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

As the PHE comes to an end, please help us Keep Coloradans Covered

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) has grown by about 500,000 members since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s the largest increase in Health First Colorado membership since Medicaid expansion, which helped connect an additional 600,000 Coloradans to affordable coverage. In accordance with federal directives, and in collaboration with our county partners, HCPF will resume the standard eligibility renewal and disenrollment process beginning this May for Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), after more than a three-year pause. HCPF will take 12 months (14 months including member noticing, which begins in March) to complete the renewal process for all 1.75 million Coloradans currently covered under Health First Colorado and CHP+.

As we return to normal operations, HCPF is estimating that more than 325,000 Coloradans (about 20% of current members) may no longer qualify for our safety net coverage programs, and will therefore be disenrolled beginning in May and over the 12 months that follow. Given the magnitude of this transition of Coloradans from Medicaid to commercial coverage, we are asking all stakeholders to join HCPF and the Polis-Primavera Administration in a shared effort to Keep Coloradans Covered through two main pathways. 

First, we invite you to help us ensure effective member awareness and engagement through the renewal process. For more information about the renewal process, videos in English and Spanish, and frequently asked questions, please visit HealthFirstColorado.com/renewals. 

Second, we invite you to help us connect disenrolling Coloradans to other sources of affordable coverage to Keep Coloradans Covered. For more information about health insurance coverage types, please visit the Colorado Division of Insurance Types of Health Insurance Information page. 

• Health care providers, advocates, counties/MA sites, Case Management Agencies (CMAs), Regional Accountable Agencies (RAEs) and others who provide support services to Medicaid members, please remind your Medicaid members to update their contact information with the state, to look for and complete their Medicaid renewals, and to seek other coverage options if they no longer qualify for their current coverage. 
• Employers, brokers and consultants, please recognize that some employees now covered through Medicaid need to be enrolled in your employer-sponsored health plans beginning in May and over the 12 months to follow. Please proactively remind your employees how to do that, recognizing the magnitude of this coverage shift.

HCPF is also partnering with Connect for Health Colorado to ensure disenrolling members know how to apply for individual and family coverage and how to secure the financial subsidies that make that coverage more affordable. Connect for Health’s network of certified assisters can help. Coloradans can also apply and enroll in a plan during their special enrollment period by calling the Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749.  

Due to the tremendous advances in our eligibility processes over the last few years, some members will be automatically renewed and will not need to take any action to remain covered (about 30% and growing). Others will receive a renewal packet and will need to take action (about 70%) to stay covered by the deadlines listed within this important renewal communication. We have also made significant investments in PEAK, member correspondence, our monitoring systems and our eligibility system to further the important work ahead of us. We have further worked with our county partners, sister agencies and the Joint Budget Committee to secure additional funding to assist them through this unique chapter. Last, to ensure broad alignment and communications, for many months now, HCPF has been hosting stakeholder meetings. The week of Jan. 23, we met with approximately 800 county and community partners on our plans to return to normal eligibility operations. To get connected to these meetings, please visit our website.

Through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion and collaboration across the state, between 2014 through 2016, Colorado’s uninsured rate decreased from 15.8% to about 6.6% (Colorado Health Access survey results). By continuing to work together, we have been able to maintain that 6.6% uninsured rate through the COVID-19-induced economic downturn by moving hundreds of thousands of Coloradans from commercial coverage to Medicaid - a spectacular achievement to the betterment of the health and well-being of Coloradans, employers, our providers and our state. Now, we need to partner again to reconnect what is estimated to be more than 325,000 Coloradans back to affordable commercial coverage. HCPF is stepping up to lead that industry effort, in collaboration with our sister agencies, counties, providers, advocates and a cross section of industry leaders. Our shared goal through these efforts under the Polis-Primavera Administration is clear: Keep Coloradans Covered. Look for more resources and tools in the months ahead to help us achieve our shared goal. Thank you in advance for your engagement to Keep Coloradans Covered. 

Separately, on Jan. 31, the federal government announced May 11 as the end date for the public health emergency. Colorado has been preparing for this, and has already made positive policy changes, such as telehealth, permanent. Please visit our website to stay updated. 

Given the increasing number of Coloradans who will be covered by commercial programs in the months to come, health care affordability is even more important. In that spirit, HCPF will continue to pursue our mission to Save People Money On Health Care through thought leadership and advances in prescription drug, hospital and value based payment (VBP) policies as well as innovations that improve care affordability, access, equity and quality. In that quest, last month, HCPF released three hospital transparency reports to help policymakers and communities drive solutions that save Coloradans and employers money on health care. We will be hosting a Health Cabinet Affordability Summit on March 15, 7:30-10 a.m. on affordability solutions, VBPs, rural hospital supports and shared efforts to Keep Coloradans Covered. Please register today! 

Also, we invite you to keep abreast of our budget and legislative agendas in support of this important work and more. 

We appreciate your continued partnership in helping Keep Coloradans Covered as the public health emergency and the continuous coverage provision come to an end. And we thank you for your leadership in driving affordable access to care and coverage for all Coloradans.

