This Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) newsletter is designed to inform county directors, management and staff about high-impact updates, important changes, county performance, new guidance, and program changes.

This month, the Lt. Gov. and state agency leaders are discussing several timely policy priorities at our virtual Health Cabinet Policy Summit Mar. 24 and 31, from 3-4:50 p.m. Topics include affordability, behavioral health transformation, pandemic to endemic & future readiness, and keeping Coloradans covered after the Public Health Emergency. At the summit, you’ll also hear more about our work to improve quality care and health equity for our members. As part of that, we are expanding our value-based payment models that reward providers for better patient outcomes, closing health disparities and driving affordability. This work spans the Hospital Transformation Program, maternity bundled payments, the Prescriber Tool, primary care and an exciting partnership to design the emerging Providers of Distinction program. At the summit, the Department will also release and review a Hospital Insights Report that synthesizes emerging hospital financial insights with key findings from several recent legislative reports while providing related policy considerations to address opportunities - register now.

Thank you again for all that you do to help provide the right care, that drives the right patient outcomes, for the right price. I look forward to seeing you virtually at the Health Cabinet Policy Summit.

Due to the current situation with Russia and Ukraine, we all need to be extra vigilant online. OIT is monitoring the situation with tools that continue to detect and deflect malicious activity to protect state resources and data. However, OIT is seeing an increase of the following cyber activities:

The most common and successful way for cyberattacks to be initiated is through phishing emails, which attempt to entice the recipient in clicking on a link, which in turn allows bad actors to install harmful software. It takes one person clicking on a bad link to start this chain of events. Please remember these three things when using email and chat:

Thank you for helping us protect each other, our shared workspaces, our infrastructure, resources and information by staying alert and being extra cautious before clicking on any link.

To avoid unnecessary delays in processing, this document should be followed when a family or individual moves from one county to another within Colorado, We know that some of the terminology in the document is outdated (it was written in 2012), but it is still relevant and should be followed.

All Memos and their attachments are on the Memo Series website.

The purpose of this Informational Memo is to inform county departments of

human/social services and eligibility sites of a series of meetings held by the

Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) to assist in the implementation

of new regulatory requirements promulgated in 10 CCR 2505-5 1.020. These sessions

will review newly issued sub-regulatory guidance that support the new regulations.

County and eligibility site staff who are responsible for implementing program

requirements are encouraged to attend.

Nearly a quarter of Coloradans miss out on valuable tax credits that can help them take care of themselves and the people they love. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) were expanded in 2021, making more Colorado families eligible. Filers can receive up to $3,600 for each child ages 6-17 living in their household, and do not need any earnings to qualify.

Help us reach individuals and families across the state, informing them about these and other tax credits and helping them access free tax preparation services. Learn more and get access to our free campaign resources including brochures, social media content, and newsletter messages to help spread the word.

Calling all Eligibility Sites! You’re invited to join HCPF’s Continuous Improvement Learning Sessions...

Feeling anxious about Renewal Revamp? We’ve got you covered! The Continuous Improvement Team will be hosting Learning Sessions to assist your site with the upcoming changes. These sessions will:

All Eligibility Sites are encouraged to have at least two Eligibility staff members attend. The recommended participants for Small & Medium Counties are Director, Supervisor, and Lead Worker. For Large Counties we recommend the Division Director, Manager, and Supervisor. Those attending will need to RSVP through COLearn, please be on the lookout for a CBMS communication email with RSVP details in the coming weeks.

For any questions, please contact the Continuous Improvement team at hcpf_performance.improvement@state.co.us.

In March 2022 a new redetermination process for all Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members will be implemented. The new process will be called “renewal” because member feedback shows “renewal” was more understandable than “redetermination” for most members surveyed.

Renewal is a case review that happens at least every 12 months to determine whether Health First Colorado and CHP+ members will continue to qualify for benefits. The new process and packet were created to make it easier for members to navigate and complete, and to make sure the process and packet adhere to federal regulations.

Many different stakeholders and Health First Colorado and CHP+ members helped the Department create the new language and layout for the new renewal forms and process. In the new process, the head of household must sign a signature page as part of the renewal paperwork they complete. This is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement.

County workers and other assisters will have training opportunities to help guide them through the new packet and processes.

For more information, see the Renewal Revamp presentation, workbook and FAQ on our Eligibility Partner Trainings webpage or view the OM 22-003 Renewal Guidance for Medical Assistance Memo.

Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) began paying for at-home COVID-19 tests for members in January. Each enrolled Health First Colorado member can get up to 15 free at-home tests per month from pharmacies that serve Health First Colorado. Each enrolled CHP+ member can receive up to eight tests per month. There is no out of pocket cost or co-pays for Health First Colorado or CHP+ members. Health First Colorado and CHP+ will reimburse the pharmacies after members receive the free tests.

Due to the high demand, at-home tests have been in short supply and pharmacies are having a difficult time getting them from their suppliers. We encourage members to call the pharmacy ahead of time to see if they have the at-home tests in stock.

