Safety Net Scene

Reducing costs through better care collaboration

2012-02-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from an article in the Healthcare Finance News. Click here to access the full article.

For the past several decades, the U.S. healthcare system has rewarded the provision of high-volume, specialized patient care—and, as a result, we have seen costs skyrocket and our collective health suffer.

By contrast, the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) healthcare delivery model is a collaborative, team-based approach with the primary care physician (PCP) at its nexus. With financial and clinical risk shared among providers and health plans, it has the potential to not only improve care, but also to contain costs.

If there is one thing the healthcare industry has learned, it is that chronic illness drives high costs. Chronic illness often is rooted in poor preventive health habits and is responsible for a large portion of patient encounters in the current delivery system. In fact, some 70 percent of deaths in the United States are the result of preventable conditions, generally caused by diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and obesity.

Take, for example, the many diabetic patients who suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions. Under the current highly fragmented healthcare delivery system, they often receive care from several different physicians. With no collaboration among providers, these patients are subject to gaps in care, redundant testing, and greater exposure to medical error.

By contrast, the PCMH model offers financial incentives for PCPs, specialists and healthcare plans to share their data—thereby avoiding redundancies and identifying gaps in care before they result in hospitalization and emergency room visits. A 2009 study of a PCMH pilot in Seattle showed that after one year, patient ER visits declined by 29 percent and hospitalizations dropped by 11 percent versus a non-PCMH control group.

Wellness programs aren’t new, but new accountable care models like PCMH have the power to make them more effective, with more patient stakeholders invested in their positive change. Ultimately, lower costs will come when financial and clinical incentives spur providers and payers to hold patients accountable for the kinds of behavioral changes that lead to better health.

Read the rest of this article to learn how technology can be used as a bridge and how quality and cost of care can be aligned.

One Year Report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations

2012-02-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

The One Year Report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) provides a good overview of its various initiatives, including:

Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Starting on January 1, 2012, 32 organizations are participating in the Pioneer ACO Model to test what can be achieved through highly coordinated care for more than 850,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.
Matching Payment to the Patient Experience—Bundled Payments for Care Improvement. Builds on episode-based payment models pioneered in the private sector by offering providers four patient-centered episode of care models to choose from. Plans may be able to apply as “Conveners of participating health care providers.”
The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative. A collaboration between public and private payers and primary care practices to give primary care practices new, public, and private funding for primary care functions not currently supported by fee-for-service payments.
Engaging Local Innovators—Health Care Innovation Challenge. Will award up to $1 billion in grants to applicants who put into practice the most compelling new ideas for rapidly delivering better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.

Read the full One Year Report for more information.

Grant Opportunities

2012-02-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

AstraZeneca 2012 Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program

The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation announced that it is accepting online applications for the 2012 Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program. To qualify for a Foundation grant, US-based nonprofit 501 (c)(3) or similar organizations must be engaged in charitable work in the United States that address the program's mission of improving cardiovascular health and meet key criteria. Foundation grants of $150,000 and up will be provided annually to innovative initiatives that are focused on clearly defined and measurable results and processes. The recipient organization must be able to demonstrate ongoing activity to improve cardiovascular health and the ability to sustain the initiative after the Foundation grant funds are spent.

Organizations can submit online applications for the program through Thursday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m. EST. For more information on the Foundation and how to apply for a Foundation grant, visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/foundation

AMA Foundation Grants Available for Clinics to Implement Nutrition and Diabetes Programs

The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation is accepting applications for its Healthy Communities/Healthy America program, which will award up to 11 Free Clinics with grants of $25,000 for nutrition education and awareness projects, and up to 5 grants of $10,000 for diabetes management and education projects. This program is supported by contributions from the Walmart Foundation and Lilly USA, LLC.

Letters of inquiry are due February 20, 2012. Visit www.amafoundation.org/go/clinics to view eligibility criteria and to download an application.

Updates from HCPF

2012-02-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance (February 2012) & CICP Newsletter (January 2012)

Register now for the The Forum 2012 - Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers

2012-02-08T06:48:00.001-07:00

Our annual event brought to you by the Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNET is just around the corner. Join us April 11th - 13th at the Sheraton Denver West in Lakewood, Colorado and participate in the numerous education, training and networking opportunities available to you. For more information on this event or to register please visit the website. See you there!

Something to Celebrate

2012-02-07T14:23:00.001-07:00

Guest Blog Post by Gretchen Hammer, executive director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved

All Kids Covered recently released Crossing the Finish Line: Achieving Meaningful Health Care Coverage and Access for All Children in Colorado. The report provides an update on the current status of meaningful health care coverage and access for children in Colorado, and describes the significant progress we have made toward getting our children the health care coverage and services they need.

The good news is that between 2008 and 2010, more than 40,000 children gained coverage, meaning that roughly 90% of kids in Colorado now have health insurance. In addition, most children in Colorado have a usual source of care ― a place where they regularly go to get their health care. We should take a moment to celebrate these great accomplishments and thank the countless people who have contributed to this progress.

Of course, there is still more work to be done. Much of the growth in coverage has come through higher enrollment in Medicaid and CHP+, which is from both policy changes to improve public programs and the economic hardships facing many Colorado families.

Additionally, the most recent estimates suggest that between 112,200 and 124,128 children in Colorado still do not have health insurance. And access to care varies across the state. While fewer than 5% of kids in the metro area, the Eastern Plains and Northwest Colorado do not have a usual source of care, nearly 1 in 13 Southwest Colorado children (7.6%) do not have a usual source of care. That’s too many!

It is not too much to ask that all of Colorado’s kids have access to the health care they need, when they need it. To build on the strong momentum of the last few years, All Kids Covered has outlined five key strategies, and we invite you to read through those on pages 15-17 of the report.

Colorado is 90% of the way there to crossing the finish line and covering all kids. It is going to take all of us working together to ensure that our children will have the coverage and care they need to have healthy and fulfilling lives.

A recorded webinar presenting the report and its findings is available online.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) scholarships & travel support available!

2012-02-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Kaiser Permanente is once again providing support for lead staff at ClinicNET affiliates to participate in Institute for Healthcare Improvement conferences and trainings. In addition, they have granted ClinicNET a limited amount of funding to support travel for eligible conference attendees. Click here for a list of upcoming IHI conferences and trainings and be sure to check out the IHI website for more details. If you or another lead staff member at your clinic are interested in participating in one of the upcoming IHI offerings please email Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org First come first serve!

Affordable Care Act: Opportunities for Safety Nets

2012-02-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Affordable Care Act has the potential to help safety-net providers deliver more accessible, higher-quality care to vulnerable populations. Read about the provisions of the law that will help safety-net providers in a new blog post by The Commonwealth Fund. In a related blog post, the National Academy for State Health Policy explores how these providers will be affected by participation in accountable care organizations.

Also available from The Commonwealth Fund is a podcast exploring what health reform means for safety-net providers.

ICD 10 For Safety Net Providers

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Health Resources and Services Administration provides an online resource for safety net providers to learn more about the conversion of ICD-9 to ICD-10. The deadline set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in a Final Rule (PDF-237 KB) to convert to using ICD-10 is October 1, 2013. However, prior to this date, all providers that electronically transmit data will need to convert from coding version 4010/4010A1 to version 5010 by January 1, 2012. Failure to convert and transmit data using ICD-10 codes will compromise a provider’s ability to bill for reimbursement and will also affect other activities including qualifying for quality incentive programs. This webpage provides resources on the definition of ICD-9 and ICD-10, who needs to transition, and available resources to support the transition.

Community Organizing Webinar Series

2012-02-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Expert community organizers will present in this webinar series on how to identify, develop, and empower leadership through organizing concepts, tools, and strategies. Classes are the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, 1-2pm MT, starting in February. Participation is free and does not require pre-registration. Sign up for the learning session listserv at http://www.cfmc.org/caretransitions/learning_sessions.htm.