County Contact Lists

Thank you for continuing to submit updates to your contacts with us. For any additions throughout 2023, you or any staff member may complete this webform. This form does not require a Google account and accepts multiple submissions.

For staff removal from a contact list, please continue to use our County Relations Webform with the "ticket Type" set to "County Communications."

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

HCPF PM 23-001

Developmental Disability Waiver for Working Adults with Disabilities

This policy memo explains HCPF’s addition of the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver to the Health First Colorado Buy-in Program for Working Adults with Disabilities (WAwD) and is intended for County Department of Human/Social Services eligibility staff, supervisors, as well as Medicaid Assistance Sites. 

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Communication Toolkits and Resources

HCPF has been working with stakeholders and partners to develop communication toolkits to prepare members for the return to normal renewal processes. 

The Take Action on Your Renewal toolkit is new! The materials in this toolkit are designed to encourage members to look for their renewal packet in the mail and PEAK mailbox and take action when they get it. This toolkit includes general member awareness outreach partners can share in their websites, newsletters, social media as well as direct-to-member email and text messaging communications. It also includes downloadable, customizable flyers. These resources are currently available in English and Spanish. 

The Preparing for Renewals toolkit includes renewal process information that explains key terms and provides sample notices so partners can see exactly what the member will see when they go through the renewal process. In addition, both partners and members can view short videos in English and Spanish on key actions: updating an address, completing the renewal process, and transitioning to other coverage if a member no longer qualifies.

Update Your Address Campaign

We know that many members have moved over the past few years. It is crucial that we have correct addresses so that members get the information they need to keep or change their coverage. Please continue to help us spread the word to Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members to update their contact information. Update Your Address tools are available in the top 11 languages for Health First Colorado members.

Health First Colorado Renewals Page

In preparation for renewals to start back up, HCPF has added an informational webpage for members on the Health First Colorado website. Members can find general information about the renewal process and answers to frequently asked questions. This page is published in English and Spanish. 

For the latest information on returning to normal renewal processes and other communication resources, visit the COVID-19 PHE Planning webpage. 

Emergency Additional SNAP Benefits Ending

All Coloradans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see a reduction in their monthly benefit amount after February 2023. The temporary additional benefit amounts (emergency allotments) are ending due to recent congressional action. This is a change enacted by Congress and is not appealable. SNAP serves more than 290,000 households and 554,000 individuals in Colorado each month by providing money to purchase food and safeguard the well-being of SNAP participants and their families.

Emergency allotment gave SNAP participants additional money for food during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing households up to their maximum amount of money for food they can receive for their household size and circumstances. This reduction in benefits may have a significant impact on many households. 

A messaging toolkit has been created for community partners and the general public to use to help get the word out about the end of SNAP emergency allotment benefits. For more information please visit the SNAP website.

HCPF - Discontinuing Weekly and Monthly Court Ordered Timeliness Reports

The purpose of this communication is to inform County Departments of Human/Social Services (CDHS), Medical Assistance (MA) Sites, Eligibility Application Partner (EAP) Sites (collectively known as “Eligibility Sites”), and other stakeholders that HCPF will discontinue the distribution and use of the Weekly and Monthly Court Ordered Timeliness Reports. 

These reports have been sent to eligibility site staff by HCPF’s Performance Improvement Team. However, these reports will no longer be distributed through email starting April 2023. Please note the last time these reports will be sent out will be the week of March 6. 

Please refer to the Memo, OM 23-009, which will provide more information on how to access Timeliness data using the MAP and County Dashboards. 

The Memo can also be found on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact HCPF_MapDashboards.

#KeepCOCovered News Conference

On Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 at 10 a.m., Executive Director Kim Bimestefer hosted a news conference at the Capitol building, where she was joined by several partners and stakeholders, to announce how the state is working together to #KeepCOCovered. To view the recording of this event, click here.

While we expect about 80% of our members will still be enrolled following redeterminations, we estimate more than 325,000 members will be disenrolled over the coming year. The state and its partners are determined to ensure those disenrolling members know what their coverage options are going forward, and we will help lead them to those options to avoid any gap or lapse in their health care coverage. 

View the press release and be sure to visit the newly created webpage

KeepCOCovered.com. 

HCPF Action: County QA Plans Information

Hello County and Eligibility Site Partners - Below and attached you will find updates and resources regarding OM 22-053, State Requirements for Eligibility Site Quality Assurance Programs.

The deadline to submit QA Plans is extended to Friday, March 17, 2023. Be sure to submit a County Relations Request form ticket to submit your plan (Ticket Type = County Oversight) or email  HCPF County Relations.

Attached you will find a sample QA Plan to meet the minimum requirements for OM 22-053. (Sites are not mandated to use this template.) This template will also be posted on the county training website.

You only need to submit the site's QA plan. 

• Sites are required to create and use a QA tracker, however it is not required for you to submit your tracker along with your QA plan.

You will find resources posted on our training website, including sample EQA trackers. 

• Please note that the EQA Process Manual is not the same as a QA Plan. However, it is a good informational document that may assist you in developing your plan.
• Historical webinars from April and October 2022 are here.

Submission and approval of a county plan is required to earn the County Incentives Program Accuracy Incentive.

