Office of Community Living Updates: April 5, 2023

April 5, 2023

The Office of Community Living (OCL) within the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) has the following information to share below:

Announcements:

Surveying Members and Case Managers on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Data Access for Members - Deadline April 30, 2023

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Provider Initial Application Approval

Please Participate in HCPF’s Survey on Careers in the Direct Care Workforce – Deadline Monday, April 17, 2023

ARPA 4.02 Promoting Single Occupancy Grant - Application Deadline May 12, 2023

ARPA 4.07 New Systems of Care Grants Available - Application Deadline May 12, 2023

General OCL Meetings:

Case Management Redesign (CMRD) Rule Revision: Case Management Agency Requirements / Case Manager Requirements and Functions

Children's Disability Advisory Committee (CDAC)

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-Related Meetings:

ARPA Project 4.01 Residential Innovation – Models of Care Stakeholder Engagement Opportunity

Announcements

Surveying Members and Case Managers on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Project 6.10 Data Access for Members - Deadline April 30, 2023

Background

HCPF seeks member and case manager feedback as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) work for the ARPA 6.10 Member Data Sharing project. This project will provide members who receive long-term services and support (LTSS) access to information in their member record through smartphones, tablets, or other mobile technologies. Members will be able to access data collected by and maintained in the Care and Case Management (CCM) system, such as their assessments and support plans. HCPF will design an LTSS-focused mobile app for members.

About the Survey

These surveys are designed to gather direct feedback about what is most important to members who receive LTSS and case managers as it relates to data sharing. This includes members who receive services through home and community-based services (HCBS) Waivers, the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Nursing Facilities, Hospital Back-Up (HBU), and State General Fund programs.

Please complete the survey by Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Member Surveys:

Survey in English

Survey in Spanish

Survey in Russian

Survey in Vietnamese

Case Manager Survey:

Case Manager Survey

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Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Provider Initial Application Approval

HCPF has approved Denver Hospice’s application to become a provider in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for the Denver Metro area. As Colorado’s population is growing older and living longer, HCPF’s priority is to ensure the needs of Colorado’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) members are met by establishing new provider relationships to provide these necessary services to our LTSS members. In 2030, 18.4% of Coloradans are projected to be over 55 and as the population ages, HCPF will need new providers to ensure coverage of LTSS services. With the operation of multiple PACE providers in the Denver metro area, HCPF can assure that our LTSS community needs are met and allow Medicaid members to have a choice in PACE providers.

The Denver Hospice has been serving Denver since 1978 and currently serves approximately 915 individuals. Under Denver Hospice’s proposal, they plan to serve 81 zip codes which encompasses Denver County and portions of Jefferson, Arapahoe, Douglas, Broomfield and Adams counties. Their proposed PACE center will be located at 3015 South Parker Road in Aurora. HCPF’s approval is the initial step in the application process and Denver Hospice must now seek approval through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Upon CMS’ approval, Denver Hospice will return to HCPF for a final review and approval. HCPF estimates that Denver Hospice will be operational in two to four years.

If you have any questions, please email the PACE team. For additional information on the PACE program, please visit HCPF's PACE webpage.

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Please Participate in HCPF’s Survey on Careers in the Direct Care Workforce – Deadline Monday, April 17, 2023

Your voice matters! Take this survey about careers in the Direct Care Workforce to share your thoughts and help inform HCPF’s upcoming public awareness campaign. Whether you are already a Direct Care Worker (DCW), planning to join the field, or are affected by the work of DCWs, we want to hear from you. Your individual survey responses will be kept anonymous.

The survey will close at midnight on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Complete the Careers in the Direct Care Workforce Survey

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ARPA 4.02 Promoting Single Occupancy Grant - Application Deadline Friday, May 12, 2023

In the midst of a global pandemic, congregate care residential settings providers saw the necessity for single occupancy rooms to prevent the spread of disease and promote independence and autonomy. Through funding provided by Section 9817 of ARPA, HCPF has created the 4.02 Single Occupancy Grant Program to offer payments for providers to convert more space to single occupancy rooms. HCPF has allocated $20 million for these payments, with a maximum of $1 million per awardee.

Eligible organizations can apply by Friday, May 12, 2023, using the online application. View the Request for Applications.