Dates & Topics:

Feb 9 - Introduction to Leadership & Organizing
Feb 23 - Public Narrative: Story of Self
Mar 8 - Building Relationships in Organizing
Mar 22 - Mapping Actors: Identifying & Recruiting Leadership
Apr 12 - Structuring Effective Leadership Teams
Apr 26 - Developing Motivating Vision & Goal
May 10 - Developing a Campaign Timeline & Tactics
May 24 - Call to Action: Story of Self, Us & Now

To Join:

phone: 866.639.0744
website: https://qualitynet.webex.com
password: community

New Decisions Regarding AwDC

2012-01-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has made some new decisions regarding the adults without dependent children expansion in response to extensive stakeholder feedback. Such changes include eligibility determinations and the date of implementation. Read the latest in full on the Connect to Coverage, Connect to Care blog.

In late January and early February, HCPF will be hosting 2-hour outreach meetings throughout the state to provide high-level information on the upcoming expansions to community-based organizations, external community partners, advocates, and those who would like to learn about the upcoming programs. Click here for more information and here to register.

HCPF is also hosting technical trainings for CBMS users who are trainers or subject matter experts for Adult Medicaid from their eligibility site. The trainings are being presented as a train-the-trainer module and are hands-on for participants with an established and active CBMS UPA user ID.

Walgreens Corporate Contribution Program

2012-01-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

Walgreens provides grants to organizations that focus on access to health and wellness in their communities, pharmacy education programs and mentoring initiatives, civic and community outreach, and emergency and disaster relief. Health is the company's major area of focus, with priority given to programs that address the health needs of community residents. Online applications may be submitted throughout the year.

Colorado's 10 Winnable Battles

2012-01-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

To keep pace with emerging public health challenges, to address the leading causes of death and disability, and to improve, protect and preserve our environment and natural resources, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment initiated an effort to achieve measurable impact quickly in a few areas. Colorado's 10 Winnable Battles are public health and environmental priorities with large-scale impact on health and the environment, and with known, effective strategies to address them.

» Learn more about the 10 Winnables

Medicaid on the Move

2012-01-24T21:25:00.001-07:00

The Department of Healthcare Policy & Financing is hosting meetings in your region to inform you about upcoming Medicaid programs that will be implemented in 2012.

Advanced registration is required at hcpftraining.gosignmeup.com.

Community Health Centers and State Health Policy: A Primer for Policymakers

2012-01-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

A new version of the 2008 publication, Federal Community Health Centers and State Health Policy: A Primer for Policymakers, provides an overview of community health centers and other types of Federally Qualified Health Centers and is intended to assist state policymakers in developing successful strategies to integrate health centers into state delivery systems. Download the report now.

Friday, February 3 is Give Kids a Smile Day

2012-01-23T09:16:00.001-07:00

On February 3, dentists across Colorado will give kids a smile by providing free dental care. Over 200 dentists across Colorado have registered for Give Kids a Smile Day to provide free dental attention to children who are without dental insurance and from low-income families. Treatment and education will be provided in private dental offices, dental clinics and schools across the state.

To qualify for a Give Kids a Smile Day appointment, the child/family must meet ALL 5 of the following criteria:

The child needing an appointment must be 17 years old or younger.
The family must be low-income and unable to afford dental care.
The child must be dentally uninsured (no dental insurance or CHP+ coverage).
The family must have transportation to get to the appointment.
The family must be able to show-up at the appointment on time.

For a list of available appointments across Colorado, please go to www.cdaonline.org/gkaspatient.

This Webpage will be updated frequently, so please check back regularly for updated information and new appointment listings. This page will also contain a printable version of all appointment listings for your convenience.

“Tips for Engaging Safety Net Patients Using Health IT” Webinar tomorrow!

2012-01-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar Friday January 20, 2011, 2pm EST

This webinar provides tips on how safety net providers and staff can use health information technology (IT) to increase patient engagement. Health IT systems provide powerful tools that enable safety net providers to view a range of health information about their patients. This includes generating graphs and charts through an electronic medical record or patient portal that displays critical information such as a patient’s weight, blood sugar levels, or other health factors over a period of time; as well as the ability to message with patients about their health needs. Safety net providers can use this resource for engaging patients in their healthcare environments and communicating to them how they can achieve better health outcomes. Webinar speakers will speak from the perspective of rural inpatient and health center primary care settings. In addition, speakers will provide tips on how health literacy can foster better patient communication, the use of patient portals and kiosks as a tool for patient engagement, and how doctors can best work and engage with patients who now have access to their health information. Presenters include:

Kevin Larsen, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Hennepin County Medical Center
Deborah Stoud, RN, POC/EMR Clinical Support Specialist, Mayo Regional Hospital
Staff from East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Boston, Massachusetts

Questions for presenters are welcome ahead of the event and may be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov.

To register: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=50899904

Email questions or comments to HRSA’s Health IT mailbox at: healthit@hrsa.gov

Previous HRSA Health and Quality Webinars are available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit

Kaiser Permanente FREE Healthy Living Webinars

2012-01-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

Webinars are free for members & non-members. Register for webinars at kpwebinar.org
All classes are listed are Mountain Time

Cholesterol: Taking Control

February 21, 2012, Tuesday, 11 a.m.–Noon
March 20, 2012, Tuesday, 11 a.m.–Noon
April 17, 2012, Tuesday, 11 a.m.–Noon

Healing with Acupuncture

April 5, 2012, Thursday, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Preventing Diabetes and Heart Disease: Lifestyle approaches

January 25, 2012, Wednesday, 4–5 p.m.
February 22, 2012, Wed., 4–5 p.m.
March 21, 2012, Wed., 4–5 p.m.
April 25, 2012, Wed., 4–5 p.m.

Getting to the “Heart and Sole” of Health

February 2, 2012, Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
March 1, 2012, Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
April 5, 2012, Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Sleep Secrets

March 5, 2012, Monday, 6–7 p.m.
April 5, 2012, Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Training to Thrive: Getting Fit for the Race

March 21, 2012, Wednesday, 6–7:30 p.m.

Break Free for Life: Quit Smoking or Chewing

February 8, 2012 Wednesday, 6–7 p.m.
March 13, 2012, Tuesday, 6-7 p.m.
April 11, 2012, Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.

Freedom From Tobacco

Session 2: Jan 16, 6:30pm-7:30pm; May 2, 6:30pm-7:30pm; Feb 22, 11:30am-12:30pm
Session 3: Jan 23, 6:30pm-7:30pm; May 9, 6:30pm-7:30pm; Feb 29, 11:30am-12:30pm
Session 4: Jan 30, 6:30pm-7:30pm; May 16, 6:30pm-7:30pm; Mar 7, 11:30am-12:30pm

Weight Loss, Weighing the Options

February 14, 2012, Tues., 12–1 p.m.
March 13, 2012, Tues., 12–1 p.m.
April 10, 2012, Tues., 12–1 p.m.

Survey Finds One in Five Juggling Medical Bills

2012-01-14T07:56:00.001-07:00

A recent survey from the Center for Studying Health System Change and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that one in five Americans reported trouble paying medical bills in 2010. The medical debt averaged around $6,500, and more than 17 percent of people with medical debt said it would take longer than five years to pay off. Click here to read more.

News from CORHIO

2012-01-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

The CORHIO Connect newsletter features information on upcoming HIT events, the Health Information Exchange, and facilities that are leading the way in HIT expansion.

» January Newsletter

Essential Health Benefits Stakeholder Meeting - January 18

2012-01-13T07:59:00.003-07:00

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a bulletin which outlines the proposed regulatory approach to establish the essential health benefits package (EHBP) which will be required for health benefit plans offered in the individual and small group markets. The purpose of the bulletin is to allow stakeholders to review and comment. Comments on the proposed process are due to HHS by January 31, 2012.

