This Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) newsletter is designed to inform county directors, management and staff about high-impact updates, important changes, county performance, new guidance, and program changes. |
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Message from the Executive Director |
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Behavioral Health Transformation
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant strain on our current behavioral health system. Addressing systemic behavioral health challenges for the betterment of the health and well-being of Coloradans requires participation and thought leadership from all state agencies and partners.
Fortunately, HCPF and stakeholders have been working to invest over the last several years in partnerships, providers and programs to improve our Health First Colorado behavioral health system and services. Some of those investments are financially based - including increasing our annual behavioral health funding by $400 million since 2018 - an increase of over 60%. In fact, the fiscal year 2022-23 Governor’s budget submitted in November includes an additional $59 million (+6%), increasing our behavioral health funding to over $1 billion for this next fiscal year, if approved.
Recent funding increases were largely used to expand behavioral health care access and reimbursements - both critical to meeting the rising demand for behavioral health services. In fact, the Health First Colorado network of behavioral health providers has grown by 18%, or more than 1,500 providers over the last 18 months. (Thank you, RAEs, for this partnership.) And thanks to our legislative and stakeholder partners, we were also able to add an Inpatient and Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment benefit effective Jan. 1, 2021, which served about 5,000 Health First Colorado members in its first six months. I invite all of us to celebrate this vital behavioral health benefit added during a significant economic downturn.
Concurrently, HCPF continues to support provider agencies to increase access for children, youth and adults to crisis services, supportive housing, residential recovery, high-intensity services and wrap-around services. We are also working on delivery system reform: integrating physical and behavioral health, as noted in the Governor’s November budget, and building out behavioral health system infrastructure, technology and workforce. We appreciate your partnership on this important work as well.
While these investments are moving the needle in the right direction, there is still far more work to do. Fortunately, from day one of the Polis-Primavera Administration, a foundation to reform Colorado’s behavioral health system was put into place through the creation of the Behavioral Health Task Force. It identified three key actions to be taken by the state: expanding behavioral health access through telehealth, implementing 19 priorities to improve Colorado’s behavioral health system and establishing a Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). Please review the November Behavioral Health Administration plan that outlines the path toward a more coordinated, patient-centered and effective infrastructure, which will help address many of our system’s current challenges.
In complement to this crucial work, the executive branch and the legislature are investing $450 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act stimulus dollars to drive behavioral health transformation for the betterment of Coloradans, our providers and our state. Look for the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force recommendations this January.
On behalf of our passionate staff and the 1.55 million Coloradans accessing our coverage services, thank you for your partnership and leadership to help us transform Colorado’s behavioral health system.
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COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5-11 |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the Pfizer vaccine is approved for emergency use for children ages 5-11.
As a partner, we encourage you to help connect Health First Colorado and CHP+ members and their families to information about the vaccine. A toolkit to assist partners with outreach has been developed. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (covid19.colorado.gov/kids-vaccines), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children (www.healthychildren.org) have updated information about the vaccine.
Pediatric providers are encouraged to enroll as COVID-19 vaccine providers with CDPHE to help ensure access to the vaccine. Providers can also request a mobile clinic come to their location for their patients.
Additional resources are below:
Thank you for continuing to help keep Colorado safe during this pandemic.
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Covid-19 Booster Shot Update |
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The Department is in the process of implementing the new hospital discount program created under HB21-1198. This new program goes into effect June 1, 2022, and will impact all general acute care and critical access hospitals, free standing emergency departments, and the health care professionals who work within those settings.
Stakeholder meetings will be held in January, and more information is on the Hospital Discounted Care webpage. If you would like to stay up to date with the implementation process and receive information on how you can participate, please sign up to receive the Hospital Discounted Care newsletter.
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Recent Memo Series Issued to Counties |
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OM 21-088
This letter is meant to advise counties and eligibility sites of the 2022 Social Security
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). Please share this memo with all affected adult and
long-term care Medicaid eligibility staff, supervisors, and outside agencies, as
appropriate.
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OM 21-085
The purpose of this memo is to inform authorized individuals/entities, such as county
departments of social/human services, Medical Assistance (MA) sites, Eligibility
Application Partner (EAP) sites, and anyone who processes Medical Assistance eligibility
applications of the new rules regarding Afghan Humanitarian Parolees.
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OM 21-084
The purpose of this Operational Memo is to communicate additional guidance regarding
funding and staffing from the Budget Amendment 10 (BA-10). BA-10 provided
additional, term-limited funding to counties to manage the workload associated with the continuous coverage provisions relating to the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE).
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OM 21-080
The purpose of this Operational Memo is to provide guidance to county departments
of human/social services (counties) on how to operationalize the FY 2021-22 County
Incentives Program Accuracy Incentive.
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OM 21-079
The purpose of this Operational Memo is to provide guidance to county departments
of human/social services (counties) on how to operationalize the FY 2021-22 County
Incentives Program Performance Compliance Incentive.
