In place of the Policy Advisory Council (PAC) update, the county team is using a newsletter in the style of County Connections to communicate critical information.
The content is designed for county human services directors and leadership.
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Letter from the Executive Director |
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County Partners,
Advancing Policy Together
It’s been an active and exciting month. The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) budget for FY 2021-22 is anticipated to be $13.4 billion. That is 37% of the total state budget and a 10% increase over last year. The bulk of the increase is from Medicaid enrollment due to the pandemic and economic downturn. This budget also reverses cuts made last year. On behalf of the Department and our members, thank you for your partnership in driving this outcome.
In addition to a strong budget, we are also making tremendous progress on serving Coloradans through our legislative initiatives:
- Three of our legislative priorities focus on serving members who need long-term services and supports. Our Case Management Redesign bill (HB21-1187) will help build a high-performing conflict-free case management system to serve all populations. SB21-210, Add Remote Supports to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Programs, will allow the use of remote care to support people with disabilities. Both bills passed with broad bipartisan support and were signed into law by Governor Polis on May 1. A third bill, HB21-1227, Skilled Nursing Facilities: Establishing a Demonstration of Need and Technical Changes, is still in process. This bill would establish criteria for expanding Medicaid skilled nursing providers.
- In our efforts to transform our Behavioral Health system to meet the increasing demands of Coloradans covered by Medicaid and other payers, and after months of work with stakeholders, Governor Polis signed HB21-1097. This bill establishes the Behavioral Health Administration as a single state agency to lead, promote and administer the state's behavioral health priorities.
- Increasing access to the right care, at the right place and for the right price is a key priority for the Department. Notably, our Telemedicine Policy Refinements bill (HB21-1256) builds on prior legislation expanding access to telemedicine to give our Department flexibility to develop an accountability framework for entities whose services are exclusively or predominantly provided through telemedicine. This bill is working its way through the legislative process.
- Our Department continues to focus on making health care affordable to all Coloradans. Our Expand Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program bill (SB21-123), which expands drug importation to other countries in addition to Canada, was passed and signed into law by the Governor in late April. This initiative has the potential to increase access to more affordable prescription drugs and better pricing and is one of the solutions highlighted in our 2021 Reducing Prescription Drug Costs in Colorado Report.
Continuing our health care affordability efforts, on April 14, over 350 people attended our webinar on “Hospital Affordability Policy & Community Investments.” The webinar featured national and local experts, including RAND Corporation, Colorado Center for Law and Policy, the Colorado Hospital Association, the Division of Insurance and our Department. A video recording of the webinar is available via the Department’s YouTube channel. Presentation slides from each affordability webinar are posted to the Department’s Affordability webpage, under the “Webinar Series” section.
Finally, we continue our focus on COVID-19. The uptick in cases is particularly concerning. That is why the Department is focused on vaccination equity, and appreciates your partnership on this effort. Last month, Colorado opened vaccine eligibility to the general public ages 16 and up. The more Coloradans vaccinated, the more we can open up the economy and get back to engaging with family and friends. Please continue to socially distance, wash hands, wear a mask and get the vaccine as directed by the CDC and our local public health officials. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for information and resources for providers and members.
I will be scheduling community visits now that I am fully vaccinated. I look forward to seeing you and visiting with you during one of these scheduled trips.
Kim
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HCPF Hosting Two Informational Sessions Regarding Upcoming Projects Supporting the Public Health Emergency Wind Down and Beyond |
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The Department would like to invite eligibility sites to the sessions to obtain an overview of the upcoming projects. You are highly encouraged to join these sessions to be aware of significant changes affecting members and eligibility sites and, more importantly, to provide your feedback and suggestions.
Session 1: June 3, 2021, from 3 - 4 p.m.
- High-Level Overview of the Three Projects
- RRR Revamp (Redetermination Redesign) Project
Session 2: June 17, 2021, from 3 - 4 p.m.