The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) and the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange (COHBE) have partnered to host a stakeholder meeting on January 18th to collect public comment.

This meeting is the first of many steps to address the development of an EHBP for Colorado, and it will not be the only opportunity for stakeholder input. This meeting will focus exclusively on the question of the process of creating a Colorado EHBP, and will not discuss the content of the EHBP, including individual benefits, benefit levels, and cost-sharing structures.

Individuals and organizations wishing to share input with the DOI and COHBE regarding the bulletin are encouraged to do so in writing any time before close of business on January 19, 2012. Stakeholder input may be sent to jo.donlin@dora.state.co.us. Please limit your input to questions related to developing Colorado's
EHBP and exclude considerations regarding EHBP content.

Meeting Logistics

Date: January 18, 2012
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Location: COPIC, Mile High Room, 7351 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver, 80230
Call-In: 1-888-330-9939 PIN# 632148#

All updates and information will be posted at www.colorado.gov/healthreform, www.dora.state.co.us/insurance, and www.getcoveredco.org. The original bulletin may be found at http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/Files2/12162011/essential_health_benefits_bulletin.pdf.

HCPF's Budget proposal to Joint Budget Committee

2012-01-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing presented its budget proposal for FY12-13 to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) on January 4th . Click below for a slideshow with more information:

» Slideshow (PDF)

Webinar: PEAK Application Walk-through

2012-01-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Feeling uneasy about assisting a client with an application you've never seen before? Are you curious what the client sees when they complete an application? Join in this 1.5 hour session to walk through the PEAK screener and a portion of the application. These sessions will provide plenty of time to ask questions and discuss how best to utilize PEAK to assist clients.

Application Walk-throughs occur from 1:00 - 2:30PM on the second Monday of each month. Check on the PEAK Training Calendar for details on how to register for future webinars.

Open enrollment for child-only Colorado Health Insurance plans began Jan.1

2012-01-04T13:28:00.001-07:00

Open enrollment for child-only Colorado health insurance plans began Jan. 1, 2011 and lasts until the end of the month. Get them insured, no matter what their preexisting condition.This is only one of two yearly opportunities. The open enrollment period from Jan. 1-31 will see most policy coverage begins March 1.

A child-only health policy means there is no adult on the individual policy. There can be many scenarios for this type of policy: the parents may be insured through an employer-sponsored plan which does not offer dependent coverage; or the family may not be able to afford coverage for all members, and is seeking coverage for the children only.

Children who lose coverage due to a qualifying event can obtain child-only coverage by applying within 30 days of the event. Qualifying events include birth, adoption, marriage, dissolution of marriage, loss of employer-sponsored coverage, loss of Medicaid or Children’s Basic Health Plan coverage, or entry of a court or administrative order mandating coverage. Outside of a qualifying event, a child-only policy can be applied for only during an open enrollment period.

Below is a list of companies that are participating in the program. By clicking on the company name you will be taken to their standard information entry form. Enter your individual information to find out more about each companies child-only plans.

Kaiser
Cigna
Humana
Rocky Mountain Health Plans
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Golden Rule

Updates from HCPF

2012-01-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's December At a Glance

CHCS Launches Affinity Group for U.S. Charity Care Programs

2012-01-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Following implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an estimated 20 million individuals will remain without health insurance, suggesting a continued need for charity care programs that offer low- or no-cost coverage to the uninsured. However, it is unclear who in 2014 will seek such coverage, what their health needs will be, or how they will utilize charitable health care services.

To remain viable, charity care programs must now consider how to adapt their business models and delivery systems to uncertain resources and demand for services following ACA implementation. With support from Kaiser Permanente through a charitable fund established at the East Bay Community Foundation, CHCS has launched an affinity group for 10 invited charity care programs to share best practices and consider potential roles in the state insurance exchanges and/or Medicaid.

For more information, click here.

Mental Health First Aid Course this month!

2012-01-03T13:59:00.005-07:00

A 12 hour certification course to help communities better understand mental illness and respond to psychiatric emergencies.

Mondays: January 9, 16, 23, & 30
4:00pm-7:00pm
East Montclair Community Center, 6740 E. Colfax Ave., Denver 80220

Click here for more information and how to register.

NGA names four states for chronic care collaborative

2011-12-30T12:38:00.001-07:00

The National Governors Association (NGA) announced Tuesday that Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Pennsylvania have been selected to participate in the NGA's new learning collaborative on integrating chronic disease prevention services.

According to NGA, chronic disease is a major contributor to rising healthcare costs in the United States, accounting for 84 percent of healthcare spending. To address one of the root causes of rising costs, state public health officials focus on preventive care by promoting physical activity and better nutrition, smoking cessation, screenings for cancer and diabetes and programs to help people control their blood pressure and asthma.

For more information, click here.

New web resource for tracking public policy

2011-12-24T08:39:00.002-07:00

The Colorado Trust launched a new section of its website dedicated to tracking and informing public policy issues that could affect the health and well-being of Coloradans. The new section of the site includes information about federal, state and local laws, regulations, bills, judicial decisions and political events. It highlights information about Colorado health and fiscal policy, federal health care reform and national health policy, and provides daily news updates, links to key publications and health policy-related websites.

Building Medical Homes: Lessons From Eight States with Emerging Programs

2011-12-23T08:36:00.003-07:00

The Commonwealth Fund reports on eight states that are at different stages in the development and implementation of a medical home program and have relied on different strategies to encourage primary care providers to adopt the model, including developing state medical home qualification standards instead of adopting national standards. Click here to read the full report.

State Health Spending Gap Widens

2011-12-22T08:33:00.003-07:00

Kaiser Health News reports that a state-by-state breakdown of estimated health care spending found that the gap is broadening between the highest-spending and lowest-spending states. Click here to read the complete article.

Update to the Colorado Medicaid EHR Incentive Program

2011-12-20T14:28:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing continues to work on implementing the
Colorado Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, through which eligible health care
professionals and hospitals can receive incentive payments for adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR
technology.

> Medicaid Program Status Update

Mental Health Care in Colorado

2011-12-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

In 2003, the Mental Health Funders Collaborative, a group of eight Colorado grantmaking foundations, commissioned TriWest Group to conduct an assessment and critical analysis of the public and private mental health systems in Colorado. The Status of Mental Health Care in Colorado was published that year and revealed alarming data about the lack of mental health care funding and access to care for people in the state. It also published, for the first time, information about Colorado’s many overlapping and fragmented systems for providing mental health services.

In response to these findings, four Colorado foundations partnered to create Advancing Colorado’s Mental Health Care (ACMHC). Visit the ACMHC website for more information about the project.

CICP Proposed Rule Changes

2011-12-15T09:09:00.001-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has submitted a draft proposed rule concerning the Medical Assistance Rule Concerning the Colorado Indigent Care Program.

A hearing on the proposed rule is set for Friday, January 13, 2012 at 09:00 am at The Capitol Center, 225 E. 16th Ave., 6th floor, Denver CO 80203. For more information about the proposed rule, you can contact Judi Carey, MSB Coordinator at 303-866-4416 at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

If you want to provide feedback on the proposed rule or amendment to help us make that determination, please email opr@dora.state.co.us before Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

Announcing Medicaid.gov

2011-12-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) has launched http://medicaid.gov, the first Federal government website devoted to the policies and the people of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This website is the culmination of efforts at the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services to revitalize and reorient the information the Federal government makes available about these programs. Medicaid.gov brings to the forefront the items that States, the health policy community and other stakeholders have said they care about most, including: Federal policy guidance; lists of pending and approved waivers; highlights of our Affordable Care Act implementation efforts; State-specific program information and data; and improved search capabilities.

