Sept. 6, 2024

County Connections

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.

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HCPF Updates

Proposed Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Model

HCPF is working toward expanding and improving implementation of Intensive Behavioral Health Services that include intensive in-home and community-based mental health services, intensive care coordination, mobile crisis intervention, and stabilization services. This will support Colorado Medicaid beneficiaries under the age of 21 who have been diagnosed with a mental health or behavioral disorder and for whom these services are medically necessary. The improved services will be culturally relevant, family-centered, and child-driven so that these services are provided in the most integrated and least restrictive setting.

HCPF is holding a series of stakeholder engagement sessions to inform this work and the subsequent implementation plan. Meeting dates, materials and helpful links are on the IBHS webpage, and you can register for a session using this form.

Resources for Behavioral Health Providers - Final Office Hours Session, New Training Library, & FAQs

Office Hours - Final Session Friday, Sept. 27 at 12 p.m.

Discuss your questions with clinical and subject matter experts, including staff from both HCPF & BHA.

September Office Hours will continue the discussion around Comprehensive Safety Net Providers, as well as addressing questions related to the Prospective Payment System (PPS) and other reform topics.

The new Training Library is your one-stop-shop for all trainings to date featuring recordings of live trainings, links to pre-recorded trainings, and slides from each training. The page lists trainings by title and also categorizes trainings by topic to help you easily find what you're looking for:

Helpful FAQs on the HCPF Safety Net Providers webpage: see the most commonly asked questions from providers, covering topics including:

BHA Licensure/Approval
HCPF Enrollment
Safety Net Pro vider Types
National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Billing and Reimbursement

We continue to receive forwarded mail at out old address. If your materials include our address, please ensure it has the correct address:

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

303 E. 17th Ave. Suite 1100

Denver, CO 80203

Updated Income Trust Form

Starting Aug. 10, any applicants or members who need an income trust for long-term care medical assistance eligibility will receive an updated income trust packet with the letter generated in CBMS that advises them they are over the income limit. Although these updated packets will only be sent after this date, the updated income trust packet will also be available on the HCPF's website as an attachment to a soon-to-be-published Operational Memorandum. It is preferred that applicants and members use the new form immediately but both the new and old income trust forms will be accepted for approval during this transition. Any members with existing income trusts will not be required to create a new income trust; previously approved income trusts will remain valid.

HCPF OM 24-044 Income Trusts - Revised Forms and Additional Guidance

LTSS Presumptive Eligibility

A new presumptive eligibility (PE) program is scheduled to become available in January 2026. It will provide immediate access to some Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) benefits. This program will be initiated through a referral form using self-declaration of eligibility, followed by application verification.

The new presumptive eligibility program will allow an adult who meets eligibility criteria to receive a defined set of LTSS benefits and services during the PE period while their Long-Term Care Medicaid application is processed.

Watch LTSS PE Stakeholder Video

LTSS PE Stakeholder Presentation - August 2024

What is happening now?

House Bill 24-1229 gives HCPF the authority to pursue PE for LTSS. HCPF is presenting the program to various stakeholder groups and gathering feedback about program details.

Stay tuned for updates!

Stakeholder Engagement

LTSS PE Program Updates Session

Oct. 16, 2024, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

During this session, we will provide updates and additional details about the new LTSS PE program scheduled to be implemented in January 2026.

Stay tuned for county-specific engagement opportunities

Submit questions or feedback using the LTSS Stakeholder Feedback Form or email HCPF_LTSSPE@state.co.us. The LTSS PE Feedback Log will be used to list the questions and feedback we have received.

HCPF is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. If you need accommodations or support viewing or accessing our content, please visit our Accessibility page to submit a request.

Incentives Spotlight

Our Incentive Task Group (ITG) continues to meet, with one meeting remaining:

Fiscal Year 2024-25 Incentives Task Group

Sept. 4 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Google Meet joining info

Video call link

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 402-629-0099‬ PIN: ‪640 433 179‬#

Fiscal Spotlight

The Partner Relations team is beginning to review HCPF Executive Director rules. This encompasses the fiscal and program rulesets that pertain to county departments of social/human services. Our intention is to ensure we have a robust stakeholder process that will provide counties several opportunities to engage, including repurposing some of our monthly director calls to focus on rules.

Our goals for rulemaking are:

Modernizing fiscal rules
Incorporating sub regulatory guidance
Aligning with other state agencies wherever possible
Reducing county workload by streamlining administrative processes
Incorporate lessons learned from PHE unwind

Beginning with the fiscal rules, we are forming a committee to help revise the initial set of rules to ensure they are operable for counties. These meetings will also include a public comment period. If you are a county partner who would like to be included on the committee, or a member of the public who would like to be notified of these meetings, please email hcpf_countyrelations@state.co.us. Please keep an eye for future stakeholder meetings.

How to Get Help!

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 & Eligibility teams.

County Relations & Eligibility Site Request Form. This webform allows you to enter details to help us resolve your issues and is the best way to contact both the County and Eligibility teams at HCPF.
Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus Grievance Form. This webform allows anyone to enter details to help us resolve and be aware of any grievances.

Supplemental Information

HCPF Contacts & Resources

Quick Links

Volume 8 - Medicaid & CHP+ Rules

HCPF Forms & Rules

Training Topics, References, Guides

HCPF Publications

Memo Series posted in last 30 days

Budget Documents

HCPF Publications

County Administration

CBMS Client & User Materials

County Fact Sheets

Staff Development Center (SDC) Homepage

CO.Learn/Learning Management System Login

Premiums, Expenditures, Caseload Reports