In place of the Policy Advisory Council (PAC) update, the county team is using a newsletter in the style of County Connections to communicate critical information.
The content is designed for county human services directors and leadership.
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Letter from the Executive Director
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Historic Legislative Session for Health Policy
Thank you for your partnership in a historic legislative session for health policy. Together, we are making transformative investments in behavioral health, workforce, pandemic management, affordability and coverage. While the Department is tracking and implementing more than 50 bills passed this session, here are some of the highlights:
Supporting Workforce, Older Adults & Pandemic Management. Several bills will help Colorado move from pandemic responsiveness to endemic management and pandemic readiness. They include measures focused on vaccinating, testing and treating through hospital system owned primary care providers as well as hospital staffing improvements (HB 22-1401); targeted funding to support nursing homes (HB 22-1247); and higher base wages for nursing home workers (HB 22-1333) as well as home and community-based direct care workers (HB22-1188). Also, the Department is thrilled at the passage of SB 22-203, which creates a more efficient, effective and transparent oversight structure for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) - an all-inclusive benefit for older adults who need long-term services and supports.
Affordability. As stated by Gov. Polis, this was a landmark legislative session for saving people money on health care. HB 22-1285 increases hospital price transparency, predicted to drive down outlier prices impacting communities. Additionally, HB 22-1370 will pass along drug manufacturer rebates to employers and consumers – valued at more than 16% of overall drug costs for those not sharing in rebates now. This bill represented one of the policy recommendations in the Department’s 2021 Reducing Prescription Drug Costs in Colorado Report. Also, SB 22-200 provides funding for rural hospitals to invest in affordability solutions that help reduce rural hospital and clinic prices. Finally, the long bill supported the Department’s expansion of value-based payment models, designed to improve quality, reduce disparities and drive affordability across primary care, maternity care, prescription drugs and specialty care.
Coverage. Significant progress was made on expanding health coverage. Thanks to HB 22-1289, more children and pregnant people will be eligible for health coverage through a new program the Department will administer to reduce the uninsured rate. This bill also enables HCPF to move eligible individuals from Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) to Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) at the end of the public health emergency without member action by eliminating the annual CHP+ enrollment fee. SB 22-081 also passed, supporting coverage transitions and improving awareness of financial assistance that makes coverage more affordable to help keep Coloradans covered.
Thank you for your collaboration on advancing such important policies. We appreciate the hard work, passion and expertise of our elected officials, advocates, providers and stakeholders. For more information, please visit our Legislator Resource Center.
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Register now for HCPF Annual Stakeholder Webinar
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Please register to join Health Care Policy & Financing leaders for a virtual webinar on July 19, from 9-11 a.m. This event will share what we accomplished together last year, address priorities for next fiscal year, and invite stakeholder feedback and comments.
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The MAP Dashboard Reports and Documents will be Moving to Tableau!
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Starting June 2022, we will begin transitioning the MAP Dashboard reports from Sharepoint to Tableau.
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Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Enrollment Fee Discontinued
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In an effort to remove barriers for families seeking health coverage, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) and the Colorado General Assembly championed a health care bill that also included an amendment to eliminate the CHP+ enrollment fee at intake and renewal.
Effective July 1, 2022, the enrollment fee will no longer be required at intake for the CHP+ program. The CBMS project build date for this system change is June 11, 2022.
Please be advised, the requirement to collect an annual enrollment fee for CHP+ at renewal is currently suspended due to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and will be permanently discontinued at the end of the PHE.
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Ransomware Attack Hits New Jersey County
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A ransomware attack has forced officials in a 345,000-person New Jersey county to switch off their computers and set up temporary Gmail accounts so the public can email key agencies such as the health, emergency and sheriff's departments.
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Medicaid Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and CHIP Application Processing Time Report Released by CMS
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its fourth Medicaid Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Application Processing Time Report. This report shows the average number of calendar days that elapsed between the date the state agency received an initial application and the date a final MAGI eligibility determination was made.
The data included in this brief represents states’ Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment activity for the February through April 2021 period, and was submitted to CMS by state Medicaid and CHIP agencies as part of the Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment Performance Indicators process. Nationally, among the 48 states reporting data to CMS’ specifications for February-April 2021, more than 51% of MAGI determinations at application were completed in under 24 hours. Nearly 71% were completed in less than 7 days.
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County Relations Team Introduces
Customer Relationship Management System
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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.
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County Relations Web Form—try this method first. It allows you to enter details to help us resolve your issues.
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County Relations E-mail—You can still contact us by email at [email protected]. Your email to us will automatically create a service ticket with your email included. We cannot open encrypted messages within our ticketing system.
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Recent Memo Series Issued to Counties
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Policy Memos
PM 22-006
The purpose of this memo is to provide county departments of social/human services, Medical Assistance (MA) sites, and Eligibility Application Partner (EAP) sites with general information about Emergency Medicaid provided through Health First Colorado. Additionally, this memo outlines the eligibility criteria for Emergency Medicaid, how people can submit their applications, as well as a brief explanation of covered emergency services. This guidance is intended for all teams who are working in-person, online or over the phone. Please share this memo with anyone who works with Health First Colorado applicants and members.
PM 22-005
The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform eligibility sites of the Reproductive Health Care services adopted through Senate Bill 21-009. This memo includes guidance for all Medical Assistance eligibility categories. Please share this memo with all eligibility staff, supervisors, and outside agencies, as appropriate.
PM 22-004
This memo provides policy guidance for authorized individuals/entities, such as county departments of social/human services, Medical Assistance (MA) sites, Eligibility Application Partner (EAP) sites, and anyone who processes Medical Assistance eligibility applications about the new Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Limited Family Planning Services Medical Assistance program as required by Senate Bill 21-025.
PM 22-003
The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform eligibility sites of the 12 months postpartum expansion eligibility rules for the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) programs. This memo includes guidance for all Medical Assistance eligibility categories. Please share this memo with all eligibility staff, supervisors, and outside agencies, as appropriate.
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IM 22-015
The purpose of this Memo is to inform county departments of human/social services of grant funding available through the FY 2022-23 County Grant Program.
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Department Contacts & Resources
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