OHAC! is now OHCO

2011-12-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

OHAC! has evolved into Oral Health Colorado (OHCO). Visit their new website for more information.

Healthy Communities Update: Mental Health & Substance Abuse

2011-12-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Through its Behavioral Health Initiative, the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance is working to advance the diagnosis and treatment of depression for clients on Medicaid and CHP+. Medicaid now covers depression screening for adolescents aged 11-20, using a screening tool (questionnaire) at the child’s periodic well child visits. This screening gives health professionals an indication of a possible problem and a reason to do further evaluation either by the primary care provider or a mental health specialist. More than one million teens in the U.S. suffer from depression, yet less than one-third of those teens receive help. If you would like more information, please contact Lisa Waugh, lisa.waugh@state.co.us.

Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar

2011-12-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

"Tips for Overcoming the Gray Areas of Meaningful Use Stage 1 for Safety Net Providers"

Tuesday December 13, 2011, 2pm EST

This webinar provides tips and guidance of how safety net providers, such as health centers, critical access hospitals, and rural health clinics can overcome common gray areas of meeting Meaningful Use Stage 1 objectives. Gray areas are objectives within the final rule that are still not clear to providers. Presenters from the Regional Extension Centers (REC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will review these problem areas based on previous comments and questions directed to HRSA, CMS, and ONC staff from safety net providers. These areas include: dealing with vendors and other EHR issues; attesting data to CMS and State Medicaid programs; troubleshooting quality measures; and other Meaningful Use Stage 1 problems that safety net providers have encountered. In addition, this webinar will include a presentation by CMS Staff on "Adopt, Implement, and Upgrade" (AIU) of electronic health records. Presenters include staff from both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Regional Extension Centers.

Questions to presenters are welcome ahead of the event and may be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov To register: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=84138124

Email questions or comments to HRSA's Health IT mailbox at: healthit@hrsa.gov<mailto:healthit@hrsa.gov>

Previous HRSA Health and Quality Webinars are available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit

Eligibility & Enrollment Quarterly Work Group Meeting

2011-12-08T21:12:00.002-07:00

December 15, 2011; 10:30am-12:00pm

The Colorado Eligibility and Enrollment Medical Assistance Program Quarterly Work Group Meeting will be held at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 225 East 16th Avenue, Denver CO, 80203 in the First Floor Conference Room.

Call in Number: 877-820-7831
Passcode: 439283#

Agenda Items:

Interfaces - IEVS and Auto Re-Enrollment
Pre-HMO
Cost Sharing
Manual Enrollment Update
Open Discussion

Questions Can Be Sent To: Workgroup_COEEMAP@maximus.com
Early Questions Are Encouraged

BHH Learning Collaborative Webinar: Changing the way we deliver and pay for health care in Colorado

2011-12-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM MST
Presenter: Edie Sonn, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC)

Americans pay about twice as much for their health care as citizens of most other industrialized countries, yet our health ranks lower than many of these nations. A large part of the problem is that our health system compensates providers for volume of services provided, rather than making people well. CIVHC, in collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders, is working to change this. This webinar will focus on CIVHC’s initiatives to improve outcomes and control costs through payment reform.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/304715561
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

The Health Care Innovation Challenge

2011-12-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

On November 14, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services released a funding opportunity announcement for the Health Care Innovation Challenge. Under this Challenge, up to $1 billion dollars will be awarded to innovative projects across the country that test creative ways to deliver high-quality health care services and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.

The Health Care Innovation Challenge will support public and private organizations including clinicians, health systems, private and public payers, faith-based institutions, community-based organizations and local governments. Innovative approaches from these organizations that can begin within six months of award and demonstrate a model for sustainability post-award will also be given priority.

ClinicNET Affiliate Survey!

2011-12-06T18:29:00.001-07:00

ClinicNET is honored to serve Colorado’s community-funded safety net clinics! This affiliate clinic survey will help us understand our impact, your needs and how we can improve our work. We greatly appreciate your feedback by Friday, December 16^th.

Dec. 8th Conf. Call on the Affordable Care Act and Behavioral Health

2011-12-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hosted By the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Conference Call on the Affordable Care Act and Behavioral Health (Mental Health and Substance Abuse)

Thursday, December 8 at 12:30pm EST

PowerPoint slides will be available on Wednesday by clicking here.

Please submit any questions you have advance of the call to ACA101@hhs.gov.

Updates from HCPF

2011-12-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's November At a Glance

Webinar: Introduction to PEAK for County and Community Partner Staff

2011-12-06T08:55:00.001-07:00

The PEAK Outreach Team is offering 1.5hr Introduction to Peak webinars that explains why PEAK was created, what functionality is available in it, ways it can be used to assist clients, and what resources are available to you.

These webinars are open to any staff. Webinars will occur from 9:00 - 10:30AM on the first Wednesday of every month.

To join the Introduction to PEAK webinar on December 7, 2011, please click HERE and then enter the password: peak
To hear the audio portion of the presentation, call (712) 432-0220 and enter the access code: 5642211#

Additional Introduction to PEAK webinars will be offered on the following dates from 9:00 - 10:30AM:
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Check on the PEAK Training Calendar for details on how to log into these additional webinars.

December 8 Webinar on 2011 Colorado Health Access Survey

2011-12-05T11:32:00.002-07:00

Register now for a free webinar on the 2011 Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS), hosted by The Colorado Trust and the Colorado Health Institute, on Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. The CHAS is the most extensive survey in Colorado of health care coverage, access and utilization. A follow-up to the 2008-2009 Colorado Household Survey, this survey is administered every other year via a random sample telephone survey of more than 10,000 households across the state. Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.

Ready for AwDC?

2011-11-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

Medicaid expansion to Adults without Dependent Children (AwDC) who earn incomes up to 10% of federal poverty level is launching in March 2012. First come, first serve up to 10,000 will be enrolled. Only those between the ages of 19 and 64 who earn single incomes of less than $91 a month will qualify for this first round (10% of poverty for a family of two is $123 a month). What does your clinic and staff need to be ready? Based on your responses the Connect Campaign is working to put together toolkits and webinars to prepare folks for the expansion. Please let me know your thoughts…

brooke.powers@clinicnet.org

Making Sense of Multiple Delivery System Reform Efforts

2011-11-28T09:33:00.001-07:00

The following is an excerpt from an article by The Commonwealth Fund. The complete article is available on their website.

The list of delivery system reform efforts that are currently being designed, planned, and implemented, in both public and private sectors, is impressive. We have patient-centered medical homes, health homes, accountable care organizations, initiatives to reduce avoidable rehospitalizations, programs to improve transitions to and from nursing homes, and health information exchanges, to name just a few. Considered individually, many of these efforts may potentially both improve health care and bend the health care cost curve. But how do we view, reconcile, or make sense of these, as a whole? Are they competitive? Duplicative? Counterproductive? I would say no. Instead, I believe that they are synergistic strategies to move us toward the higher goal of a more "organized delivery system."

Click here to access the rest of the article.

Colorado Voices for Coverage Conference

2011-11-27T08:47:00.001-07:00

December 1, 2011; Doubletree Denver
The Colorado Voices for Coverage will be focusing on Colorado's Health Benefits Exchange, and will feature lessons learned from other states and speakers from the Exchange's Board of Directors and the Legislative Implementation Review Committee.

Conference Details:
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Crystal Ballroom Doubletree Hotel Denver
3203 Quebec St, Denver, 80207

> Register Now

New IHI Course

2011-11-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

The IHI Open School for Health Professions is now offering MHO 101: Achieving Breakthrough Quality, Access, and Affordability. The course presents a basic framework for designing, operating, and improving complex systems of care that can be applied for rapid gains in performance.

IHI offers additional courses in quality improvement, leadership, patient safety and patient- and family-centered care. The entire course catalog is available online.