Submitted plans will be reviewed to ensure plans meet the minimum requirements of OM 22-053. Sites will receive notification the plan is either approved or in need of revision for resubmission no later than May 31, 2023 for resubmission by June 30, 2023. 

If you have questions, please do not reply to this email. Please submit a County Relations Request form ticket (Ticket Type = County Oversight) or email  HCPF County Relations.

Behavioral Health Secure Transportation

Thank you for your continued interest in Behavioral Health Secure Transportation (Secure Transport). HCPF is implementing a Behavioral Health Secure Transportation paid benefit by July 1, 2023. This involves collaboration among HCPF, the Behavioral Health Administration and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to improve behavioral health care access across Colorado.

Learn more by watching the recent stakeholder forumand reviewing CDPHE Rule 6 CCR 1011-4.

Changes to SUD Stakeholder Updates

Now that the SUD 1115 Demonstration Waiver has entered year three, we are working to integrate SUD benefits information and updates into other behavorial health spaces. Look for updates on SUD benefit issues to be included alongside other benefits information in places like Accountable Care Collaborative Updates, HCPF Provider Bulletin, and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) mailings. We will continue to use this SUD stakeholder mailing list for special communications.  

We’d like your feedback: Is a monthly SUD Stakeholder Communication needed? Please email YES or NO to HCPF SUD Benefits

Joint Peer Support Professionals Quarterly Forum  

HCPF will be joining the BHA to jointly host the second Peer Support Professional Forum on March 30 at 12 p.m. The meeting will be virtual to allow for the greatest participation from peer professionals across state including those who work in the SUD recovery space. You can register in advance for this meeting and you will then receive a confirmation email containing information about joining. 

Pending Supervisory Authorization 

The purpose of this communication is to advise eligibility sites of the Pending Supervisory Authorization Memo being released. 

HCPF is notifying eligibility site (county departments of human/social services, medical assistance, and eligibility application partner sites) staff that when a case is put into a pending status for “Supervisory Authorization Required,” the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) will set a calendar day count to clear the Supervisory Authorization status when the case is pending for 90 days unless there are additional exception reasons preventing authorization.

Effective Dec. 12, 2022, if a medical assistance (MA) program is pending for "Supervisory Authorization Required" for 90 calendar days, CBMS will automatically run Eligibility Determination Benefit Calculation (EDBC) and authorize the MA program. The new batch process will run daily, which will minimize the number of cases that have historically pended indefinitely for Supervisory Authorization.

View the memo: Pending Supervisory Authorization 

Contact: If you need additional information or have questions regarding the memo, please contact HCPF Medicaid Eligibility. 

HCPF Annual Report

HCPF's Annual Report to the Community is now available. This report illustrates the many ways we serve Coloradans every day. We invite you to review it and celebrate all that we accomplished together this past year.

Translations of Member Outreach Posters Now Available!

The Spanish version of the Member Assistance Opportunities posters and screensavers are now in our Toolkits for Partners Google folder.

Do you need help? Do you have a question? Does a case need to be escalated? There are two ways you can contact the HCPF County Relations team.

1. County Relations Web Form. Try this method first. It allows you to enter details to help us resolve your issues.
2. County Relations Email. You can still email us at hcpf_countyrelations@state.co.us. Your email to us will automatically create a service ticket with your email included. We cannot open encrypted messages within our ticketing system.

Customer Service Incentive 

Thank you to our Tier 1 counties with call center operations for completing your first technical assistance meetings. Continue to submit Call Center performance data on the 10th of each month. You will be contacted soon to schedule your technical assistance meeting for June. 

Tier 2A counties will be provided with the outcomes of the first HCPF-run survey in April 2023. This information will help you to develop your outreach plan to increase your response rate by June 30, 2023. 

Tier 2B requirements are for all other counties who did not opt into Tier 2A, allowing them to create their own Customer Service Improvement Plan. To comply with contract requirements, Tier 2B counties will have from January 2023 to June 2023 to document a Customer Service Improvement Plan (CSIP).  

Accuracy Dashboard 

To earn the Customer Service County Incentive Program payment, counties must first submit their Quality Assurance plans by Friday, March 17, 2023. These will be reviewed by HCPF by June 1, 2023. Counties will receive either notification of approval or notification for necessary revisions to allow for time to resubmit prior to June 30, 2023.  

• Submit your QA plans by completing a County Relations Request form ticket or emailing HCPF County Relations by March 17, 2023.  

Civil Rights Plans 

Civil Rights Plans are due by close of business Friday, March 31, 2023, per HCPF OM 23-003. Civil Rights Plans must be submitted to the County Relations Request form ticket or email HCPF County Relations. Submitted Civil Rights Plans will be reviewed and approved by HCPF. HCPF will communicate with the county’s Civil Rights Contact Person when the Civil Rights Plan is approved or to follow up with steps to resubmit. Reviews, approvals and/or feedback will be completed by April 28, 2023.

Links to the State Nondiscrimination Statement and the Sample County Nondiscrimination Statement can be found on the 2023 Policy Memos webpage.    

HCPF Contacts & Resources

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