March 2023

INSPIRE WELLNESS
NHP Provider Newsletter

In this issue:

  • Public Health Information
  • Vaccines for Kids Communication Toolkit
  • Influenza and RSV
  • Monkey Pox Resources
  • COVID-19 Therapeutics Program for Health Care Providers
  • Public Health Emergency Information -- Planning and Renewals
  • Colorado COVID-19 Health Care Provider Vaccine Information Toolkit
  • Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • Colorado Healthcare Respiratory Toolkit
  • Provider Resources and Information
  • March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
  • Affordable Healthcare for Coloradans
  • Continued Coverage: Take Action Toolkit
  • Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training
  • Congratulations to Melissa Memorial Hospital
  • CAHPS Member Survey Information
  • Changes to the Uniform Service Coding Manual Standard
  • Provider Services Call Center Verification Update
  • Online PCP Toolkit for Behavioral Health Care Management
  • HCPF Provider Bulletin Index
  • Member Complaint and Appeal Information for Providers
  • Provider Handbooks
  • Focus on the Member Resources
  • Upcoming events and webinars
PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION
VACCINES FOR KIDS COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT

Encourage members to vaccinate and boost their kids against COVID-19 by utilizing this communication toolkit provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

INFLUENZA AND RSV


The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released a press release with information about what to expect this flu season. Please visit CDPHE’s webpage for the latest information on influenza trends and activity throughout Colorado.  You may also visit this webpage from the CDPHE with information on RSV and the flu in Colorado.

MONKEY POX (M POX) RESOURCES


The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a webpage with Monkey Pox information, resources and vaccine information.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) also has a webpage with local statistics and information as well as a social media toolkit which is encouraged to be shared with the public.

COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS


In an ongoing effort to decrease hospitalizations for at-risk Coloradans by ensuring access to COVID-19 therapeutics, we are sharing information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for health care providers. Included here is updated National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations, as well as provider eligibility and enrollment information for both the CDPHE Therapeutics program and Health and Human Services (HHS) Test to Treat program, Health care providers are encouraged to learn more about these lifesaving treatments and talk about members with patients who may be eligible to receive them.

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY INFORMATION--PLANNING AND RENEWALS


Another extension started January 11, 2023, and if extended the full ninety (90) days, runs through April 11, 2023. HHS has confirmed that they will provide sixty (60) days advance notice before an end to the PHE. If the PHE will end on April 11, 2023, we expect to receive sixty (60) days advance notice by Feb. 10, 2023.


Although the PHE was extended, Congress passed legislation that ends the continuous coverage requirement, allowing states to resume their eligibility renewal process for Medicaid members. This means members who are no longer eligible for Health First Colorado or fail to return renewal paperwork, may lose their benefits. Colorado intends to follow federal guidance and plans to take twelve (12) months (fourteen (14) months including noticing) to renew members based on their annual renewal date. It will be critical for members to complete renewal packets when their renewal is due. Please be sure to remind members to update their contact information to ensure they receive their renewal packets in a timely manner. For more information on what to do to help members, please visit the PHE Planning page on the HCPF website. 

COLORADO COVID-19 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER VACCINE INFORMATION TOOLKIT

In an effort to best organize and make readily available the wide array of health care provider vaccine resources, trainings and materials related to the COVID-19 vaccination program, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has created the online Colorado COVID-19 Health Care Provider Vaccine Information Toolkit. The toolkit has a variety of robust elements for providers to use.

STATEWIDE COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION


Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) provides extensive resources and up to date information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. 

COLORADO HEALTH CARE RESPIRATORY VIRUS TOOLKIT


The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) created a respiratory virus toolkit.