Courses are free for students, residents, and university faculty who teach courses. All other IHI Open School resources, including videos, case studies, and the Chapter Network, are available to anyone free of charge.

NEW! Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS)

2011-11-21T20:27:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS), a program of The Colorado Trust and administered by the Colorado Health Institute, is the only statewide survey that focuses on Coloradans’ health insurance status, access to care, usage of health care services, and affordability. The 2011 CHAS found that an increasing number of Coloradans (more than 1.5 million) are uninsured or underinsured. Click here to visit the CHAS website and download more information, reports, and briefings.

Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Website

2011-11-21T08:29:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Health Benefits Exchange has launched its new website: www.getcoveredco.org. This is an informational website to help the public stay informed about the Exchange and participate in the planning process. A new website will be built for the Exchange when it opens for business in October 2013.

CICP Proposed Rule Changes

2011-11-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is considering changing rules that will impact both CICP providers and clients and would like to solicit feedback from advocates and stakeholders before pursuing any changes. Stakeholders were presented with the proposed rule changes at the October 27th Stakeholder Forum and based on discussions, the Department has determined further analysis will be needed. A follow-up to those proposed rule changes is available for download.

Please respond to cicpcorrespondence@state.co.us by December 8, 2011 with your feedback. Thank you for your continued participation.

2011 General Session Recap

2011-11-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Health Institute recently published a look-back at Colorado’s 2011 General Session activities and a brief look-forward to the upcoming session. It is available online.

PAP Application Software Demonstrations

2011-11-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Pharmacy Connection is software to help in obtaining free medicines from the pharmaceutical companies' Patient Assistance Programs. It is intended to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete PAP applications.

A series of online demonstrations are being offered if you are interested in learning more. They will be offered live at 10am on November 18th, 21st, 29th and December 2nd, 7th, 13th, and 16th, or they are available anytime at www.vhcf.org. To register for one of the live demonstrations, email juliet@vhcf.org with the date you are interested in.

Health Care Innovation Challenge

2011-11-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Health Care Innovation Challenge will award up $1 billion in grants to applicants who will implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs. Click here for more information including a Nov. 17th webinar.

Health insurance estimates available from the US Census

2011-11-14T08:47:00.002-07:00

The US Census released small area health insurance estimates for 2009. View insurance status estimates by income, age and sex in every county in Colorado, as well as throughout the country.

Proposed changes to CHP+ cost-sharing

2011-11-11T14:43:00.001-07:00

New cost-sharing changes are being proposed for the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Upon final approval on November 18, there will be changes in both the annual enrollment fee and copayment structure. This factsheet from Health Care Policy & Financing describes the changes.

PEAK Webinars

2011-11-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

PEAK is an online service to screen and apply for medical, food, and cash assistance programs.

Introduction to PEAK Webinars for County and Community Partner Staff
1.5 hour Introduction to PEAK webinars, covering the rationale behind why PEAK was created, what functionality it has, what support materials and other resources are available, and how you can use PEAK to assist clients.

Open to any staff. Webinars will be held from 9:00-10:30AM on the first Wednesday of every month beginning in November.

To join: click HERE and then enter the password "peak"
To listen: call 712.432.0220 and enter the code 5642211#

Additional Introduction to PEAK webinars will be offered on the following dates from 9:00 - 10:30AM:
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

PEAK Support Calls
Monthly support call for PEAK, covering questions from organization staff, best practices, and collaborating to improve the system. Due to the nature of the issues discussed on past calls, the first half hour will be reserved to talk through county and the medical assistant site concerns and observations and the second half hour will be used to address questions from community partners.

Calls will be held on the first Thursday of each month from 9:30-10:30AM.

To join: call 712.432.0220 and enter the code 5642211#

Application Walk-through Webinars
1.5 hour session covering the PEAK screener and a portion of the application so that you can familiarize yourself with the questions being asked. These sessions will provide plenty of time to ask questions and discuss how best to utilize PEAK to assist clients.

Application Walk-throughs will be held from 1:00-2:30PM on the second Monday of each month beginning on November 14th.

To join: click HERE and then enter the password "peak"
To listen: call 712.432.0220 and enter the code 5642211#

Check on the PEAK Training Calendar for details on additional webinars.

Updates from CHP+ and HCPF

2011-11-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Child Health Plans Plus: Quarterly Newsletter

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance

ICD 10 Billing & Coding Webinar

2011-11-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 10; 9am-12pm MT
Susan Whitney with R.T. Welter & Associates, Inc. will be leading a webinar on ICD 10 Billing & Coding. Participants will learn about ICD 10 Documentation as well as Billing & Coding updates. Susan will identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future and discuss the November Coding Bootcamps scheduled around the state. This educational activity is geared towards clinicians, billing and coding staff at rural hospitals and clinics. Registration is now open for this educational opportunity. For more information and to register please contact Courtnay Ryan at the Colorado Rural Health Center at cr@coruralhealth.org or by phone at 303.309.6807. All healthcare providers, particularly physicians, are invited to attend.

Senator Bennet Releases ACA Grant Guide

2011-10-31T09:49:00.001-06:00

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has released a comprehensive collection of information on the pilot projects, grants, and workforce development initiatives available to Coloradans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Check out the Guide to Grants resource.

Job Listings: Medical Director & Practice Manager

2011-10-30T06:34:00.001-06:00

The Marillac Clinic in Grand Junction has two open positions: Medical Director and Practice Manager

Practice Manager: Works under the supervision of the Executive Director in regard to clinical issues and supervises the Medical & Dental Front Desk Supervisors. Duties include: oversee the daily administrative front office operations while coordinating with back office clinic functional needs; analyze day-to-day processes & procedures to develop most efficient and effective work flow and workloads for highest level of patient care; oversee compliance with Medicaid procedures, processes, and practices; oversee financial data related to clinical administrative functions; maintain continuing relationship with clinical Directors to ensure effective policy & program development and implementation and initiate change where necessary; work with providers and staff to implement clinic goals and objectives; serve as an internal resource center for Medicaid and overall administrative clinical functions; serve as primary contact for inquires of staff and patients; address problematic situations; serve in a leadership capacity for department; implementing and analyzing strategic goals; troubleshoot billing errors and is a point of contact for patients with concerns in this area; work closely with Finance Manager around areas of billing and data reporting; exhibits understanding of financial goals and monitors daily flow of patients and patient schedules.

Medical Director: Provides clinical leadership to the integrated medical care team of Marillac Clinic. Responsible for the delivery of professional integrated primary medical care services, both acute and chronic, to patients. Manages administrative functions of the medical department, such as QA projects, team meetings and oversight of midlevel positions. Works in alignment with the clinic administration and clinical directors to achieve strategic planning goals. Oversees dept budget and fiscal management. Leads change management in the medical integrated care dept. Colorado licensed, more than five years experience in primary care or internal medicine, prior administrative experience preferred. Generous benefit package.

More information and application instructions are available at www.marillacclinic.org.

Save the date for The Forum 2012

2011-10-27T22:04:00.001-06:00

April 11-13, 2012; Denver, CO

The Forum 2012: Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers will be co-hosted by ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center. The conference will be held at the Denver Sheraton West Hotel. Please save the date and watch for more details to come!

Free Download: EHRoutlook's Guide to EHR Adoption

2011-10-27T07:59:00.000-06:00

EHRoutlook.com is offering a free white paper download of useful sites and articles offering tools for EHR success. This document includes where to find general EHR background and information, how to build a medical home, security and privacy resources, and helpful sites for practice managers and physicians. Resources are offered by stage of EHR adoption, including for the still-learning physician, for the ready-to-buy physician and for the EHR-using physician.

What do Coloradans Want from Colorado’s Health Benefit Exchange?

