At a Glance is a Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) 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 our website. Thank you for your interest!

HCPF's New Executive Director

Dear Valued Stakeholder,

This legislative session was marked by a tough budget. The budget, or Long Bill (HB26-1410), was signed into law by the Governor on May 8, along with Medicaid related orbital bills. Next fiscal year 2026-27, the Long Bill includes Medicaid reductions of $1.1 billion total funds, including $529 million General Fund, largely through provider rate changes and service limits. As HCPF moves forward with the difficult task of implementing budget-related program changes and reductions, we need to work closely with our stakeholders. HCPF is committed to clear visibility and accountability for our priorities, decisions and progress. More information is in our Medicaid Provider Rate Reductions Fact Sheet.

HCPF appreciates the continued partnership with the legislature, counties, providers and other stakeholders on implementing these highlighted bills:

• HB26-1432 Health-Care Payment Programs shifts hospital incentive-payment governance into the Hospital Quality Incentive Payment program under the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) Board (ending the Hospital Transformation Program as a separate program). HCPF will continue to work with the General Assembly, the CHASE Board, hospitals, and federal partners on enacted changes to hospital quality incentive payments so implementation remains clear, collaborative, and aligned with federal requirements and statewide quality goals.
• SB26-187 Commission on Medicaid creates a legislative commission to make recommendations to address federal Medicaid policy changes. HCPF stands ready to support this commission through active engagement and collaboration.
• HB26-1429 County Administration of Public Assistance Programs requires HCPF, working with counties, stakeholders and other state agencies, to redesign county administration of public-assistance eligibility determinations, including phasing up to 12 county-based cohorts that share work, pool resources and standardize processes, as well as shared services (call center, quality assurance, document management and system security administration) and centralizes certain services across counties.
• HB26-1328 Medicaid Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) requires HCPF to oversee a phased statewide broker model, adopt rules with advisory-board input, and pursue federal approval to classify NEMT as a medical service.
• HB26-1425 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Services creates licensing for behavior analysts, requires standards for ABA clinics, and requires HCPF reimbursement for certain ABA services furnished to Medicaid members by certain technicians. 

More information is at our Legislator Resource Center.

As we look forward, HCPF is prioritizing finishing the state fiscal year strong, delivering on our promises, strengthening relationships and working together to implement budget and legislative changes. Collaboration and alignment with you is more critical than ever so that together, we can deliver sustainable outcomes. Thank you for your ongoing partnership. 

Gretchen Hammer

Executive Director

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

HCPF Medical Care Advisory Committee Public Meetings: 

HCPF invites stakeholders to register in advance for one of two public comment meetings. The Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) and Member Experience Advisory Council (MEAC) Alumni work hand-in-hand to improve and maintain the quality of Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program). Together they provide a forum for health care professionals and those with lived experience to share their perspective and use their unique knowledge of Health First Colorado benefits and services to advise HCPF on policy development and the effective administration of Health First Colorado.

These identical meetings will explain what the MCAC is, share what has been discussed over the last year, describe what recommendations the MEAC Alumni have proposed to the committee, and share what comes next and how to stay involved. HCPF will also collect public comments related to MEAC Alumni recommendations. These comments will be included as part of the annual report.

Visit the webpage for more information. 

Webinar Details

• Webinar dates and times: 
• Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m. Register on Zoom.
• Thursday, June 4, 2026, 6 to 7 p.m. Register on Zoom.
• Intended audiences: Any interested parties.
• Registration and location: These webinars will be virtual via Zoom. Register in advance or at the start. After registering, a unique link will be sent to join the webinar. 
• Additional information: If you are not able to attend, the meeting recording will be posted to the webpage after the meeting.

Meeting Accommodation and Language Access Notice 

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 the meeting organizer Lucien Meadows at lucien.meadows@state.co.us, or the Civil Rights Officer at hcpf504ada@state.co.us, at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

Aviso sobre adaptaciones para la reunión y acceso lingüístico

Las ayudas y servicios auxiliares para individuos con discapacidades y servicios de idiomas para individuos cuyo idioma materno no sea inglés pueden estar disponibles por solicitud. Comuníquese con organizador de reuniones Lucien Meadows a lucien.meadows@state.co.us, o con el oficial de derechos civiles a hcpf504ada@state.co.us, al menos una semana antes de la reunión para hacer los arreglos necesarios. 

