Oct. 12, 2021
We are now into October (can you believe it!) and Program Year 1 (October 2021 – September 2022) of the Hospital Transformation Program (HTP). We are happy to report that all HTP Implementation Plans were submitted on time! We’d like to thank all HTP participants for their diligent work and collaboration with Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (Department) staff and consultants during the implementation plan submission period. We also want to thank the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) for all the support they have provided to hospitals working on their implementation plans as well. Additional information about Implementation Plans can be found in this newsletter.


Thank you,

Matt Haynes
Special Finance Projects Manager
Implementation Plan Submission and Review Period 

The implementation Plan submission period began on Sept. 1 and ended on Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Hospitals participating in the HTP submitted an Implementation Plan detailing the strategies and steps they intend to take in implementing each of the intervention(s) outlined in their applications. All 83 qualifying hospitals submitted their plans on time. Now the comprehensive scoring and review period has begun with the goal of getting every applicant to an approved Implementation Plan. The goal is to have all Implementation Plans approved by the end of the calendar year; at which time they will be made available to the public, and hospitals move into the program ramp-up period and begin implementing their interventions. Additional information about implementation plans, milestone requirements, interventions and timeline are in the HTP Implementation Plan and Milestone Requirements section of the HTP website.
HTP Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) Fact Sheet 

The fact sheet titled, Supporting Hospitals to Implement the Hospital Transformation Program, is now available on the HTP WebsiteThe document explains how the Department is utilizing an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) to make supplemental payments to hospitals to support the HTP and provides a methodology for hospitals to use to estimate the impact for their particular facilities. With the eFMAP, the Department can use less fee to make the same payment due to the federal share of the payment increasing. The Department began utilizing the eFMAP in Federal Fiscal Year 2019-20 and intends to continue to do so throughout the duration of the HTP. 
 
For 2019-20, the eFMAP resulted in a $127M net reimbursement increase to hospitals.
For 2020-21, the eFMAP resulted in a $140M net reimbursement increase to hospitals.
HTP Office Hours

HTP office hours continue to take place on Thursdays from 1 – 3 p.m. In an effort to facilitate robust discussion, we recommend question submission ahead of time to the HTP inbox
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Webinar

For those that may be interested, the eHealth Initiative is hosting an upcoming webinar that relates to the HTP Social Needs screening measure and associated interventions entitled: Evaluation Data to Drive Social Determinants of Health Program Improvement Strategies.
 
Setting up a successful social determinants of health (SDOH) program can be difficult. Knowing how to evaluate outcomes and what to do based on results is critical to achieving patient satisfaction, improved care, and ROI. A multi-layered, flexible approach can help organizations achieve this goal.
 
This webinar will not only help facilitate accurate identification of SDOH risks and demonstrate how to connect vulnerable patient populations with much needed services, it will also cover how to design comprehensive evaluation plans. Attendees will learn strategic approaches for using evaluation, outcome, and meaningful SDOH data to drive process improvement and keep SDOH initiatives relevant to the needs of the population that they serve.

The webinar is free to attend and is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2021, 11 a.m. MDT.
Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) Trainings

CHA has been hosting a series of training opportunities related to HTP interventions and implementation and plan to offer support and technical assistance to hospitals throughout the implementation plan submission period. Please reach out to Ali Rosenberg for more information.
Colorado Rural Health Center Annual Conference HTP Presentation

Matt Haynes and Nancy Dolson will be presenting updates on the HTP and Rural Support Payment programs at the upcoming Colorado Rural Health Center Annual Conference on October 21. More information about the conference is on their website.


Community Advisory Council
Community Advisory Council meetings continue to take place monthly. The next meeting is on Monday, Oct. 18.  Agendas, materials and notes from previous meetings are on the Community Advisory Council website.  
Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting
The next Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board meeting will take place via Zoom 
(passcode: 059559) on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. Additional information about the board, as well as meeting materials, are on the CHASE Board website
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