HCPF’s grant is focused on developing new ways Colorado’s home and community-based services residential settings can adapt and provide more independent and health-centered outcomes in a single occupancy setting. HCPF seeks programs that:

Develop Single Occupancy from multiple person rooms

Take steps to mitigate disease transmission in these room conversions

With sustainability and longevity in mind, HCPF is requiring applicants to create a project outline with steps on how this conversion will happen and how once converted, this project will be sustained.

HCPF will evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of the applicant programs and whether the State of Colorado would benefit from these projects long-term. Allocation of these funds will require strict reporting and will only be made to programs that include Health First Colorado and CHP+ members.

To submit any questions, email Austin Leffel. Learn more and start your application today.

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ARPA 4.07 New Systems of Care Grants Available

Through ARPA, Section 9817, HCPF has been authorized to distribute $15 million in a new grant opportunity to:

Help enhance, expand and strengthen the HCBS direct care workforce in Colorado, and

Support the facilitation of home sharing for older adults through the Systems of Care Grant.

Eligible organizations can apply by Friday, May 12, 2023, using the 4.07 online application.

View the Request for Applications.

Funds for the New Systems of Care Grants can be used to either build or supplement existing programs in one or more of the following areas of focus:

Home sharing facilitation where at least one individual in the home sharing match is at least age 55 or older.

Provision of college credit for prior learning (CPL) and work experience for Colorado Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Direct Care Workers (DCWs).

Tuition reimbursement distribution for Colorado Medicaid HCBS DCWs.

Child care reimbursement distribution for Colorado Medicaid HCBS DCWs.

You cannot make any changes to your grant application once it is submitted.

To submit any questions, email Austin Leffel. Learn more and start your application today.

General OCL Meetings

Please find a general OCL meeting announcement listed below. Other OCL meeting information is on the OCL Stakeholder Engagement and Calendar webpage.

Case Management Redesign (CMRD) Rule Revision: Case Management Agency Requirements / Case Manager Requirements and Functions

This meeting is part of a series of Case Management Redesign (CMRD) rule revision stakeholder feedback meetings. More information can be found on the CMRD webpage.

Case Management Agency Requirements / Case Manager Requirements and Functions: This meeting continues to provide explanation and review of changes/updates to Case Management Requirements and Functions rules as it relates to CMRD, including stakeholder feedback and responses as they relate to the rule language, clarity and flow. Case Manager responsibilities and functions will also be covered.

The next will be held:

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

1 to 4 p.m. MT

Join via Zoom

Join by Phone:

(Toll-free)1-877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 873 9014 4539, Passcode:597847

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Children's Disability Advisory Committee (CDAC)

The CDAC serves in an advisory capacity to HCPF and makes recommendations regarding issues related to benefits for children and youth with disabilities age 20 and younger, provider education interventions and application of standards. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

The CDAC meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT.

The meeting will be held:

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT

Join via Google Meet

Join via Phone:

1-650-667-2698, PIN: 194 068 900#

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-Related Meetings

Please find an ARPA-related meeting announcement listed below. Other ARPA-related meeting information is on the ARPA Stakeholder Engagement and Calendar webpage.

ARPA Project 4.01 Residential Innovation – Models of Care

Stakeholder Engagement Opportunity

You’re invited! Please join the HCPF team to share your feedback on model options for individuals transitioning out of nursing facilities and other institutional settings.

As part of the ARPA 4.01 Residential Innovations Initiative - Models of Care, HCPF and partners at the Mission Analytics Group, have explored innovative home and community-based models from around the country that support individuals’ transition from institutional settings, such as nursing facilities, to community-based settings.

HCPF invites you to learn about the results of this analysis and to share your feedback.

There are three meeting date and time options. Please select the registration link below to register in advance for one of the meetings.

Please register for only one meeting. You will be able to indicate during registration if you require accommodations to fully participate in this event.

Option #1

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. MT

Option #2

Thursday, April 13, 2023

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. MT

Option #3

Thursday, April 19, 2023

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT

Need to Make an Accommodation Request for one of our General OCL or ARPA-Related Stakeholder Meetings?

Reasonable accommodations for all OCL and ARPA-related stakeholder meetings will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify John Barry at 303-866-3173 or John.R.Barry@state.co.us or the 504/ADA Coordinator at hcpf504ada@state.co.us at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

General OCL Meetings can be found on the OCL Stakeholder Engagement and Calendar webpage.

ARPA-Related Meetings can be found on the ARPA Stakeholder Engagement and Calendar webpage.

Want to Sign up for OCL and HCPF Communications?

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you can sign up here.

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