County Connections Newsletter |
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This Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) newsletter is designed to inform county directors, management and staff about county performance, policy changes, process updates, upcoming due dates and more |
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Upcoming Change to Reasonable Opportunity Period (ROP) |
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The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is changing the timeframe in which we will verify a Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) applicant's income.
Beginning in Spring 2021, the Department will be narrowing the window for a member to provide verification for an income discrepancy from 90 to 30 calendar days, when requested. This change is based on member feedback that this timeframe reduces confusion because it better aligns with other timelines in the eligibility process.
In addition, the Department is excited to upgrade to a more timely income verification process that pulls from multiple database sources. We hope doing so will help us verify income automatically without needing to request additional proof of income from applicants.
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New Trainings from the Staff Development Center |
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October 2020 Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) Build Webinar
The Health Care and Economic Security Staff Development Center (SDC) has released several training materials as part of the October 2020 CBMS Build. The projects for the October Build were implemented into CBMS on Oct. 17, 2020.
The CBMS Build Cover Sheet provides a high-level summary of this month's build training projects and contains a direct link to release notes for all the projects. For all builds, this document will be placed on TrainColorado.com in the Document Library.
Desk Aids: To access the Desk Aids, navigate to TrainColorado.com and search for the documents listed below in the CBMS Build Training folder:
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Project #14047: CBMS MA End Mailing of Client Health Insurance Information (MS-10).
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Project #13762: CBMS Sponsor Reimbursement of Public Assistance Benefits.
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Project #13991: CBMS Updates to the Case Review Sample for Adult Financial.
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Project #14071: CBMS Expedited Food Improvements.
Web-Based Training (WBT): To access the WBTs, users will need to log into Co.Learn and search for the projects listed below:
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Project #13768: CBMS MA Retro Updates.
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Project #14047: CBMS MA End Mailing of Client Health Insurance Information (MS-10).
Webinar: To access the recorded webinar, users will need to log into Co.Learn and search for the project listed below:
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Project #13762: CBMS Sponsor Reimbursement of Public Assistance Benefits
- Q&A Document is also available for this webinar.
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County COVID-19 Locked In Reports |
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CBMS County COVID 19 Lock-in Report & Resources
The COVID locked-in report provides detailed information of all members on Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus who have been locked-in (or also known as “forced passed”) during the public health emergency. This report is to be used by eligibility sites to identify the members within their caseload who will need support for either maintaining or transitioning health coverage at the end of the public health emergency.
The Department holds weekly over-the-shoulder support meetings for county eligibility staff to discuss this report every Thursday at 3 p.m.
County directors and secondary directors were given a link to a SharePoint site showing a weekly high-level progress report of the overall number of individuals per county whose eligibility needs manual intervention by the county.
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Recent Memo Series Issued to Counties |
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OM 20-094
The purpose of this memo is to ensure eligibility sites provide complete contact information on all member correspondence issued from the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS).
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IM 20-050
To inform all stakeholders about upcoming stakeholder engagement webinars where the Department will provide updates on Case Management Redesign to include Conflict-Free Case Management (CFCM).
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New Health First Colorado App |
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The new Health First Colorado mobile app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Members can download the app directly from the app stores, or by updating their PEAKHealth app. This member-facing app replaces PEAKHealth.
Members can sign into the Health First Colorado app using their PEAK account. Members can use the app to:
• See if their coverage is active.
• Learn about benefits.
• Update their information.
• Find providers.
• View their member ID card.
• Call the Nurse Advice Line, Colorado Crisis Line and Quitline.
• Pay premiums and enrollment fees (for Buy-In and CHP+ members).
The app has a sleek and modern look and is more user friendly than the previous PEAKHealth. Future updates to the app will include functionalities such as to-do lists and changing your primary care provider.
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New Resource for Medicaid Buy-In |
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Beginning, Oct. 1, 2020, the Health First Colorado's Buy-in for Children with Disabilities (CwD) and Buy-in for Working Adults with Disabilities (WAwD) programs will have a direct number to use for questions about eligibility, premiums, and status.
Please feel free to call 1-800-711-6994 with any Buy-In questions or concerns. Members and counties can also continue to use the Health First Colorado number as well.
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Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Benefit Announcement |
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The Department will host two training sessions focusing on the upcoming residential and inpatient SUD service benefit. Two sessions, both covering the same content, will be offered on:
- Thursday, Oct. 22 from 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The training will cover topics including an overview of the SUD benefit expansion, enrollment with Health First Colorado as a residential/inpatient SUD treatment provider, billing procedures for the new services, ASAM Criteria documentation of medical necessity, utilization management, provider licensure requirements and content provided by the Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) and Managed Service Organizations (MSOs) for treatment providers.
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Funding Available for a Shared Risk and Protective Factor Approach to Substance Misuse Prevention |
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The purpose of this Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Request for Applications (RFA) is to solicit applications from local organizations and agencies to implement an evidence-based shared risk and protective factor approach to preventing substance misuse in Colorado.
There are two options for funding: Option A allows you to organize your community to be prepared to address any upstream prevention needs. Awardees develop the community coalition’s skills so they are prepared to review data and address solutions over time, no matter what the solution may be. Option B allows you to organize your community for one specific solution you have already identified. You are ready to act on this one strategy and the funding may end sooner than Option A since your community already knows the solution you will seek.
Both options will continue to emphasize our commitments to community mobilization, data-informed and evidence-informed decision-making, and a focus on racial and social equity. Find more information at colorado.gov/cdphe/ctc.
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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 take place 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 (MSB).
This does not take the place of public testimony at the MSB meeting and anyone who wishes is invited to come to the meeting to address the Board directly.
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County Grants & County Incentives Programs |
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FY 2020-21 County Incentive Program
- Reference documents.
- Meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and recordings.
- Frequently Asked Questions.
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Competitive Grants
- Meetings to discuss Q1 of the grant program will occur in October.
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Timeliness for September 2020 |
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications was measured at 98.97 percent.
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Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations was measured at 98.83 percent.
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Department Contacts & Resources |
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About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan Plus and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. For more information about the Department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.
STAY CONNECTED
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