2011-10-26T10:56:00.001-06:00

CCHI, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP) and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (COPIRG) conducted focus groups around the state in order to find out what consumers understood about, and wanted from Colorado’s exchange. They recently released the report of their findings.

Read the executive summary and/or full report from the focus groups

EHR Incentive Program Resources

2011-10-24T18:51:00.000-06:00

Transcripts, presentations, and audio files on calls about the EHR Incentive Program are now available online.

CMS’ National Provider Call on July 14, 2011, “Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Basics for Eligible Professionals,” provided basic information on the Incentive Programs for eligible professionals.

CMS’ National Provider Call on August 18, 2011, “Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program: Understanding Meaningful Use,” provided information about the meaningful use requirements of the EHR Incentive Programs.

Materials from both of these calls can be found under the Presentations for Providers section on the Educational Materials page of the CMS EHR Website. More information on the EHR Incentive Programs is available on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs website.

CMS Webinar on Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records

2011-10-22T20:06:00.002-06:00

The CMS Kansas City Regional Office, in collaboration with the CMS Denver Regional office, is offering Webinars / Teleconferences pertaining to the Electronic Health Records Incentive Program.

This session will begin with a brief presentation followed by time for participants to ask questions. Registration is not required. The session will accommodate 100 webinar participants and 200 teleconference participants on a first come, first served basis.

Understanding the Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
Friday, November 18, 2011 – 12:00-1:00 PM MT
Audio Conference Line: 877-267-1577
Meeting ID: 5452

Upcoming CICP Stakeholder Forum

2011-10-21T05:43:00.000-06:00

Thursday, October 27, 2011; 9am-12pm

The CICP Stakeholder Forum will be held next Thursday morning at 225 E. 16th Ave., 9th Floor, Conference Room 9A/B. If you would like to call in, instructions are below:

Access number: 1-877-820-7831 or 1-720-279-0026
Room number: 496143#

HRSA Webinar: Tips for Going Live with a Health IT System

2011-10-20T23:11:00.001-06:00

Friday, October 21, 2011; 12:00-1:30 PM MDT

This webinar will explore the experiences of safety net providers who have gone live with a health information technology (IT) system in the last 18 months. Even with much preparation, it is difficult to prepare for all the unexpected bumps in the road. Speakers will present lessons learned and provide tips for successfully planning and triaging problems during the first weeks of going live. Topics include:

The impact on a provider’s clinical and business workflow;
Making critical changes with your health IT vendor;
Meeting meaningful use stage 1 functionality; and
Identifying useful resources and/or training.

Speakers will also provide advice on change management and how to ensure that this period does not affect patient care. The webinar will cover both primary and inpatient care for rural and urban safety net providers.

Click here to register.

Consider attending the Accountable Care Collaborative Program Improvement Advisory Committee!

2011-10-11T13:32:00.002-06:00

As the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) Program launches through the Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCO) please consider attending the ACC Program Improvement Advisory Committee. These meetings are open to the public. The next ACC Program Improvement meeting will be held on October 31, 10AM to noon. Additionally 4 Subcommittees are being established: Quality Health and Improvement; Payment Reform, Delivery System Integration; and Provider Outreach. Intererested in serving on a subcommittee? Contact Kathryn Jantz with CO Dept. of Health Care Policy and Financing at 303-866-5972 or Kathryn.Jantz@state.co.us

Open Forums - Community Clinic Licensure

2011-10-07T17:08:00.002-06:00

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is hosting two open forums to hear comments regarding community clinic licensure.

Date and Location of Open Forums:
Friday 10/14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4300 Cherry Creek Drive, South 80246, Building C, Conference Room CIE

Friday 10/21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4300 Cherry Creek Drive, South 80246, Building A, Board Room, 5th Floor

Background: The Board of Health conducted a rulemaking hearing on the proposed community clinic regulations on September 21, 2011 and granted a continuance until November 16, 2011 to allow CDPHE to take additional stakeholder input. Click here for more information including the draft of the proposed regulations deliberated by the board.

Check out Updates from CDPHE and HCPF

2011-10-07T07:31:00.002-06:00

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s: Healthy Communities Update (HCU)

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance

Archived Webinar: Leveraging the Social Determinants of Health

2011-10-06T09:32:00.001-06:00

This course, sponsored by the Institute for Alternative Futures & Kresge Foundation, is now available for safety net clinics. It has been reviewed and accredited for up to 1.50 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Upon completing the webcast, please submit the evaluation for this course which will appear at the end of the session.

Click here to access the classroom.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Safety net clinics routinely go beyond providing only clinical care to individual patients, to “leverage the social determinants of health” (SDH) on behalf of their patients and communities. Yet little is known systematically about this. And much of the differences in health outcomes and health disparities are shaped, not by health care, but by other factors, particularly from the social determinants of health, such as education, jobs, housing, transportation, access to nutritional foods and neighborhood safety.

This Webcast will feature a panel of leaders and directors who are active in leveraging the SDH, describing their activity and preliminary lessons along with perspectives from The Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF), along with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and Clinical Directors Network (CDN). It will present examples and insights on current developments and will engage participants to describe and enter their examples onto the IAF project’s webpage. For example, your clinic probably has a WIC program. Do you have job training or education efforts, build schools, enable septic tanks and wells in rural settings, work with police to enhance neighborhood safety, build bike trails and parks, low income housing, skilled nursing facilities, childhood development centers, provide parenting education, foster farmers markets and community gardens? What other activities could your clinic do? How are these supported, staffed, made effective, and measured? Please join us and share your experience and your plans!

Costco Wholesale Corporate Contributions Program

2011-10-05T09:26:00.000-06:00

The Costco Wholesale Corporate Contributions Program supports nonprofit organizations in company operating communities throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as international locations. Grants and product donations are provided to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions that address the areas of children's issues, education, and health and human services. Local organizations should submit requests to the Warehouse Manager at the nearest Costco. Grant or donation requests which impact a broader region should go through the appropriate regional office. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the company’s website to review the donation and grant eligibility guidelines.

Class: Managing Ongoing Health Conditions

2011-10-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

This FREE Healthier Living Colorado class is being offered to anyone 18 or older who would like to gain control over ongoing health conditions. The class will be held Tuesdays for six weeks.

When: 6-8:30pm every Tuesday for six weeks, October 11 - November 15
Where: AdvocacyDenver office, 1905 Sherman St. #300, Denver, CO 80203
How Much: FREE
Other Info: Snacks and drinks will be provided; child care will not be provided; one workbook per group (if you bring a family member or a friend, you will share one workbook)

To enroll or to ask questions, contact Alex Andrews at 720.841.8326 or aandrews@advocacydenver.org.

Latest Estimates of Colorado’s Uninsured

2011-09-30T15:46:00.002-06:00

Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released information on Americans’ income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2010. Nationally, median household income declined and the poverty rate increased. While the number of Americans without health insurance increased, the overall percentage was not statistically different from the previous year. The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) released a report on state-level findings, noting that Colorado was the only state that recorded a statistically significant decline in the number of uninsured individuals between 2007-08 and 2009-10. Read CHI’s report.

Free Clinic Establishes Home Base

2011-09-29T15:16:00.000-06:00

St Benedict Health and Healing Ministry has established a home base for its offices and free clinic operations, which serve East Boulder County. Although they have been in Boulder County for six years, this is the first time they have had a central location. They intend to increase the number of free clinics they provide to serve the medically underserved individuals in the area. Read more in a recent Boulder Daily Camera article.

Proposed Changes to CHP+

2011-09-29T12:34:00.000-06:00

The Medical Services Board is proposing new cost sharing requirements for the Children’s Basic Health Plan (CHP+). As outlined in the proposed rules released on Monday, the annual enrollment fee for families with incomes between 200 and 250% of the federal poverty level would be $75/ year for one child and $105/ year for two or more children. The proposed rules would also increase co-payments based on family income. The initial approval date and public comment hearing on these proposals is October 14. Please click here for more information about the meeting and contact Alicia Haywood if you have any questions or feedback.