 

Respiratory viruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu, and COVID-19 are spreading across Colorado and the nation. Below is some helpful information for providers to share with members:

 

  • Getting vaccinated. Both flu and COVID-19 have effective, safe vaccines. Anyone six (6) months and older can get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19. It is safe to get the vaccines together.  
  • Seeing or calling a health care provider or doctor before going to a busy emergency department when you or your child has respiratory symptoms. Your provider can help you determine the best ways to manage symptoms and when it is important to be seen in the clinic, urgent care, or emergency department.
  • Staying home when sick, including not visiting or interacting with people who may be at higher risk, including older adults, young children, and infants. What might feel like a mild cold for one person can be very serious for another person. This is important to preventing the spread of viruses and causing outbreaks, which put additional strain on the hospital system. 
  • Wash your hands frequently for at least twenty (20) seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol. 
  • Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper arm sleeve when you cough or sneeze, throw away the tissue after you use it, and clean hands as instructed above.
  • Cleaning potentially contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, tables, handrails, etc. 
  • Avoiding sharing cups, eating utensils, and touching your face with unwashed hands.
  • Care coordination services are available to assist in scheduling COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, transportation, as well as care management services. For care coordination services, call 1-888-502-4190 or email at northeasthealthpartners@beaconhealthoptions.com
PROVIDER RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

MARCH IS NATIONAL COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH


Every March, the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Colorado observes Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, spreading mindfulness, promoting regular screenings, and educating about the risks of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third (3rd) most common cancer in the United States, and the second leading cause of death from cancer. It is most often found in people over the age of fifty (50), affecting men and women of all ethnic groups. However, younger demographics, millennials especially, have seen a dramatic rise in diagnoses over the past four (4) years. Most colon cancers first develop as polyps, abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can become cancerous if not removed or treated. You can find more information about Colorectal Cancer by visiting the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Colorado's webpage.

AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR COLORADANS


The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) is holding a summit focused on keeping healthcare affordable for low income and disabled Coloradans. This summit will cover a list of high-priority topics which include keeping Coloradans covered through the end of the public health emergency. You can find more information on this summit on the Affordable Health Care for Coloradans HCPF Webpage.


Summit Webinar: March 15, 2023, at 7:30am MST

Registration Here

CONTINUED COVERAGE: TAKE ACTION TOOLKIT


Please tell your members to take action to keep their Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) coverage! Health First Colorado and CHP+ is returning to normal renewal processes. Your members can take steps now to make sure they get the information they will need to continue coverage.


Not all members will be renewed at the same time. Colorado will take twelve (12) months (fourteen (14) months including noticing) to renew members based on their annual renewal date. Some people will be automatically renewed based on the most recent information already on file with the state. Other people will need to take action and complete the renewal packet to see if they still qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+.


Please share Communications Toolkit (English | Spanish) with your members for their continued coverage.

SCREENING, BRIEF INTERVENTION, REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (SBIRT) TRAINING


Peer Assistance Services, Inc. provides interactive training for health and mental health professionals on the evidence-based approach of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Screening assists providers in identifying and intervening with members at risk for health problems due to alcohol and other drug use. Please see the SBIRT Training Flyer for more information and to sign up for a training.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MELISSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL


Congratulations go out to Melissa Memorial Hospital and Family Medicine Clinic in Holyoke for receiving recognition from the Diabetes Association to provide Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSMES). This is a wonderful accomplishment and will provide a valuable educational opportunity for members with diabetes in Northeast Colorado. The ADA recognition represents an arduous process that includes education, data collection and process improvement activities over the period of several months in order to be accredited. Special note of recognition goes to Dr. Craig McCarty, Julie Levy, RD, Tamara Laws, BSN, and Jayden Miracle, Practice Manager for the work done and recognition received.  

CAHPS MEMBER SURVEY INFORMATION


The State of Colorado will be administering the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) beginning December 20th, 2022, and concluding on May 23rd, 2023. We would like to inform providers of the possibility that Health First Colorado members attributed to your practice may be identified as a survey respondent for the CAHPS survey.


Please encourage your Health First Colorado Members to complete the CG-CAHPS, if surveyed. More information about how to assist members to complete this survey can be found in the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) memo.

PROVIDER SERVICES CALL CENTER VERIFICATION UPDATE


An additional verification will soon be required when a provider contacts the Provider Services Call Center. The fiscal agent is now asking for the caller to provide an eight (8) to ten (10) digit Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) ID and the National Provider Identification (NPI), if applicable, to release Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protected information.