Per 10 CCR 2505-5 1.020, “Administrative Internal Controls,” counties are required to
establish performance management controls for Medical Assistance programs in their
county. This should include establishing roles and responsibilities and designating
Medical Assistance Performance (MAP) Dashboard Performance Owners, documenting
processes and procedures for performance management and educating county staff
on the importance of performance management and meeting performance targets,
especially where there is a member impact.
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OM 21-078
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, referenced herein as “the State
Department” or “HCPF”, has the statutory responsibility for oversight of the Colorado
Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes
[Section 25.5-1-114(3)]. Medicaid is also known as Health First Colorado. Medical
Assistance also includes the Children’s Basic Health Plan known as Child Health Plan
Plus (CHP+). The purpose of this Operational Memo is to document the processes used
to monitor the administration and operations of Medical Assistance Programs
administered by county department of human/social services, referenced herein as
“eligibility sites” and subsequent improvement actions or corrective actions required to
correct any determined non-compliance.
The process as documented in this Operational Memo shall be used by the State
Department until further notice.
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OM 21-077
The purpose of this Operational Memo is to issue guidance to county departments of
human/social services regarding the deliverable requirements to earn the fiscal year
(FY) 2021-22 County Incentives Program Cybersecurity Incentive.
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IM 21-056
The purpose of this Informational Memo is to provide county Department of Human
Service (DHS) agencies an update from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy
& Financing (Department) regarding the transition of the Single Entry Point (SEP)
agency for Rio Grande and Mineral Counties and information regarding the new agency
that will be providing SEP services.
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Keep in the Know About New Legislation on the Horizon |
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Sign up to get the Department's latest newsletter highlighting maternal, child and reproductive health legislation. The new monthly publication will offer updates, information, and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to SB 21-194, SB 21-009, SB 21-025, SB 21-016 and SB 19-195, the Maternal Opioid Misuse Grant, and the Maternal Advisory Committee.
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FY 2022-23 HCPF Budget Request R-8
County Administration, Oversight & Accountability
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HCPF submitted a budget request (R-8) for FY 2022-23 that attempts to address county and state concerns regarding funding and oversight. Please see this presentation
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It's Open Enrollment in Colorado |
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For those who aren’t already covered by job health insurance, Health First Colorado or Medicare, now is the time to sign up for a health insurance plan for 2022 coverage through Connect for Health Colorado. This year, many individuals, families and small business owners shopping for health and dental plans can expect more plan choice and financial help. You can sign up for a health insurance plan during the Open Enrollment Period, which runs through Jan. 15.
- Most current customers are eligible for plan renewal, which means that their health insurance plan will automatically renew on Dec. 1 for 2022 coverage.
- After Dec. 1, customers have until Dec. 15 to update their account and change their plan as needed for coverage starting Jan. 1.
- If you sign up for a plan or change your plan between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, your coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2022.
To find out whether you qualify for additional savings on health insurance plans, how much financial assistance you can receive and to see all the plans available to you, contact Connect for Health Colorado at ConnectforHealthCO.com or by calling 855-752-6749.
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New PEAK Chatbot Features—Improved Virtual Assistance
at Your Clients’ Fingertips!
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New PEAK Chatbot features were implemented with the Dec. 12, 2021, build. Please see the attached flyer below to help you advertise these changes to your clients.
The PEAK Chatbot has the following new features that your clients will be able to use on the PEAK Websites:
- Ability to find the provider directory.
- Ability to view your 1095B Correspondence
- Direction to your 211 information
- Direction on how you can change your PCP
We’ve developed the attached flyer (English and Spanish) that you can display in your lobby, post on Facebook, or share with your clients wherever you communicate with them. The PEAK Chatbot can answer many of your clients’ questions quickly and easily, hopefully reducing phone calls and lobby visits you get related to the information that the Chatbot can provide instead!
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Provider Termination of Enrollment |
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All provider enrollments as a Case Management Agency must be revalidated every five years, even though they are non-billing providers. They will be notified by mail about the revalidation application.
But what if they do not want to be a provider?
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County fact sheets provide an annual snapshot by fiscal year of Health First Colorado activity, including average annual caseload and top five claim types for each county.
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Broadband Discount Program |
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Please help us spread the word about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB). It gives a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyone who gets cellular from the Lifeline program, free and reduced-priced school lunch or school breakfast program, SNAP, or Health First Colorado may qualify. People who have recently lost their job or had a large loss of income, or who receive Federal Pell Grants may also qualify.
People who qualify can get:
- Up to $50 per month discount on broadband service or up to $75 per month discount if their household is on tribal lands.
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.
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County Grants & County Incentives Program |
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County Incentives and Grants |
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FY 2021-22 Incentives
- Incentives memos have been released.
FY 2021-22 Grants
- Q2 Grant check-ins have been scheduled for January
- Q2 Grant matrices are due Jan. 5, 2021
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Timeliness for November 2021 |
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications was measured at 97.43%. |
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations was measured at 98.61%. |
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Department Contacts & Resources |
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