Get Fit: A Rocky Mountain Youth Program to Reduce Childhood Obesity

2011-09-26T20:41:00.010-06:00

This article is an excerpt from an article in Health Policy Solutions, written by Katie Kerwin McCrimmon.

Group appointments represent one of the newest trends in health care. They help medical practitioners save time and create support communities for patients. Dr. Kim White and nutritionist Beth Ondrako found that they could give the same information to multiple people at once. And, if some “no shows” forget to come, the providers haven’t wasted their time. On this day, the turnout is great and the conference room is packed. Organizers have encouraged family members to attend since getting fit is a family affair. The group meeting also helps take away the stigma of coping with weight issues.

Welcome to cutting-edge care in the escalating war on child obesity.

“It lets the kids be in an atmosphere where they understand that there are a lot of kids who struggle with the exact same thing,” Ondrako said. “You touch more people’s lives in a group,” said White. “They get to interact with each other. It’s more fun. We want them to follow through. These kids are not thinking, ‘Oh, I have to be worried about diabetes someday.’ We try to find what inspires them. Why is this better for me? Maybe it’s so I can run faster.”

Dr. Cheryl Saipe, a pediatrician at Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics, created the Get Fit Clinic in 2006 because she and other providers were seeing so many children who were overweight and obese. Ondrako later came up with the idea of giving kids a written prescription to get fit. Now, during well-child visits, providers can give any family the prescription and invite them to join the Get Fit Clinic.

Nearly 650 children have participated in Get Fit since 2007 and another 147 have enrolled so far this year. Interest has been so high recently that Ondrako, the nutritionist, has doubled the time she spends each month at clinics in Denver, Thornton and Aurora. Organizers hope to expand funding next year to reach children at their mobile and school based clinics.

Altogether, the nonprofit provides care for more than 35,000 children during 55,000 visits a year. There are traditional pediatric clinics like this one in Denver along with non-traditional sites throughout the Denver area.

Most of the patients – 85 percent – come from low-income families whose children qualify for public health programs like Medicaid and CHP+. White estimates that more than half of all the kids she sees are obese. Among children ages 10 to 15, the numbers are even more staggering. “My guess is that over 85 percent are obese. It’s an epidemic,” White said. “Patients and parents are finally beginning to realize it’s a problem. In the past, we’d hear, ‘He’s fine. He’ll outgrow it.’” Yet, even when parents are willing to tackle obesity, they need help. And medical providers can’t do much to reverse the complex problem in short annual well-child visits.

Without intensive follow-up care, children and families stick with the same old patterns and come back year after year with ever-increasing weights that forecast lifelong health problems from diabetes to heart disease.

Childhood obesity in Colorado is increasing at the second fastest rate in the country. And the epidemic is especially pronounced among children of color and low-income kids.

In order to succeed, the Get Fit program very deliberately does not focus on weight loss. Rather, it’s much more about making incremental changes that promote a healthy lifestyle. “They’re not going to change because we tell them to do it. No one can do it for the child. You want them empowered with knowledge to change their lives,” White said. Lasting results are measured in small steps. Providers at Rocky Mountain tell children that every person’s body looks different and that’s fine. They encourage family members to focus on maintaining their current weight. Then, over time, as children grow taller, they will almost certainly grow leaner. And, healthy habits can last a lifetime.

To read the complete article, click here.

Hunger Free Colorado Summit

2011-09-24T20:28:00.001-06:00

October 5, 2011; 7:30am-4:45pm; Doubletree Hilton Denver Tech Center
Registration is now open for the Hunger Free Colorado Summit 2011. Click here to view the agenda and register. This one-day event will unite nonprofit organizations, faith community leaders, government representatives, and foundation and corporate leadership for a full day of cross-sector learning.

Grant Opportunity

2011-09-22T20:30:00.000-06:00

The Breast and Women’s Reproductive Cancers Fund Advisory Board has announced a grant opportunity resulting from the 2010 Colorado income tax checkoff program. Grants are capped at $5,000 and the work must be completed by June 30, 2012. Proposals are due on September 30, 2011 by 10:00 pm. For more information and the application, go to: http://coloradocancercheckoff.org/grants

Colorado HealthStory completes pilot phase!

2011-09-22T17:35:00.007-06:00

ColoradoHealthStory, a three-year project of the Colorado Rural Health Center, ClinicNET and the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved, recently completed the pilot phase of their story collecting project. Modeled after the award winning StoryCorps, Colorado HealthStory invites Coloradans to tell their own health story and begin a dialogue about health care across our communities. Colorado HealthStory, funded in late 2010 by The Colorado Trust and The Colorado Health Foundation, is working to create an appreciation of our shared experiences of health, one conversation at a time. Everyone has a story to tell, whether it be the joyous birth of a baby, the moving experience of sitting with a dying parent, a journey of remarkable healing, the perspective gained from providing care or struggling to navigate our complicated healthcare system.

Colorado HealthStory staff began gathering audio recordings this summer in three focus communities: Rocky Ford, Summit County and Aurora. After collecting and editing a body of stories in each community, HealthStory gathered community members together for a local forum and listening session. During the forums, storytellers, providers, elected officials, advocates and other members of the community were able to listen to collected stories and speak about local shared health issues. Health profiles for the region were presented at each forum which highlighted recorded stories and local health data. This fall, HealthStory staff will hit the road again to record stories in three additional communities.

Advocacy-Focused Lunch and Learn: Patient Safety and Quality

2011-09-21T20:24:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011

Children's Hospital Colorado is hosting a Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at their facility in Aurora, which will feature leading local experts who will discuss how to serve as a child's number one advocate when it comes to health care.

Often, parents and caregivers don’t know how to efficiently and effectively participate in the process so that their voices and concerns are addressed as decisions are made. This event will teach parents and caregivers how to communicate with health care providers to receive the information they need to make important and informed decisions for their kids. Children’s Hospital Colorado’s chief quality officer, Dan Hyman, M.D., and Family Voices’ executive director Christy Blakely will provide useful information about available resources as well as helpful tips and tools so that families can get the safe and quality care they need, when they need it.

For more information or to sign up, please visit: Children's Hospital Colorado.

HIT & Quality Webinar: Impact of ICD-10 on Safety Net Providers

2011-09-19T04:11:00.000-06:00

Friday, September 23, 2011; 2:00-3:30 PM EST

Are you aware that there are ICD-10 conversion activities that need be completed by January 1? Do you understand how ICD-10 will impact you?

This webinar will provide technical assistance and examples of how safety net providers from various settings have begun planning to comply with the health industry’s conversion to a greatly expanded and fundamentally new coding system for the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10).

As a prerequisite to ICD-10 compliance, healthcare organizations are also required to adopt updated electronic transaction standards, known as HIPAA 5010, by January 1, 2012. Failure to address this issue in a timely manner may lead to an inability to bill Medicaid and Medicare. Providers who have not begun the planning and budgeting process need to become more proactive and work with their billing and health information technology providers/managers to assess where their operations stand relative to the ICD-10 final rule. Developing strategic plans and taking action now will help to mitigate late-stage rushes for compliance during the last months of this year.

Webinar presenters will discuss the ramifications of failing to meet compliance deadlines, and highlight ICD-10 resources that are available to safety net providers. In addition, they will touch on the strategies to avoid implementation bottlenecks.

Registration Link: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=50985353

WebEx Meeting on Medicaid Expansion

2011-09-18T21:03:00.000-06:00

September, 27, 2011; 3pm MDT

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will be hosting a WebEx meeting to discuss the Adults without Dependent Children Expansion and the proposed 1115 Demonstration Waiver, to be submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. During this session Department staff will share lessons learned from other states, updated information about the AwDC population in Colorado and information about benefits, eligibility and timing. Prior to submission of the section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, the Department is interested in your feedback regarding the approach.

