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 January 2021.

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

As we move into the fall season, I want to remind you of the important role you all play in helping us address the pandemic for the betterment of all Coloradans. I appreciate all you do to help set the right example in your community. Wearing a mask and practicing social distancing are proven actions we can all take to reduce COVID-19 spread and save lives - protecting both our care givers and the Coloradans we serve. 

November and December will bring additional challenges. Thanksgiving and the coming year end holidays traditionally bring friends and families together. This year will be different as we continue to make intention plans that protect one another. I invite you, as leaders in your community, to join in the Step Up campaign by sharing on social media the ways we are stepping up together to battle the pandemic. The website has examples of posts you can share to help. Thank you for your resilience, and thank you for your leadership and partnership during this truly historic and challenging chapter.

Concurrent with our efforts to battle the COVID-19 spread, we are actively monitoring emerging and related health policies, and the Supreme Court hearing on the Affordable Care Act. Through all this uncertainty, our goal is to stand firm to protect the healthcare gains we have made and continue to address persistent and emerging challenges. 

The ACA's Medicaid expansion provision - and Colorado's decision to maximize that opportunity - brought needed and affordable coverage to hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. With the economic downturn, even more Coloradans are turning to Medicaid. We are welcoming new members and outreaching to others to help connect them to our coverage programs, which is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACA also brought subsidies to improve the affordability of private insurance for those with incomes below 400% of the poverty level. It provided accessible coverage for young adults up to age 26 and created nondiscrimination provisions. As importantly, it created new protections for those with preexisting conditions, enabling many to gain access to coverage that was impossible before the ACA. Overall, the ACA has transformed our health care system and significantly reduced our uninsured rate here in Colorado and across the country.

While we have made gains together, we know work remains to improve affordability through new solutions and policies, especially in the area of rising prescription drug costs. We also have a host of work to do to close health care disparities, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. In this spirit, we invite you to join us in our quest to make a Colorado that Works for All of Us - A Colorado for All  


Through these uncertain times, a global pandemic, and an economic downturn, our Department and our passionate staff will continue to work hard to protect and serve our growing members - soon to exceed 1.4 million. Our members are an inspiration, and it is our honor to serve them each day. (Watch Mike's story.)

Thank you for your leadership and partnership through these uncertain times.

Kim
HCPF 2021 Legislative Agenda

A brief overview of the Department's legislative agenda can be found on the Department's website. This year, our agenda bills focus on: 
  • Telemedicine Rate and Policy Refinements.
  • Case Management Redesign.
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities: Demonstration of Need and Technical Changes.
  • Add Remote Supports to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Programs.
  • Expand Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program.
HCPF FY 2021-22 Budget Agenda

A summary of the Department's discretionary budget requests submitted for consideration to the Colorado General Assembly, as part of the Governor's Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 budget, is now posted on our website. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget requests focus on addressing the state's current budget shortfall while still prioritizing and protecting member benefits and services given budget constraints. 
Exposure Notifications Helps Fight COVID-19

You can now download an app to help fight COVID-19, slow its spread and protect yourself and your loved ones. CO Exposure Notification will notify you if you've likely been exposed to the virus, allowing you to seek timely medical attention and take action to protect others. 

The app is free and does not share your personal information. It can alert you if you have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Visit AddYourPhone.com to watch a short video about how it works and how to turn it on with Apple or Android devices. 
Mental Health Parity Compliance Report Released

On Sept. 1, 2020, the Department released the Annual Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Report for State Fiscal Year 2019-2020. As part of implementation of House Bill (HB) 19-1269the Department contracted with CedarBridge Group to assess its compliance with federal and state mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. CedarBridge gathered stakeholder input related to mental health parity to design the analyses and inform the Department's annual report.

Based on their review of Colorado Medicaid, the CedarBridge Group found:
  • The Department's Medicaid managed care entities are in compliance with federal and state parity laws.
  • The Medicaid benefit, in its entirety, is in compliance with all federal and state parity laws. 
The Department will continue to monitor compliance with all federal and state mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. We are developing new resources to help clarify parity for stakeholders and Health First Colorado members. These resources will help the Department identify future parity compliance issues.

The full report can be access on the Department's website or by visiting the Regulatory Resource Center webpage.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Benefit Update

The Department, in collaboration with the Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs), Managed Services Organizations (MSOs) and the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), hosted two provider-centered trainings on Oct. 22 and 29 covering topics related to the implementation of the SUD benefit expansion. Approximately 340 individuals attended, and recordings of the Oct. 29 training were made available online. In addition, the Department created and published an SUD Provider Manual covering SUD benefit policies and procedures. On Nov. 5, interChange system changes went live to allow for residential SUD providers to enroll as specialty provider types associated with their ASAM level(s).    

On Nov. 2, the Department submitted its Implementation Plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Implementation Plan is a required component of the 1115 SUD demonstration application process. CMS approved the 1115 demonstration application as of Nov. 13, 2020. Related State Plan Amendments have been submitted to CMS and are currently under review.

More information is available on the SUD Benefit webpage
Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) Update

HTP Delay
At the Aug. 25, 2020, Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting, the board voted to revise the implementation of the HTP until February 2021. More information about the change can be found in a memo from the Department

Rural Support Payment Update
The Rural Support Payment is an integral part of the HTP that will aid in making the concepts of HTP operations a reality for many rural hospitals. The purpose of this fund is to assist rural hospitals as they transition towards a sustainable delivery model, with $12 million available annually for each of the five years of the HTP waiver. This dedicated funding will help rural hospitals prepare for future value-based payment environments.

Funding will be awarded to rural hospitals demonstrating the most financial distress based on financial and utilization measures. Funding will be prioritized to low revenue critical access hospitals (bottom 10%), equating to about 17 hospitals state-wide. A revised draft hospital agreement will be released in early November, with funding determinations being made between December 2020 and January 2021.

HTP Contractor Update
This notice is to inform stakeholders that the State of Colorado's contract with Sellers Dorsey for services related to HTP will end on Dec. 31, 2020. As such, Sellers Dorsey will no longer be providing services relative to the HTP after that date.
 
As of Oct. 14, 2020, the State of Colorado began working with consultants from Myers and Stauffer LC for services related to HTP. Please continue to direct any HTP-related questions to the HTP inbox.

Community Advisory Council
Community Advisory Council meetings continue to take place on a monthly basis, with the most recent meeting taking place on Monday, Oct. 9. The agenda, meeting materials and previous meeting notes can be found on the Community Advisory Council website. 

Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting
The next CHASE Board meeting will take place via webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 17 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.
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
STAY CONNECTED: