Empowering Members Together

Together, we are helping Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus members get the essential health care services they need, just like Jessica’s family. In our concurrent quest to save Coloradans money during this unique chapter, we also invite you to partner with us on providing the below timely information to our members and other Coloradans on unique economic opportunities to help them thrive.

1 – Free training to become a health care worker. This first opportunity is especially important to help us achieve our shared, health care workforce goals. Specifically, we invite you to join us in promoting tuition-free health care training and education available through Care Forward Colorado, which helps Coloradans qualify for job openings in the health care field: certified nursing assistants, emergency medical techs, medical assistants, dental assistants, phlebotomy techs and pharm techs. These zero-cost, short-term training programs through community and technical colleges can be life-changing, especially for our members. Please consider how you and your organization can communicate this incredible opportunity to help our members and other Coloradans thrive by starting on a new career trajectory in health care. Many thanks to the General Assembly for passing Senate Bill 22-226, signed into law by Gov. Polis, which dedicates $26 million in state recovery dollars to train health care workers.

2 – The Colorado Cash Back refund. Please help us get out the message to Health First Colorado members that it’s not too late to file your taxes and get your Colorado Cash Back refund. Coloradans can file taxes up to Oct. 17, 2022, to get their tax rebate of $750 for individuals and $1,500 for joint filers, in addition to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit for eligible Coloradans. On Oct. 8, Coloradans ages 18 and older who were full-year residents in 2021 can go to one of nine Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state and get free, in-person help with their taxes. Please share information about filing taxes on Get Ahead Colorado’s website.

3 – Discounted internet service. The Affordability Connectivity Program offers people who qualify up to $30/month discount on internet service, up to $75/month discount on internet service for households on qualifying Tribal lands, and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer or tablet.

4 – Updating members’ contact information and communication preferences. So that members get important updates about their health coverage, please help us make sure we have our members’ most up-to-date mailing address, phone numbers and email address. This is especially important as we prepare for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Members can update their information in any of the following ways:

1.   Visit CO.gov/PEAK.

2.   Use the Health First Colorado app on your phone. This free app is for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members.

3.   CHP+ members can call 800-359-1991.

4.   Health First Colorado members can call or mail their county human services department.

5 – Supported employment for people with disabilities. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which celebrates the contributions of people with disabilities to our workplaces and the economy. A related initiative is the Supported Employment program, which helps Coloradans with disabilities find employment, get reimbursed for professional development, and more.

Thank you for all you are doing to help our Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus members rise and thrive through this unique economic chapter. We appreciate your collaborative partnership!

Kim

Dollars to Digitize ARPA Grant Program:

Apply today for the ARPA 6.06 grant program to advance your organization with new or enhanced digital technology!

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) and the Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) are extending an invitation to apply for an innovative funding opportunity to adopt, update, or upgrade digital technology for organizations.

The Department and OeHI will award $18 million through an American Rescue Plan Act grant to home and community-based services (HCBS) and behavioral health providers to enhance and strengthen services through digital technology.

This opportunity will allow for organizations to become more efficient and financially viable, improve care coordination, and attract and retain more providers and staff.

Who is Eligible

1. Health First Colorado-Enrolled HCBS Providers: Any Health First Colorado-enrolled HCBS provider in Colorado that is actively billing for services provided to two or more people on a 1915(c) HCBS waiver in the past 12 months.
2. Health First Colorado-Enrolled Behavioral Health Providers: Any Health First Colorado-enrolled behavioral health provider in Colorado that is actively billing Health First Colorado for fee-for-service or managed care behavioral health services to 30 or more Health First Colorado members — regardless of whether those services are delivered to HCBS waiver members.

What can be purchased

Sites may request up to $500,000 funding to adopt and upgrade their technology with digital equipment, electronic systems, and connections to state or regional information networks.

Refer to the Grant Program Guidelines for a full list of program guidelines and examples of allowable expenses.

Ready to apply?

Complete the brief (20 minutes) Intent-to-Apply form. Applicants will know within one week if they are accepted and invited to complete the full application.

Intent to Apply applications close Nov. 18, 2022.

Upcoming Webinar

Join the ARPA 6.06 grant program webinar on Oct. 13, 2022, from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Register here for the event.

For more information, visit the ARPA 6.06 webpage, read the flyer, or contact gov.arpa.oehi@state.co.us.

Understanding Your Rights--Videos and Resources for Members in English and Spanish:

Please share this information with members and your networks and stakeholders who serve members:

Do you get long-term services and supports through a waiver? (Here is a list of Health First Colorado waivers.) Do you have questions about your rights under these waivers? 

If so, please watch our short, animated videos:  

• Understand your rights under these waivers (length: 2 minutes, 38 seconds)
• Know what rights modifications are, and how they work (length: 4 minutes, 13 seconds)

Learn about the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule and how it affects you. Find more resources on self-advocacy and supported decision-making for members receiving HCBS on this resource sheet. 

If you have questions about your rights in the waiver program, contact

HCPF_STP.PublicComment@state.co.us.

Entienda sus derechos como miembro de una exención de servicios y apoyo a largo plazo (videos)

¿Recibe servicios y apoyo a largo plazo a través de una exención? (Aquí encontrará una lista de las exenciones de Health First Colorado.) ¿Tiene preguntas sobre sus derechos en relación con estas exenciones?

Si respondió “Sí”, vea nuestros videos cortos animados.

Estos videos pueden ayudarle:

• a entender sus derechos de acuerdo con estas exenciones
• a saber qué son y cómo funcionan las “modificaciones a los derechos”; y
• a aprender sobre la regla final sobre los entornos de servicio y cómo le afectan.

Haga clic en sus derechos (duración: 2 minutos, 18 segundos) y en “modificaciones a los derechos” (duración: 4 minutos, 48 segundos) para ver cada video. Encuentre más recursos sobre la autodefensoría y el apoyo en la toma de decisiones para las personas que reciben servicios en el hogar y en la comunidad (HCBS, en inglés) en esta hoja de recursos.

Si tiene preguntas sobre sus derechos en el programa de exención, escriba a HCPF_STP.PublicComment@state.co.us.