Providers whose enrollment types or specialties do not require an NPI may authenticate using their Health First Colorado ID only. If the caller is a submitter or trading partner calling for electronic data interchange (EDI) support, the term “EDI” can be used in order to be directed into the correct queue. Once connected to an agent, the Trading Partner ID (TPID) will be required for authentication.

ONLINE PCP TOOLKIT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT



Primary care providers and primary care settings can serve a critical role in the identification and treatment of behavioral health conditions in Health First Colorado members. Carelon (Beacon) has created this toolkit that can assist primary care physicians with the identification and next steps in treatment of behavioral health conditions. For more information, the PCP toolkit can be accessed online.


The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) also has a webpage with local statistics and information as well as a social media toolkit which is encouraged to be shared with the public.

HCPF PROVIDER BULLETIN INDEX


The Provider Bulletin is published monthly and posted to this web page. The bulletin covers topics of interest to providers and billing professionals. For access to the Provider Bulletin Index, please visit the HCPF website.

MEMBER COMPLAINT AND APPEAL INFORMATION FOR PROVIDERS 


Health First Colorado members have the right to file a complaint and/or appeal at any time. For information about this process, please review this information to assist members with questions. This information can also be located on the Northeast Health Partners' website.

PROVIDER HANDBOOKS


As a reminder, you can access both the primary care provider and behavioral health provider handbooks on Northeast Health Partners' website under the Provider Handbooks & Policies section. Please utilize these resources to answer questions in regards to member services, provider information, key performance indicators, etc.


For questions, please email coproviderrelations@beaconhealthoptions.com.

Northeast Health Partners Focus on the Member Resources

Carelon and Northeast Health Partners would like to give their providers important resources to share with members.

WOMEN'S SEXUAL HEALTH TIPS


Northeast Health Partners developed a Women’s Sexual Health tip-sheet for Health First Colorado members to provide members with information regarding the importance sexual health, services covered by Health First Colorado, and how to seek assistance regarding sexual health. The tip-sheet is offered in both English and Spanish and can be located on Northeast Health Partners’ website.

FAMILY PLANNING RESOURCES


Northeast Health Partners developed a Family Planning tip-sheet for Health First Colorado members to provide members with information about family planning resources, services covered by Health Fist Colorado, and how to seek care for family planning services. The tip-sheet is offered in both English and Spanish and can be located on Northeast Health Partners’ website

EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT (EPSDT)


Northeast Health Partners developed an Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) tip-sheet for Health First Colorado members to provide members with information regarding the comprehensive and preventive health care services offered by the Health First Colorado program (Colorado Medicaid) for members ages twenty (20) and under. For more information, the tip-sheet can be located on Northeast Health Partners’ website 

NORTHEAST HEALTH PARTNERS' WEBSITE


Northeast Health Partners' website provides many resources for members to access to keep up with their health and wellness. Please share this information as needed.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND WEBINARS

Carelon / NHP Webinars

CARELON (BEACON) UPCOMING WEBINAR AND ARCHIVE


Every month, Carelon hosts training webinars about various topics. To sign up for upcoming webinars, or to view recordings of previous webinars in the Carelon archive, please visit the Beacon Health Options Trainings webpage.

RAE ROUNDTABLE ---2nd Friday of every month at 11am


All behavioral health and primary care medical providers are encouraged to attend! Please join the Carelon Colorado Provider Relations team every month for important updates, relevant trainings, resources, and discussion.


Click here to join the webinar. 

Or By Telephone:1-669-900-6833---Webinar ID: 995 7438 8100---Passcode: 173943

Visit the NHP website for details on previous calls.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RAE ROUNDTABLE RESOURCES


If you were unable to attend a previously hosted RAE Roundtable, please visit this Northeast Health Partners’ website for information. February’s provider support call included information about Member-Centered Care, Continuous Coverage Updates, Language Service Support/Health Equity/Cultural Competency, Complaints/Appeals – members & provider info, Member Rights/Responsibilities, and Benefits/EPSDT/Title V.

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