- COVID Unwind Project
- UX Modernization of PEAK RMC/RRR Project
Join by Phone: (US)+1.319.553.6656 PIN: 991 501 600#
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More Financial Help for Health Insurance is Here and $0 Plans for Many Who Received Unemployment in 2021 |
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Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. It is the only place Coloradans who don’t qualify for Medicaid and don’t get health insurance from their job can apply for financial help and sign up for a private health insurance plan. Due to the American Rescue Plan, Connect for Health Colorado is now open until at least Aug. 15, 2021, there is more financial help available than ever before and, for the first time ever, Colorado individuals and families of all income ranges can qualify for reduced premiums.
In addition, many Coloradans who received Unemployment Benefits in 2021 qualify for a $0 health insurance plan that lasts for the rest of the year. The best way to find out if folks qualify for either $0 or low-cost health insurance plans is by sending them to a certified expert who can help you navigate enrollment and ensure they are receiving all the financial help they qualify for. Our experts assist folks at no cost. To find a certified expert in your area, visit the enrollment center.
Connect for Health Colorado has put together an online toolkit with information for partners such as yourself. It includes web-based brochures, social media content and graphics, and newsletter copy all in English and Spanish. Access the toolkit here.
*please note, in order for the brochures to become interactive, they need to be downloaded.
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Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) State Managed Care Network (SMCN) Transition |
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Effective July 1, 2021, all Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) eligible members will be automatically enrolled into a CHP+ Managed Care Organization (MCO). As a result, health care services for CHP+ members will no longer be delivered through the CHP+ State Managed Care Network (SMCN), currently administered by Colorado Access.
All CHP+ members enrolled to the SMCN will be transitioned into a CHP+ MCO on July 1, 2021, which includes prenatal individuals, children, and presumptively eligible individuals. There are five CHP+ MCOs in Colorado, and members will be enrolled into an MCO based in part on the county in which they live. Members will receive letters before July with further information about their enrollment, as well as additional information from the CHP+ MCO they are enrolled with for information about accessing healthcare benefits. Members can contact their new MCO with any questions they may have about utilizing their healthcare benefits.
There will be no changes to CHP+ benefits, CHP+ eligibility, or CHP+ cost sharing amounts as a result of this transition.
If members have any questions about the SMCN ending, they can call CHP+ SMCN Customer Service at 1-303-751-9051 or 1-800-414-6198 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. For TDD/TTY, call 1-888-803-4494. For any questions about CHP+ Enrollment, members can call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 1-303-839-2120 or 1-888-367-6557 (State Relay: 711).
For more information about the CHP+ program, please visit the CHP+ Webpage. |
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The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Coming Soon! |
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the application window for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) will open soon. The EBB Program was created to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The benefit will provide up to $50 per month for broadband service for eligible households, up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a single laptop, desktop computer or tablet. Eligibility criteria includes one or more members of a household: qualifies for the FCC's existing Lifeline program; receives benefits under a free and reduced-price school lunch program or school breakfast program; lost employment or experienced a substantial loss of income since Feb. 29, 2020; a student who receives a Federal Pell Grant; meets the eligibility criteria for your participating internet provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
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Recent Memo Series Issued to Counties |
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OM 21-041
The Department appreciates county feedback and has revised the tracking template for
this Performance Incentive. Thus, Operational Memo 21-003 is superseded by this
Memo and guidance is amended below.
The purpose of this Operational Memo is to provide guidance to county departments of
human/social services (county) on updates to the Continuous Coverage (Continuous
Eligibility) Performance Incentive as part of the FY 2020-21 County Incentives Program.
The Performance Incentive was updated due to new guidance received from the federal
government. The Incentive continues to be weighted at 20 percent of total County
Incentives funding.
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IM 21-031
This Informational Memo is intended to inform county human/social services directors
of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s FY 2021-22 County
Budget Amendment (BA) - 10 for the Public Health Emergency (PHE) Locked-In. The
funding is available only to manage Medical Assistance (MA) workload related to the
COVID-19 PHE.
IM 21-033
The purpose of this Informational Memo is to inform stakeholders of the opportunity to
submit public comment on the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s (the
Department) proposed changes to the following rules, governing County Administration
of Medical Assistance Programs:
- Finance and Accounting (10 CCR 2505-5 1.010)
- County Administrative (10 CCR 2505-5 1.020)
Public comment on these proposed rule changes will be collected ahead of the
Executive Director rulemaking session.
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Department Contacts & Resources
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