At a Glance is a Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (Department) publication that provides information on major initiatives, policy changes and program updates. Feel free to share At a Glance with your colleagues. Find previous editions of At a Glance on the Department website at Colorado.gov/hcpf/publications. Thank you for your interest!
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A Message from the Executive Director |
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Behavioral Health Transformation
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant strain on our current behavioral health system. Addressing systemic behavioral health challenges for the betterment of the health and well-being of Coloradans requires participation and thought leadership from all state agencies and partners.
Fortunately, HCPF and stakeholders have been working to invest over the last several years in partnerships, providers and programs to improve our Health First Colorado behavioral health system and services. Some of those investments are financially
based - including increasing our annual behavioral health funding by $400 million since 2018 - an increase of over 60%. In fact, the fiscal year 2022-23 Governor’s budget submitted in November includes an additional $59 million (+6%), increasing our behavioral health funding to over $1 billion for this next fiscal year, if approved.
Recent funding increases were largely used to expand behavioral health care access and reimbursements - both critical to meeting the rising demand for behavioral health services. In fact, the Health First Colorado network of behavioral health providers has grown by 18%, or more than 1,500 providers over the last 18 months. (Thank you, RAEs, for this partnership.) And thanks to our legislative and stakeholder partners, we were also able to add an Inpatient and Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment benefit effective Jan. 1, 2021, which served about 5,000 Health First Colorado members in its first six months. I invite all of us to celebrate this vital behavioral health benefit added during a significant economic downturn.
Concurrently, HCPF continues to support provider agencies to increase access for children, youth and adults to crisis services, supportive housing, residential recovery, high-intensity services and wrap-around services. We are also working on delivery system reform: integrating physical and behavioral health, as noted in the Governor’s November budget, and building out behavioral health system infrastructure, technology and workforce. We appreciate your partnership on this important work as well.
While these investments are moving the needle in the right direction, there is still far more work to do. Fortunately, from day one of the Polis-Primavera Administration, a foundation to reform Colorado’s behavioral health system was put into place through the creation of the Behavioral Health Task Force. It identified three key actions to be taken by the state: expanding behavioral health access through telehealth, implementing 19 priorities to improve Colorado’s behavioral health system and establishing a Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). Please review the November Behavioral Health Administration plan that outlines the path toward a more coordinated, patient-centered and effective infrastructure, which will help address many of our system’s current challenges.
In complement to this crucial work, the executive branch and the legislature are investing $450 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act stimulus dollars to drive behavioral health transformation for the betterment of Coloradans, our providers and our state. Look for the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force recommendations this January.
On behalf of our passionate staff and the 1.55 million Coloradans accessing our coverage services, thank you for your partnership and leadership to help us transform Colorado’s behavioral health system.
Kim
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COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5-11:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced the Pfizer vaccine is approved for emergency use for children ages 5-11.
As a partner, we encourage you to help connect Health First Colorado and CHP+ members and their families to information about the vaccine. A toolkit to assist partners with outreach has been developed. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (covid19.colorado.gov/kids-vaccines), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children (www.healthychildren.org) have updated information about the vaccine.
Pediatric providers are encouraged to enroll as COVID-19 vaccine providers with CDPHE to help ensure access to the vaccine. Providers can also request a mobile clinic come to their location for their patients.
Additional resources are below:
Thank you for continuing to help keep Colorado safe during this pandemic.
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COVID-19 Booster Shot Update:
Booster doses are common practice in routine childhood vaccines and require multiple doses at specific intervals to be most effective. We encourage you to speak with your health care provider if you have questions about boosters.
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Sign up for the Hospital Discount Program Newsletter:
The Department is in the process of implementing the new hospital discount program created under HB21-1198. This new program goes into effect June 1, 2022, and will impact all general acute care and critical access hospitals, free standing emergency departments, and the health care professionals who work within those settings.
Stakeholder meetings will be held in January, and more information is on the Hospital Discounted Care webpage. If you would like to stay up to date with the implementation process and receive information on how you can participate, please sign up to receive the Hospital Discounted Care newsletter.
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Keep in the Know About New Legislation on the Horizon:
Sign up to get the Department's latest newsletter highlighting Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health legislation. The new monthly publication will offer updates, information, and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to SB 21-194, SB 21-009, SB 21-025, SB 21-016 and SB 19-195, the Maternal Opioid Misuse Grant, and the Maternal Advisory Committee.
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It's Open Enrollment in Colorado!
For those who aren’t already covered by job health insurance, Health First Colorado or Medicare, now is the time to sign up for a health insurance plan for 2022 coverage through Connect for Health Colorado. This year, many individuals, families and small business owners shopping for health and dental plans can expect more plan choice and financial help. You can sign up for a health insurance plan during the Open Enrollment Period, which runs through Jan. 15.
- Most current customers are eligible for plan renewal, which means that their health insurance plan will automatically renew on Dec. 1 for 2022 coverage.
- After Dec. 1, customers have until Dec. 15 to update their account and change their plan as needed for coverage starting Jan. 1.
- If you sign up for a plan or change your plan between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, your coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2022.
To find out whether you qualify for additional savings on health insurance plans, how much financial assistance you can receive and to see all the plans available to you, contact Connect for Health Colorado at ConnectforHealthCO.com or by calling 855-752-6749.
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Help Us Get the Word Out! Higher Education Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Members:
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.
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Sign Up for the ARPA Project Pulse Newsletter:
The Department is implementing a multitude of projects to expand, enhance, and strengthen the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) system from fall 2021 through spring 2024 tied to federal funding in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This newsletter will serve as a source for key updates on all project planning and implementation, stakeholder engagement opportunities, and other topics of interest related to the funding.
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.
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In October 2021, there were
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