New H.R. 1 Information Available Online: 

HCPF is committed to sharing what we learn from the federal level about the implementation of H.R. 1 (previously known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). Members, providers, and others will be affected by these changes in different ways. We have updated our FAQs for stakeholders and for members, and we have created a work requirements screening tool that is being emulated by other states. Finally we have updated our overview pages about H.R. 1 on both the Health First Colorado site and the HCPF site. These online resources are your go-to source for information about H.R. 1 impacts in Colorado. Any other questions can be sent to hcpf_HR1@state.co.us.

Medicaid Work Requirements Webinar June 2: 

HCPF invites stakeholders to register in advance for a webinar covering federal changes to Medicaid on June 2, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

H.R. 1, formerly known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," created work requirements, also known as community engagement. Some members of Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) will be required to report new information regarding their work, school or volunteer activities to maintain coverage. HCPF is developing new processes for these changes and is tracking the impact of emerging federal guidance. 

Register for the webinar

This session will explain work requirements and what they may mean for members, counties, providers and communities. HCPF will explain what comes next and how to stay involved. Attendee questions will be collected; these questions will help inform future communication and engagements. 

Visit the Health First Colorado Frequently Asked Questions page and the federal Medicaid Work Requirements Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. These pages are continuously updated as HCPF receives additional federal guidance. 

Webinar Details

• Webinar date and time: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• Intended audiences: Health First Colorado members, providers, community organizations, advocacy groups, counties, and other partners.
• Registration and location: The webinar will be virtual via Zoom. Register in advance or at the start. After registering, a unique link will be sent to join the webinar. 
• Additional information: Live Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be available. If you are not able to attend, the meeting recording will be posted to the H.R. 1 information page after the meeting.

Meeting Accommodation and Language Access Notice 

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 the meeting organizer Ryan Lazo at ryan.lazo@state.co.us, or the Civil Rights Officer at hcpf504ada@state.co.us, at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

Seminario web sobre los requisitos laborales de Medicaid, el 2 de junio de 2026

Inscríbase con antelación

HCPF invita a las partes interesadas a asistir a un seminario web sobre los cambios federales en Medicaid el 2 de junio, de 2:30 a 3:30 p. m. La H.R. 1, o “Ley del Gran Proyecto de Ley”, anteriormente conocida como la “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, estableció requisitos laborales, también conocidos como participación comunitaria. Algunos miembros de Health First Colorado (el programa Medicaid de Colorado) deberán comunicar nueva información sobre su trabajo, estudios o actividades de voluntariado para mantener la cobertura. El HCPF está desarrollando nuevos procesos para estos cambios y está haciendo un seguimiento del impacto de las nuevas directrices federales.

Inscribirse

En esta sesión se explicará en qué consisten los requisitos laborales; se compartirá la información de la que se dispone actualmente; se describirá lo que esto puede suponer para los miembros, los condados, los proveedores y las comunidades; se explicará cuáles son los próximos pasos; y se indicará cómo pueden seguir participando nuestros socios. El HCPF también recopilará las preguntas de los asistentes. Estas preguntas servirán de base para futuras comunicaciones e iniciativas.

Visite la página de preguntas frecuentes de Health First Colorado y la página de preguntas frecuentes sobre los requisitos laborales federales de Medicaid para obtener más información. Estas páginas se actualizan continuamente a medida que el HCPF recibe orientación federal adicional.

Detalles del seminario web

• Fecha y hora del seminario web: Martes, 2 de junio de 2026, de 2:30 a 3:30 p.m.
• Destinatarios: Miembros de Health First Colorado, proveedores, organizaciones comunitarias, grupos de defensa, condados y otros socios.
• Inscripción y lugar: El seminario web se celebrará de forma virtual a través de Zoom. Inscríbase con antelación o al inicio. Tras inscribirse, se le enviará un enlace único para unirse al seminario web.
• Información adicional: Habrá interpretación simultánea en español y en lengua de señas estadounidense. Si no puede asistir, la grabación de la reunión se publicará en la página de información sobre la H.R. 1 después de la reunión.

Aviso sobre adaptaciones para la reunión y acceso lingüístico

Las ayudas y servicios auxiliares para individuos con discapacidades y servicios de idiomas para individuos cuyo idioma materno no sea inglés pueden estar disponibles por solicitud. Comuníquese con organizador de reuniones Ryan Lazo a ryan.lazo@state.co.us, o con el oficial de derechos civiles a hcpf504ada@state.co.us, al menos una semana antes de la reunión para hacer los arreglos necesarios.