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Partner to Keep Coloradans Covered
Our top priority continues to be partnering with stakeholders throughout the state to achieve our shared goal to Keep Coloradans Covered. With the end of the public health emergency, all states, including Colorado, resumed eligibility renewals after a three-year pause. In Colorado, this means renewing each of our 1.7M Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members on their annual anniversary date.
May-August 2023 Point-in-Time Reported Data
Based on point-in-time information, an average of 49.0% of members with renewal anniversaries between May-August were renewed, according to initial data pulls (see below on how this figure improves over time). Of those renewed, just under half were automatically renewed through advances in processing technology, while the other half were renewed after completing their renewal packet. An average of 48.5% of individuals up for renewal May-August were disenrolled (2.5% applications were pending on average). Of those disenrolled, an average of 17.2% no longer qualified due to exceeding the income levels for their household size or eligibility classification. An average of 33.4% lost eligibility for procedural reasons such as not completing the renewal paperwork submission process. That figure was 12% prior to the pandemic. More information is available on our website.
Improved Renewal Rates 90 Days Later
We expect the data to change as late renewal paperwork is received or individuals receiving termination notices complete and return their renewal packets. For members up for renewal in May, this was indeed true - after the 90-day reconsideration period, 60% have now been renewed, which is better than the pre-pandemic average of 57%. For the same set of members, losing eligibility for procedural reasons fell by 4% to 22%, an improvement. Members with renewal anniversaries in June and July are still within the 90-day timeframe, but we are already seeing some take late action on their renewals, tracking similarly to the May cohort. More information is available on our website.
Focus on Special Populations
We are closely monitoring more vulnerable populations. Regarding members with long-term care waiver supports, procedural denials are tracking with rates pre-pandemic at 17% then versus 18% now. Less than 1% of members with long-term care waiver supports have “whereabouts unknown,” meaning this population is receiving renewal notices. Renewal rates for children are better than for the general membership: For May, June and July renewals, 69% of children remained enrolled, better than the overall 58% of all Colorado individuals who renewed during the same period. Also, we are not finding racial disparities between people of color and white people: for example, children who identify as Hispanic are being renewed in Colorado at a higher rate than non-Hispanic white children (72% versus 68% from May renewals).
Employer Chamber Engagement
We also met with several employer organizations over the last 60 days (i.e., Denver Chamber, Pro15, Club20, Colorado Springs Chamber, and more), helping them understand the impact of the end of the public health emergency on coverage and providing tools to message employer affiliates about coverage renewals and transitions, including how to help employees covered by Health First Colorado understand how to enroll in available employer-sponsored programs should they be disenrolled from Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage. This work, in conjunction with the outreaches from Connect for Health Colorado to disenrolling Health First Colorado members, is intended to help connect individuals to affordable coverage.
Changes in Process to Keep Coloradans Covered
Keep Coloradans Covered is our top priority, which is why we – with our partners – are conducting multiple outreaches and following up to disenrolling members, refining renewal notices and improving PEAK access and efficiencies, among other strategies. HCPF is also leveraging additional flexibility from CMS to provide a 60 calendar day extension to complete the renewal process to those accessing Long-Term Care (LTC) waiver services and supports or Buy-In recipients who have not returned their renewal packet on time. This extension enables HCPF to conduct additional outreach and is in effect starting Sept. 5, 2023, through June 2024. Additional CMS guidance requires a change to our ex parte process for renewals. As we take a phased approach to the change, HCPF is implementing a temporary renewal extension for all members up for renewal in September and October. Thank you, Regional Accountable Entity partners, for additional outreach to affected members. For more information, please see our Special Edition Newsletter.
Call to Action: Help Us Keep Coloradans Covered
Our ability to Keep Coloradans Covered depends on all of us engaging to do our part. Thank you to providers, educators, counties, community leaders, advocates and employers - you are our trusted messengers on the ground, seeing our members when they walk through your doors. Please leverage the HCPF resources in public areas and through email - flyers, posters, messaging, social media, and more - to achieve our shared goals. And thank you for all you’re doing to Keep Coloradans Covered.
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