April 5, 2021
COVID-19 Updates
Logo for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
Artistic rendition of the Coronavirus
Thank you for serving Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) knows providers, case managers and county and eligibility partners have many questions about the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its impact on our programs. We are sharing updates on emergency policies, COVID-19 specific billing codes and other important information on our website at colorado.gov/hcpf/covid and through this and other newsletters.

The information in this newsletter provides a summary of COVID-19 guidance for Health First Colorado and CHP+ providers, Regional Accountable Entities, case managers, counties and other eligibility partners. Some audiences may receive audience specific guidance through other Department newsletters; this newsletter is a roundup of all of those communications in one place.

Providers: Please sign up for general updates, including COVID-19 information, on the Provider News webpage.

County and Eligibility Partners: Please sign up for County Connections and the HCPF Memo Series.

Statewide Resource: OnwardCO - One-stop resource for the people of Colorado impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For comprehensive public health information about COVID-19 in Colorado, refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) website. This website includes information for the general public and special resources for health care providers on patient evaluation, testing, personal protective equipment and many more topics.

Provider Leader Resource Center: Provider Leader Resource Center has been added to the Department COVID-19 website. This page contains content from prior and upcoming webinars for Provider Association Leaders and their members, as well as information for providers about member and provider recruitment. The Department is asking associations partner with us to recruit more health care providers to serve our more than 1.3 million current members and the more than 500,000 new members we expect to enroll by the end of this year. More information can be found on the Here For You, Colorado page.

Add your phone to fight COVID-19: An app to help fight COVID-19 is now available for download. CO Exposure Notifications will quickly send notifications if virus exposure is likely within the last 14 days, allowing the ability to seek timely medical attention and take action to protect others. The app is free and does not share personal information. Visit AddYourPhone.com to watch a short video about how it works and how to turn it on with Apple or Android devices.
Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Providers and Case Managers
General Population Vaccine Eligibility
On April 2, 2021, Colorado will move into Phase 2 of vaccine distribution, opening vaccine eligibility to the general public.  Your patients trust information coming from you, even those who are hesitant to get vaccinated. Find more information on how to answer patients’ questions at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine-faq
 
The Department needs your help ensuring your Health First Colorado patients and CHP+ patients who are 16 and older get vaccinated. Do your part by letting them know when you have the vaccine available for them, or where they can get it if you don’t offer it. Let them know that the cost is entirely covered; they won’t be charged co-pays or for the office visit. Reassure them that it’s safe to come to your office and that there is transportation available if they need it. 
 
If a member requires additional support to get the vaccine, please contact the assigned Regional Accountability Entity (RAE) or Managed Care Organization (MCO). Please also encourage your staff to get their vaccines, and refer them to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for information on vaccine safety. You can get more information on which phase your staff should be vaccinated in and where at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.   

Increases in Medicaid Reimbursement for All COVID-19 Vaccines 
In accordance with updated guidance and funding from CMS, effective March 15, 2021, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) is reimbursing physicians, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, pharmacies and other Medicaid enrolled, qualified immunizers $41.18 to administer each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  
  
All COVID-19 vaccine claims will be reimbursed at $41.18 for each dose for enrolled and qualified providers for administration of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. Pharmacists enrolled with Health First Colorado may submit claims for reimbursement of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to Health First Colorado members. Providers will receive vaccine products from the federal government at no cost. Only the administration fee associated with the vaccines may be reimbursed to providers. These updated rates can be found on the Department’s Provider Rates and Fees website under the “Immunization Rate Schedule” section. Additional information for providers can be found on the Department’s COVID-19 webpage. In order to offer the vaccine to your patients, you’ll first need to enroll in the State’s vaccine program
  
Please remember that providers are encouraged to collect insurance information and submit claims. No co-pays are required nor may be collected. No one may be denied vaccination if they do not have insurance. Providers may not ask for a government-issued identification card as a condition to receiving the vaccine, as requiring an identification card, particularly one issued by the government, can exacerbate distrust and accessibility inequities for many critical groups. 
  
We appreciate your assistance and engagement in helping us increase the Health First Colorado vaccine uptake rate. Your patients – even those who are hesitant to get vaccinated - trust information coming from you. Find more information on how to answer patient questions at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine-faq. If a member requires additional support to get the vaccine, please have them contact their medical home or contact their assigned Regional Accountability Entity (RAE).   
Please also encourage your staff to get their vaccines, and refer them to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for information on vaccine safety. You can get more information on where staff may be vaccinated at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.   
 
CMS Shared Vaccine Hesitancy Resources 
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shared resources for healthcare personnel managing vaccine hesitancy. Medical centers, pharmacies and clinicians can use or adapt these ready-made materials to build confidence about COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare teams and other staff. 
 
 
  • The COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Conversation Starter - This conversation starter is a prompt for engaging healthcare providers during an in-person or virtual meeting in order to identify tailored approaches to promote vaccine confidence within a facility. 
 
 
CMS maintains a COVID-19 Provider Toolkit to ensure health care providers have the necessary tools to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. CMS recently added up to date payment allowances for COVID-19 vaccine administration, including the new Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. 
 
New Funding Opportunity Aims to Support Equitable Vaccine Access in Colorado  
Eight Colorado foundations have come together to fund on-the-ground efforts to connect Coloradans who live daily without access to critical services and opportunities due to race and/or their socioeconomic status with access to COVID-19 vaccines and information. 
 
Together We Protect - Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Fund, will support Colorado community-based organizations, working in partnership with state-contracted vaccine providers, to provide to provide culturally relevant and localized outreach, information and support to ensure communities who face systemic barriers have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Grants ranging from $10,000 - $100,000 will be awarded to applicants from across Colorado. 
 
Together We Protect is a partnership of Immunize Colorado and the Colorado Vaccine EquityTaskforce, which will provide on-the-ground technical assistance and support to community-based organization grantees, and these Colorado foundations: Caring for Colorado FoundationColorado Health FoundationCommunity First FoundationDelta Dental of Colorado FoundationDenver FoundationLatino Community Foundation of ColoradoRose Community Foundation and Next50 Initiative
 
Grant Deadlines: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 by 5 p.m. 
 
Learn more about this opportunity, including funding criteria and how to apply. An informational webinar about the grant was hosted on March 9 and the recording is available online

Provider Rates & Fee Schedule
 
Guidance Memos
 
Webinar Recordings and Materials
  •  Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) COVID-19 Webinars and Training
  • Beginning in 2021, the Office of Community Living will continue to host monthly webinars covering issues related to COVID-19, in addition to other general updates, for the Disability, Older Adult, and Advocacy Communities and LTSS Providers. See the new web page for these monthly update webinars to see information about upcoming and past webinars.
  • Day Program, Individual Residential Service and Supports (IRSS) & Group Residential Support Services (GRSS) Technical Assistance with the Department & CDPHE: Presentation and Webinar Recording – 3/12/21.
 
Information for County and Eligibility Partners
County and Eligibility Site Guidance
  • Executive Director and Eligibility Communications
  • County COVID Locked-In Report Over-the-Shoulder Support Call: Webinar recording- 3/11/21.
  • Executive Director Conversation with County Leadership: Webinar recording and PowerPoint- 3/2/21.
Resources
 
In addition to the Department COVID-19 website, updates will continue to be sent out via existing channels such as the County Connections e-newsletter and the HCPF Memo Series too. Please sign up for these newsletters through the Department website.