Upcoming Events and Helpful Resources
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Health First Colorado videos for use in waiting rooms and other areas members visit are available for download on our website. |
New to PEAK or Need a Refresher?
The Intro to PEAK and Application Walk-Through recorded webinars are available anytime. For more information and trainings, visit the
PEAK Outreach Initiative website.
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Public Rule Review Opportunities
Anyone interested in a one-on-one discussion with Department staff about upcoming rules is invited to attend the Department's
Public Rule Review Meeting. Information is available on the
Public Rule Review Meetings webpage.
For more information, or to be added to the Medical Services Board email distribution list, please contact
Chris Sykes.
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Employment Opportunities
Applying for state government jobs is easy. Applications are electronic, you will receive updates, and you do not need to answer any written questions until it is determined that you meet the minimum qualifications.
Check out the
website for State of Colorado jobs including the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing jobs.
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Welcome to the August 2019 edition of
At a Glance!
Thank you for your interest!
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A Message from the Executive Director |
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 Bimestefer
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Dr. Tracy Johnson Named Colorado's Medicaid Director
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Dr. Johnson joins the Department effective September 4, 2019, and will oversee the Department's Health Programs Office, which administers Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan
Plus (CHP+).
Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in health policy and program development, research and evaluation. She
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.
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Hospital Transformation Program Update
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Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) Timeline Update
In June, the Department
informed stakeholders
of the transition to a State Plan Amendment (SPA) for the initial implementation of the developed 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 is on the HTP website
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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 p.m. to the
HTP email address;
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.
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Partnerships to Improve Population Health
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Tobacco Cessation Reminder
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- Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers
- Varenicline (Chantix®)
- Bupropion SR (Zyban®)
Free resources for all smokers and providers are available through the
Colorado Quitline or 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
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Open Enrollment Kick-Off Kits
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Connect for Health Colorado has Open Enrollment Kick-off Kits ready to be distributed at no cost.
To request your kit,
email Jess Smith
and include:
- Your name and your organization's name
- The address to mail the Open Enrollment Kick-off Kit
- Whether you would like:
- Overview brochures
- Posters highlighting deadlines and financial help available
- Financial help charts that provide easy reference for whether a family may qualify for Medicaid or financial help through Connect for Health Colorado
- The quantities you would like (we recommend 50 or 100 of handouts like brochures and charts and a handful of posters)
You can order materials any time during the year by visiting our Online Store and creating an account or logging in.
For more information, contact Jess Smith.
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Delivery System Innovation
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Substance Use Disorder Benefit Update |
Waiver application and public comment period
The Department has finalized the draft waiver application and aligned it with federal transparency requirements.
Following the public comment period, the Department may amend the waiver application as appropriate, based on the comments received.
The Department invites the public to attend public hearings in person or join by teleconference/webinar to learn more about Colorado's waiver application and provide comments.
Public Hearing #2
Date: Friday, September 6, 2019
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: DoubleTree Hotel Grand Junction - Aspen Room
743 Horizon Drive
Grand Junction, CO 81506
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Child Health Plan Plus Dental Update |
On October 1, 2019, dental services will be available for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) prenatal women. They will benefit from the same services provided for current CHP+ children except for orthodontics (braces). These benefits include:
- Diagnostic services (exams and x-rays)
- Preventive (fluoride, sealants and cleanings)
- Basic restorative services (fillings)
- Endodontic (root canals)
- Emergency dental services
The annual maximum allowable is $1,000 per calendar year (July 1 through June 30) while the member is eligible and enrolled.
As with all CHP+ benefits, families with a higher income may be required to pay a small fee (co-pay) when they receive services. Members can contact DentaQuest at 1-888-307-6561, State Relay: 711, or via email through the Member Access Portal at memberaccess@dentaquest.com.
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The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & 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).
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