Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM)
Monthly Newsletter
April, 2016
In This Issue
::
Peer Assistance Services and HCPF Partner to Provide Substance Abuse Training

Peer Assistance Services has teamed up with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to provide no-cost training and technical assistance for Colorado Medicaid providers on screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT). SBIRT is an effective preventive health service to identify, reduce and prevent problematic substance use. The Medicaid project goals are to increase the statewide adoption of SBIRT to help prevent substance use disorder, to detect risky use and offer support, and to refer patients to substance use treatment who need it.

 
Click here to view the remaining dates through June 14 and access the registration link on CMS.org
 
Join Our Mailing List

The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) is seeking community input on an RFP to select local agencies to host SIM-funded regional health connectors (RHCs), a unique new component of the state's health workforce designed to improve the coordination of local services. 

The RHCs will help create sustainable partnerships between health care providers, local public health agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations. Their work will be driven by the unique needs of their region. 

CHI has published a draft RFP seeking local organizations to host an RHC.  The deadline to submit public comment on the draft RFP is April 22, 2016.

Colorado SIM Office Participates in Tribal Consultation with Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Leaders

  

On March 17 and 18, the SIM Office participated in a formal tribal consultation along with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and Connect for Health Colorado. The consultation involved conversations with council members and leadership from the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs.

 

Both tribes identified treatment of mental health and substance use disorders as high priority areas. The conversation focused on how clinics could participate in future SIM Practice Transformation Cohorts, access broadband expansion services, and how local agencies could potentially host a SIM-funded Regional Health Connector in the future.


The SIM Office will continue to engage with both tribes and was asked to participate in quarterly Commission on Indian Affairs meetings in the future.

Transforming Clinical Practices Initiative (TCPi) Informational Webinars

TCPi Colorado Practice Transformation Network presents an opportunity for 2,000 clinicians in Colorado to receive practice support as they prepare for new payment models. All physicians -- primary care and specialists --  are encouraged to stay up to date on Medicare payment reform and consider taking advantage of this federally-funded support to help their practice thrive in the evolving health care landscape.

Join TCPi for a weekly informational webinar every Wednesday through April to learn more about the Transforming Clinical Practices Initiative and the Colorado Practice Transformation Network. 


SIM Website Survey
 
If you have visited the  SIM website recently, you may have noticed several changes to the layout of the site. These changes are intended improve the experience of the user, and are largely based on feedback received from members of the stakeholder community.  The SIM Office is committed to making the website as efficient and useful as possible, and is interested in hearing from you.

Deadline Extended to Apply for the Innovations in American Government Awards

The deadline to apply for the $100,000 Innovations in American Government Awards has been extended to April 29, 2016.

Offered by Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the Innovations Award is the nation's premier award for the public sector. It recognizes programs that demonstrate creative and effective government at its best.

All units of government - federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial - from all policy areas are eligible to apply for recognition.  

Applications and additional information are available at:
www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu
In the News

Chris Casey, University of Colorado, Anschutz Campus


SIM is on Twitter
 
The SIM Office is on Twitter! Follow us @SIM_Colorado to read about how Colorado is transforming the way health care is delivered, and stay up to date with the latest SIM news.