March 29, 2023
This newsletter provides information and updates from HCPF on House Bill (HB) 18-1136 and the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) benefit at Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program). Share this newsletter with your colleagues. Previous editions are on the SUD webpage: Ensuring Full Continuum SUD Benefits. Your feedback, ideas and questions are welcome and can be shared with us at [email protected] 
What's New

ASAM 2.1 Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Pre-Authorization: All Managed Care Entities (MCEs), which are Regional Accountable Entities or Managed Care Organizations, agreed to standardized authorization timeframes for both Initial Authorization (IA) and Continued Authorization (CA). This is what you need to know: 
  • IAs will be for 12 days, typically delivered over one month at three times a week. 
  • CAs will be in increments of six days, typically delivered over two weeks at three times a week.    
Take Note

Quarterly Provider Forum: Time for PROVIDER FEEDBACK. Please register for the Upcoming VIRTUAL SUD Provider forum coming up April 3, 2023. This space is designed for all SUD providers to share challenges and ask questions about Medicaid coverage of SUD services.  

  • This quarter a review of Colorado’s 1115 SUD Waiver “Expanding the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care” will be provided and provider feedback for the mid-point assessment is needed. 

  • Provider feedback is also needed for planning a transition to a collaborative BHA/HCPF facilitated meeting for SUD providers to address a broader variety of provider concerns. 
 
Guest Dosing Guidance for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP): Every once in a while a member may need to travel further away than is practical to get to their usual OTP. For a member who needs to receive OTP services on a brief temporary basis, there would not be a change in provider. Instead, an OTP that would be closer may serve the member as a guest for that brief period. In addition to the two OTP providers communicating to arrange clinical care, there is also a need for the temporary provider to contact the member’s MCE (Managed Care Entity [RAE or MCO]) as outlined below to ensure prompt reimbursement for the covered temporary services delivered including abbreviated evaluation, dosing and management of care during the “guest” period. 
 
  • If the temporary provider is already contracted with the member’s MCE network: The in-network Medicaid provider does not need to make further arrangements with the MCE, beyond clinical care coordination between providers. 

  • If the temporary provider is not contracted in the member’s MCE network: The out-of-network Medicaid provider needs to contact member’s MCE to inform them that the provider will give guest dosing to their member. Temporary providers should contact the MCE in advance to define service and duration. Note that the reimbursement timeline may be affected if contact is made less than 10 days in advance.
Debunking Myths & Misinformation About Medicaid

Did you know…there are not limitations on the number of days a member may receive SUD services at any level of care? Decisions about the number of days of care a member needs at a particular level of care are based on medical necessity. This is determined through clinical evaluation using the ASAM Adult Level of Care Assessment Guide found on HCPF's SUD webpage under “Information for Providers”.