NEWS UPDATE: Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra formally extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on Oct. 13, 2022. The PHE can be extended for up to 90 days at a time. HHS has reconfirmed that they will provide 60 days advance notice before any end to the PHE. Since no 60-day notice was given by November 12, 2022 that the PHE will end, it is expected to be extended again on January 11, 2023, most likely for another 90 days through April 11, 2023. If the COVID-19 PHE will end on April 11, we expect to receive 60 days advance notice by February 10, 2023.

In January 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. Congress subsequently passed legislation that ensured anyone enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) was guaranteed to keep their health coverage during the PHE. This applies to kids and pregnant people covered by Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) too.

Once the PHE ends, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) will take 12 months (14 months including noticing) to complete the renewal process for each of the approximately 1.6 million people currently enrolled. It’s essential that members pay attention to renewal notices and fill out the necessary forms to make sure they keep their Health First Colorado and CHP+ coverage if they are still eligible.

For the latest information on PHE Planning, visit: hcpf.colorado.gov/phe-planning.

In preparation for renewals to start back up, the Department has added an informational webpage for members on the Health First Colorado website. Members can find general information about the renewal process and answers to frequently asked questions. This page is published in English and Spanish.

The Department has launched a partner communications toolkit to aid in preparing for the end of the PHE - Preparing for Renewals. This new toolkit includes a section on renewal process education that explains key terms and provides sample notices so partners can see exactly what the member will see when they go through the renewal process. In addition, both partners and members can view short videos in English and Spanish on key actions: updating an address, completing the renewal process, and transitioning to other coverage if a member no longer qualifies.

Please continue to help us spread the word to Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members to update their contact information. 

During the PHE, states have been required to maintain enrollment of nearly all Medical Assistance enrollees. When the PHE ends, states will have to complete renewals on the entire Medicaid/CHP+ caseload. States will have up to 12 months to initiate these renewals with completion of the renewals in 14 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations. Even though individuals on Health First Colorado and CHP+ will not lose coverage during the PHE, individuals are still receiving regular renewal notices each year in the mail or in their PEAK inbox. Renewals will become critically important when the PHE ends. For more information about renewals visit hfcgo.com/renewals.