The pandemic has challenged our health care system, but it has also provided us the opportunity to innovate for a better, healthier and more inclusive future. In that spirit, I’m excited to share that we received both CMS and JBC approval of our American Rescue Plan Act Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) spending plan to enhance, expand and strengthen Health First Colorado’s (Colorado’s Medicaid program) ability to serve members with disabilities in a home or community-based setting. Many thanks to stakeholders for your collaboration throughout this process. More information is at hcpf.colorado.gov/arpa. Please join us in celebrating this accomplishment and the improvements it will create!

Our members’ voices are vital to furthering inclusion in our programs. I had the pleasure of recently meeting with our Member Experience Advisory Council, whose insights serve as a key part of our strategic process and quest for continuous improvement. I’d also ask that you help us reduce the Eligible-But-Not-Enrolled (EBNE) in Medicaid population by playing this video, Samantha's Story, in your appropriate public messaging places (like waiting rooms). Thank you for your partnership on this important work, and look for the report from the Colorado Health Institute in October that will update our state’s uninsured rate.

To achieve the Governor’s goal of A Colorado for All, we have continued to identify our baseline health disparities data. That has helped inform our top health equity priorities: COVID-19 vaccination rates, maternal health outcomes and behavioral health outcomes. On the vaccine front, addressing the current 25-point vaccination rate gap between Medicaid members and the state population overall is critical to reducing spread, hospitalizations, and deaths among low-income Coloradans and people of color. Please feel free to incorporate this short slide presentation into your related messaging presentations. Thank you for your partnership in this key messaging to reduce avoidable hospitalizations.

On closing maternity disparities, last month, we released a first-of-its-kind Health First Colorado Maternity Report. Health First Colorado is the primary source of health coverage for more than 40% of births in the state each year. Our maternity event, which included expert speakers and panelists, identified several opportunities where we can partner with care providers, advocates, policymakers, and Coloradans to work toward improved outcomes. We also invite you to keep abreast of the good work evolving through the Behavioral Health Task Force, Behavioral Health Administration and Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.

Thank you for all you are doing to improve the health and well-being of our Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus members. We appreciate your collaborative partnership! 

The Department received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Colorado Joint Budget Committee to use $530 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to implement initiatives to enhance, expand, and strengthen Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in Colorado over the next three years. Read the news release.

For more information, visit the Department’s ARPA webpage.

Calling all eligibility sites! You’re invited to join HCPF’s Continuous Improvement Learning Sessions. Feeling anxious about your upcoming Management Evaluation (ME) review? We’ve got you covered! The Continuous Improvement Team is partnering with the ME Team to help prepare your site.

These sessions will:

All eligibility sites are encouraged to have 2-3 staff members participate. Participants can range from director to technician. Please select the key staff who will benefit from this workshop. Those attending will need to RSVP through COLearn to register. Please note you only need to attend one session, unless you prefer to attend multiple sessions.

(US) +1 786-886-2562

PIN: ‪890 456 666#

(US) +1 786-886-2562

PIN: ‪890 456 666#

(US) +1 786-886-2562

PIN: ‪890 456 666#

If you experience issues with registering or have any questions, please contact the Continuous Improvement Team at hcpf_performance.improvement@state.co.us.

None

None

We anticipate the newsletter to launch later this fall/winter and to be sent out monthly. In the meantime, please visit and bookmark the ARPA webpage for all the latest information and updates.  

Sign up for the ARPA Project Pulse Newsletter now! 

Did you know Health First Colorado and CHP+ members may qualify to get free money to complete their degree? Members can keep their coverage even if they receive grants, scholarships or work study placements. Money received for education does not count as income.

Members can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov or on the myStudentAid mobile app in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Anyone who does not have lawful immigration status or does not qualify for FAFSA can apply for the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Please note: students cannot get free money from both FAFSA and CAFSA.

For more information, visit My Colorado Journey or email MCJ@dhe.state.co.us.

This memo outlines the eligibility criteria for Emergency Medicaid provided through Health First Colorado and new updates.

Applicants will no longer need to obtain and submit a written physician statement certifying the presence of an emergency medical condition in order for their application to be complete and processed. Due to the removal of this requirement, applicants are being encouraged to write “Emergency Medicaid” on the top of the application or indicate this in some other way. CBMS has been updated to no longer require a physician statement from applicants.

Emergency Medicaid FAQ (PDF)

Member FAQ: English, Spanish

Questions regarding this communication may be directed to hcpf_medicaid.eligiblity@state.co.us

HCPF Accuracy Incentive Target Setting meeting scheduled for Nov. 3,

9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Questions? Reach out to Breanne Benbenek.

More information on FY 2021-22 Targeted Grants will be available soon.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications was measured at 98.38%.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations was measured at 99.08%.