First, we are excited about the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. If you need clarification as to where you and your community are placed in the distribution plan, the graphic below will provide helpful insights. Concurrent with this distribution, we will continue to collaborate with providers and our partners in public health to do our part in managing the COVID-19 pandemic while providing clear messaging to protect the health and well-being of our members and all Coloradans. So, please continue to help us message about the importance of “masking up,” social distancing and following public safety guidance until all Coloradans are vaccinated.  

With the economic downturn, many Coloradans have lost their jobs and, with that, their employer-sponsored health coverage. Accordingly, the Department will continue to connect these individuals and families to affordable health insurance coverage through Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Connect for Health Colorado commercial insurance offerings. Thank you to all the stakeholders who are engaging with us to battle the rising uninsured rate and keep Coloradans covered through this pandemic.  

On Jan. 7, the Department has its Joint Budget Committee (JBC) Hearing. In one aggregated review, we will address key issues and answer submitted JBC questions on HCPF’s Office of Community Living, Behavioral Health services and all other topics usually covered in the Executive Director hearing. Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the Department is covering more Coloradans than ever -- more than 1.4 million, representing almost 1 in every 4 Coloradans. Given that, it is no surprise that the Governor’s budget for 2021-2022 indicates that the Department will consume 29% of the state’s general fund and 35% of total state funds. 

Given our share of the state’s budget, the state’s fiscal challenges and the continued rising cost of health care, the Department will maintain its focus on health care affordability strategies and initiatives. Our goals are to help protect our programs, cover all Coloradans who need us, efficiently use state resources and lead collaborative efforts with the commercial industry to drive affordability innovations and strategies that also benefit Colorado employers and Colorado families -- we are all battling the same challenges and can produce better results through collaboration. Look for a new Department health care affordability website that includes a toolkit of resources available to help communities control costs to the benefit of Medicaid, CHP+, Colorado families and our employers. Also look for a new Prescription Drug report that outlines the cost drivers and possible solutions to control them. Both of these tools will be released and discussed during our Jan. 12 Health Policy Summit, brought to you by HCPF and the Governor’s Health Cabinet. You can review the event agenda and register online. We invite you to join the more than 1,300 individuals who have already registered for this important event.  

The Department has been and will continue to be an active leader in the Behavioral Health Task Force blueprint and priorities implementation. Related and beginning Jan. 1, HCPF expanded the Medicaid substance use disorder (SUD) benefit to include inpatient and residential treatment. This addition will complete a full continuum of substance use disorder services offered to Medicaid members, enabling the Department to better respond to the increasing overall demand for behavioral health services.  

COVID-19 has not just increased demands for substance use disorder and behavioral health services; it has also exacerbated pervasive health care disparities. We invite your partnership as the Department identifies and shines a light on opportunities to address and close these disparities with the goal of better serving all Coloradans. 

Our Department experts will also be engaging with the current and incoming federal administration to manage through the Public Health Emergency, which is currently scheduled to end on Jan. 20. Based on emerging insights, we are confident the PHE will be extended; however, we do not have that in writing yet and are working to secure that assurance. We will also be sharing evolving federal policy priorities emerging from the new administration and their impact to the Department, our programs, our members and all Coloradans. Look for more communications on that opportunity in the coming months. 

Through this unique chapter and this calendar year, Department staff and leadership will continue to leverage our strengths, health care expertise and insights to the benefit of those we serve and all Coloradans. There is a bright light on the horizon with the vaccine now in the distribution stage. We are grateful to have your partnership on all the above work toward a better, hope-filled tomorrow. Rise and shine, Colorado! Rise and shine!  

County fact sheets for Fiscal Year 2019-20 are now available.

County fact sheets provide an annual snapshot by fiscal year of Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) activity including average annual caseload and top five claim types for each county.

FY 2020-21 Budget Supplemental

Locked-in Report Guidance

December 9: Executive Director Conversation with County Leadership

For more information about this benefit expansion, including an FAQ and SUD Provider Manual, visit our webpage, or email questions to hcpf_sudbenefits@state.co.us.  

Five Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the state of Colorado are currently offering Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application assistance. Individuals with disabilities needing assistance with the SSI/SSDI application can get help by calling 719-546-1271.

The CILs offering this assistance are:

As a state and nation, we are witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic continue to worsen and hit unprecedented levels while having major impacts on our communities and hospitals. On Nov. 20, Executive Director Kim Bimestefer authorized the decision to move the start date for the HTP from Feb. 1, 2021 to April 1, 2021. This is part of the Department’s continued effort to support our hospitals during this crisis and our commitment to set the HTP up for success. Additional details and updated program timelines will be shared through the HTP listserv. To be added to this listserv, please contact Courtney Ronner.

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. Total funding available is $12,000,000 per year for five years, beginning with federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020-21. On Dec. 3, additional information was shared with program participants and stakeholders, including a list of qualified hospitals. 

  

A HTP Refresher training took place on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The training was recorded and can be found on the HTP website under “Tools & Resources.”

Community Advisory Council meetings continue to take place on a monthly basis, with the most recent meeting taking place on Monday, Nov. 16. The agenda, meeting materials and previous meeting notes can be found on the HTP Community Advisory Council website.

A CHASE Board meeting took place via webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. Additional information about the board, as well as meeting materials can be found on the CHASE Board website.

Community Partners,

Unfortunately, the pandemic is continuing to grow and affect our communities. It is more important than ever to make sure all Coloradans have access to affordable health insurance and thankfully Open Enrollment has begun and is open to Coloradans until Jan. 15. 2021.

Here are some helpful reminders and virtual tools for you:

Thank you for being a great partner and helping keep Colorado covered.

The Department 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.

Questions? Reach out to the Medicaid Eligibility Inbox.

All Memos and their attachments can be found on the Memo Series website.

PM 20-010

The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform eligibility sites of the income and resource

eligibility rules for all Medical Assistance categories, regarding the Colorado Emergency

Economic Stimulus payment. Executive Order D 2020 018 issued by Governor Jared

Polis on Oct. 28,2020, is a one-time direct stimulus payment to qualifying individuals

experiencing economic hardship caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Please

share this memo with all eligibility staff, supervisors, and outside agencies, as

appropriate.

OM 20-102

The purpose of this operational memo is to advise eligibility sites of the increased resource limits for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB), Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB), Qualified Individuals (QI-1), and Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) resource limits.

This letter is meant to advise counties and eligibility sites of the 2021 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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