This newsletter provides important information and updates from the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) on House Bill (HB) 18-1136 and the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) benefit at Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program). Feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues. Previous editions are on the SUD Webpage.

Your feedback, ideas and questions are welcome and can be shared with us at hcpf_sudbenefits@state.co.us.

Thank you for your interest!

Take Note

Annual SUD Stakeholder Forum

The second annual SUD stakeholder forum will be held in October. Rather than one single presentation, the Department will offer four opportunities that fit our stakeholders’ schedules. The upcoming forums are an opportunity to learn about the first-year achievements following the implementation of the 1115 Waiver SUD Benefit Expansion of services in January 2021. Participants will also hear about priorities and opportunities identified for the second year. Participants will have questions answered about how the benefit expansion works, and they can exchange ideas about community needs in the SUD space. Ahead of the forums, please send questions and feedback about gaps you see in the SUD services continuum to our SUD inbox. 

Registration information is under “Upcoming Forums.”

Debunking Myths & Misinformation 

Did you know… 

Medicaid uses “brand name” Suboxone when prescriptions are written for members to receive buprenorphine. It is a Medicaid policy that if a pharmacy does not have brand suboxone in stock, they locate another pharmacy in the vicinity that has suboxone in stock. Or, the provider can contact Magellan to get an emergency authorization for three days of generic buprenorphine while awaiting a delivery of the brand drug suboxone. See Appendix P of the Department Pharmacy Billing Manual to learn more.

Friendly Reminders

ASAM Assessment Tool

The requirement for SUD services to use ASAM standards to determine appropriate Level of Care, as outlined in the ASAM Criteria, began with the Expansion of the SUD benefit under Colorado’s 1115 Waiver. Determination of level of care needs should align with the practices outlined in the ASAM Criteria Assessment Interview Guide.

Quarterly Provider Forum

The Quarterly SUD Provider Forum requires participants to register to attend. Meetings are held via Zoom on the first Wednesday of the month from 2 to 3 p.m. 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 2 to 3 p.m.  

Zoom Registration

Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Please notify the Department 504/ADA Coordinator, Emelie Esquivel, at least one week before the meeting to make arrangements.