The federal government recently launched an online program where each household address can receive a maximum of four tests. This program is limited to a one-time order of four tests per household and they will arrive by U.S. mail usually within seven to 10 days.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) also has an online program where Coloradans can order two tests per week. If you are interested in receiving multiple tests, you will need to reorder tests. Tests do not automatically ship on a recurring basis. Because of high demand, tests will usually arrive in two weeks. Health First Colorado does not manage the federal program or the CDPHE program.

Please visit the Health First Colorado webpage for more information on its coverage of the at-home test program, a list of enrolled pharmacies and FAQs that will be updated as new questions and information arise.

Hello County Partners,

Technical Assistance meetings are scheduled to review new guidance based on the new county administration rules. During these meetings, the memo authors and other staff will be available to answer questions.

Below are the links to join. Any and all county staff are encouraged to attend.

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/deg-qzsy-dho

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-380-8578‬ PIN: ‪483 038 525‬#

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/deg-qzsy-dho

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-380-8578‬ PIN: ‪483 038 525‬#

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/deg-qzsy-dho

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-380-8578‬ PIN: ‪483 038 525‬#

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/deg-qzsy-dho

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-380-8578‬ PIN: ‪483 038 525‬#

Please reach out if you have any questions, Jaina Krider.

There’s something new that Coloradans can look forward to when filing their 2021 state tax return—an opportunity to enroll in free or low-cost health coverage.

Thanks to a new state law, starting January 2022, residents can mark on their Colorado tax return that they are uninsured and interested in finding out if they qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. With the simple act of checking a box, they opt-in for their information to be shared with Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace.

From there, Connect for Health Colorado helps residents find out whether they qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or financial help with Connect for Health Colorado during a Special Enrollment Period.

We are calling on our partners in Colorado to spread the word. As a trusted resource in your community, you have the opportunity to help bring health coverage to thousands of uninsured residents. As you’re assisting your community this tax season, please guide those who are uninsured and interested in learning more about free and affordable health coverage options to check the box on their tax return indicating interest in the new program.

Once they’ve checked the box, there’s no requirement to apply for health coverage or risk that their information will be used for any other purposes. Connect for Health Colorado is here to help residents start-to-finish with the application process, and we provide free enrollment assistance around the state.

The toolkit can be found at: https://c4h.co/TaxTimeToolkit

Within this toolkit you will find:

As a reminder you need to download the brochure in order for the interactivity features to work online. The Spanish version of the Tax Time Enrollment brochure will be added in the next couple of weeks, and both the English and Spanish print versions are available for order in our online store at no charge when you create an account.

Thank you for being a great partner and helping keep Colorado covered. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time for anything at jsmith@c4hco.com.

On Jan. 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the availability of $13 million in funding to increase access to behavioral health care services and address health inequities in rural America, including through evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for substance use disorder.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused behavioral health challenges for Americans of all ages and backgrounds,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to address the inequities that still exist surrounding behavioral health and advance care in rural America. It will support comprehensive behavioral health prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery interventions in rural communities—furthering the goals of our new overdose prevention strategy.”

HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will make awards through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)—Behavioral Health Care Support. Eligible applicants include entities such as Rural Health Clinics, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations.

“Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic must include meeting the behavioral health needs of individuals experiencing substance use disorder,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “In rural areas, accessing the care and services to address these needs can be a particular challenge. The funding we are announcing today is directly targeted to the community needs of rural areas and will help expand access to behavioral health services to meet these needs.”

Since 2018, the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program—a multi-year initiative administered by HRSA—has provided over $400 million in direct grants and technical assistance to rural communities addressing behavioral health care challenges, including substance use disorder. To date, the initiative has expanded access to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services in over 1,500 counties nationwide, with RCORP grant recipients serving over 2 million individuals in rural communities in fiscal year 2020.

Applicants can begin the RCORP-Behavioral Health Care Support application process on Grants.gov and must apply by Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., ET. Visit the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.

For more information about efforts to address barriers to treatment for substance use disorder in rural areas, visit HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

To learn about the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, visit https://www.hhs.gov/overdose-prevention/.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to improving health outcomes and promoting health equity in rural America. In 2021, thanks to the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the Department of Health and Human Services has invested over $16 billion to strengthen rural health. Read the Fact Sheet on HHS Investments to Strengthen Rural Health - PDF.

Due to the lag in Accuracy data, OM 21-080 issued Nov. 23, 2021, states the Department will use the June/July 2022 MAP Accuracy Dashboard cumulative twelve-months data to determine if counties met the targets in Table 1 and Table 2; to be eligible for the Accuracy Performance Incentive Payment, both targets (based on county size) must be met. Monthly MAP Dashboard emails have reported Accuracy data to reflect this progression of cumulative data to include 2021 data.

Instructions for Continuous Coverage Incentive to be released after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which has been extended to April 16, 2022. If the PHE continues to extend after the end of the current fiscal year, HCPF will issue guidance on how this incentive will be earned and disbursed.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance applications was measured at 94.18%.

Timeliness for all Medical Assistance redeterminations was measured at 96.73%.