December 20, 2024

Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Newsletter

CHASE Overview

The Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board makes recommendations to the Medical Services Board regarding the implementation of the health care affordability and sustainability fee established pursuant to the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise Act of 2017, Section 25.5-4-402.4, Colorado Revised Statutes. These recommendations include the amount of the fee, reforms to hospital reimbursement and quality incentive payments, and the approach to expanding coverage under Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). The CHASE Board also directs the implementation of the Hospital Transformation Program and monitors the impact of the fee on the health care market.

Board Updates

The previous CHASE board meeting occurred on December 17, 2024. Please access the agenda, slides, and previous meeting handouts, revised CHASE Workgroup Recommendation, and DRAFT 2025 CHASE Annual Report for reference for reference.

CHASE Model & Provider Fees and Payments

Hospitals received a one-time payment on Monday, December 16, 2024 for the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2023 and FFY 2024 supplemental payment increase to 99.25% of the inpatient and outpatient hospital upper payment limits. A summary letter providing the payment amounts and calculations were communicated to hospitals on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Please contact Kyle Iftodi at Kyle.Iftodi@state.co.us if you have questions regarding your hospital’s payment increase or did not receive the summary letter.

CHASE State Directed Payments Workgroup Updates

The Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board created a workgroup to explore the establishment of a State Directed Payment (SDP) Program as well as reforms to the existing CHASE hospital provider fees and supplemental payments.

The workgroup will develop comprehensive recommendations for the CHASE program for the CHASE Board’s consideration so HCPF can advance a broadly supported proposal to submit to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for implementation by July 1, 2025.


The workgroup members are:

  • Josh Block, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, HCPF
  • Nancy Dolson, Special Financing Division Director, HCPF
  • Dr. Kimberley Jackson, CHASE Board Vice Chair
  • Emily King, Senior Policy Advisor/Deputy Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care, Governor's Office
  • Annie Lee, President & CEO, Colorado Access
  • Shauna Lorenz, Partner, Gjerset & Lorenz LLP
  • Tom Rennell, Senior Vice President Financial Policy and Data Analytics, CHA
  • Alison Sbrana, Consumer


The workgroup will be facilitated by Government Performance Solutions and assisted by expert consultation and advice from Health Management Associates and Public Consulting Group.



The initial workgroup session was held on December 16, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Additional information about the workgroup and its meetings can be found on the CHASE State Directed Payment Program Workgroup website. The workgroup will meet twice monthly beginning in January 2025. Dates and times will be published on the website.


Please send inquiries about the workgroup to HCPF_CHASE_SDP@state.co.us.

CHASE Report

Annually, the CHASE board produces a report with the assistance of HCPF. The report is due to the legislature each year by January 15. Here is a link to the 2024 CHASE annual report. The 2025 will be provided once published.

Next CHASE Meeting

The next Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 3 p.m. 


Additional information about the board, as well as meeting materials, are on the CHASE Board website. Dates and times for upcoming meetings are published on the website.

Contacts

Nancy Dolson: nancy.dolson@state.co.us  


Jeff Wittreich: jeff.wittreich@state.co.us