Final Status Reports have been sent to county directors and their designated contacts.
FY 2019-20 Incentives Resources
Updated Documents:
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Grant Applicants were noticed of approval or denial early August.
Quarter 1 grant check ins will be scheduled for late September.
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance
applications
was measured at
97.70 percent
.
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance
redeterminations
was measured at
98.30 percent
.
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Department Contacts & Resources
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The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or disability.
Learn more about our Nondiscrimination Policy
.
ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).
CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711).
For further information about this policy, to request free disability and/or language aids and services, or to file a discrimination complaint, contact:
504/ADA Coordinator
1570 Grant St
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6010, Fax: 303-866-2828, State Relay: 711
Civil rights complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights electronically through the
Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal
or by mail, phone, or fax at:
1961 Stout Street Room 08-148
Denver, CO 80294
Telephone: 800-368-1019, Fax: 202-619-3818, TDD: 800-537-7697
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Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
(303) 866-2993 | 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
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