To join the online meeting

Go to https://acs-inc.webex.com/acs-inc/j.php?ED=156888052&UID=1163348452&PW=NNGVmMmYxYWJi&RT=MiM2
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: awdc1
Click "Join".

To join the teleconference

Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-581-1933 (US)
Call-in number: 1-517-876-5009 (US)
Participant access code: 747 030 5

For assistance

Go to https://acs-inc.webex.com/acs-inc/mc
On the left navigation bar, click "Support".

Meeting information
Meeting Number: 794 080 175
Meeting Password: awdc1

Colorado Health Foundation Public Comment Hearings

2011-09-18T20:34:00.000-06:00

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers is reviewing the Colorado Health Foundation's proposal to sell its interest in the HCA-HealthONE hospital system to its joint venture partner, HCA Holdings Inc. The Attorney General has determined that the proposed $1.45 billion transaction does not fall under the Colorado Hospital Transfer Act, which means that if he ultimately approves the sale, proceeds would be obtained and managed by the Foundation.

This sale is being evaluated carefully since it could have significant ramifications on Colorado health care. Among the criteria being considered:

The transaction must serve the public interest.
The Foundation must receive fair market value for the sale of its 40 percent interest.
The Foundation must maintain its historic charitable mission and function.

To ensure public comment on this important matter, the Attorney General has scheduled hearings regarding the proposed sale on the following dates, times and locations:

Monday, Sept. 26, 6-9 p.m. at Rose Medical Center, 4567 E. 9th Ave. in Denver
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.-noon at Skyridge Medical Center, 10101 Ridgegate Parkway in Lone Tree

If you cannot attend one of the meetings but would like to contribute comments to the Attorney General's Office concerning the hospital transfer, you can do so via hospitaltransfer@state.co.us or by sending a letter to 1525 Sherman St., 7th floor, Denver, CO 80203.

To learn more about the Attorney General's analysis of the proposed transaction and the upcoming hearings, read this news release from the Attorney General's office.

HCPF and MAXIMUS Workgroup Meeting

2011-09-17T20:11:00.000-06:00

September 22, 2011; 10:30 AM to 12:00PM
This workgroup meeting will cover CHP+ manual enrollments, the volume coming into MAXIMUS, the top five reasons community partners contact MAXIMUS, PEAK, and the interfaces.

Teleconference Information
Participant Dial-in Number 877-295-0961
Event Pass Code 99877563

Questions can be sent before and during the meeting to workgroup_coeemap@maximus.com. The PowerPoint presentation will be sent September 20.

HCPF Information for Safety Net Clinics

2011-09-17T20:05:00.000-06:00

Governmental departments publish regular newsletters containing valuable information. Click on the link below to access this recent publication from the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing:

At a Glance

KPStep program now open to new enrollment

2011-09-15T13:10:00.000-06:00

The KPStep program provides Kaiser Permanente benefits at greatly reduced rates for up to 24 months to eligible individuals who otherwise could not afford health care. Monthly premiums are based on family size and income. The coverage includes a FREE health risk appraisal, preventive services, hospitalization, and pharmacy benefits. Some benefits are limited and this plan may not meet all your health care needs if you have a complex health condition or suffer a catastrophic event.

To be eligible for KPStep, applicants must meet certain criteria:

Must live within Kaiser Permanente Denver/Metro service area
Must be between the ages of 0 and 34
Must be income eligible - see chart to the right
Must not be eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan where the employer pays at least 50% of the cost of coverage
Must not be pregnant at time of application
Must not be in a hospice, nursing home, or other institution
Must not be in need of a transplant referral or evaluation, on a transplant list, have end-stage renal disease, or had a transplant
Must not have coverage under a Kaiser Permanente Charitable Health Coverage Plan, unless coverage was as an underage or student dependent on a parent’s plan

Monthly premiums start at $18.15 for one person, and $36.30 for a family, based on family size and income (Premiums are subject to change). If you failure to send in your monthly payments, your coverage will end and you will be unable to re-apply.

For more information or to apply please contact Kaiser Permanente Community Information Line at 303-338-3490 (TTY for the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired: 1-800-659-2656), weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Download the KPStep materials:

Application (Spanish application coming soon)
Brochure
Flyer
Premium & Income Chart

New resource for health insurance education

2011-09-14T21:59:00.002-06:00

The Colorado Division of Insurance has launched a new website and education campaign to help consumers better understand their health insurance. This is an excellent resource to which you can direct patients who have questions.

You can also download the related materials for distribution:

Press release
Brochure (printed versions available)

If you have feedback or ideas for the website, please contact Marianne Goodland at marianne.goodland@dora.state.co.us.

DOI is planning two webinars in September and three town hall meetings in October (Denver, Greeley, and Grand Junction). More information about these events will be coming next week.

Connecting Health Education to Service: A Networking Event Oct. 13th

2011-09-13T11:06:00.001-06:00

Thursday, October 13, 2011; 3 - 7 p.m.
University of Colorado at Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO

This event is an opportunity for your organization to directly recruit physician residents and health care professional students as well as network with Colorado health care professional school staff and faculty. Health care professional students and residents will be able to learn about your site and explore the options available to them within the safety net clinics. The goal of this event is to encourage innovative solutions to the workforce issues facing Colorado, specifically within unique rural and urban communities where safety net clinics are located.

Free to attend, food and drink will be provided. Travel reimbursement will be available for safety net organizations coming from at least 50 miles away. Registration is required. Please RSVP here!

CommunityConnections Blog Highlights

2011-09-12T13:06:00.000-06:00

These two blog posts from The Colorado Trust are worth a read!

Health Reform from the Perspective of the Business Community
by Kelly Brough, President & CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Insights from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's 8th Annual Health Care Policy Breakfast

The Role of Patient Navigators in Decreasing Health Disparities
by Chris Armijo, Program Officer, The Colorado Trust
The Affordable Care Act offers the opportunity to reduce health disparities through patient navigators

ClinicNET talks Patient Centered Medical Home

2011-09-09T10:09:00.001-06:00

ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center have released a brief on the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model to support the model and provide services to assist clinics in pursuing certification or designation.

We believe that health information technology, health information exchange, and the use of registries and other tools help to assure that patients in PCMH model get quality care when and where they need it. Quality care is culturally and linguistically appropriate, and is provided at an appropriate health literacy level. Download the PCMH brief to learn more.

› PCMH Landscape Brief

IMPORTANT: 2011 Salary & Benefits Survey

2011-09-08T09:39:00.001-06:00

ClinicNET is thrilled to announce the 2011 Salary & Benefits Survey for community-funded safety net clinics. Support and technical assistance for this opportunity has been made available to ClinicNET by the Colorado Provider Recruitment program, a service of the Colorado Rural Health Center. We hope that your clinic will participate in this valuable project. The deadline for completing the survey is September 19, 2011. The report based on this survey, to be available in early 2012, will be:

A valuable component for evaluating existing salary and benefits structures for selected employees
Useful when addressing compensation questions
A component for determining the economic impact of your organization
Completely CONFIDENTIAL; all reported data will be in aggregate, and no one other than ClinicNET and CRHC will have access to individual health clinic information

Survey Document
The 2011 Salary & Benefits Survey is an Excel document; please note that this document includes four spreadsheets:

TAB 1 contains the instructions for the contact information portion of the survey
TAB 2 contains the survey tool for contact information
TAB 3 contains the instructions for the salary and benefits portion of the survey **
TAB 4 contains the survey tool for the salary and benefits information

**Many clinics utilize volunteer clinicians, administrators, etc. Please place a “V” in the salary and benefits columns for those individuals and indicate in the FTE column if their volunteer work is fulltime (1.0), part-time (.5), quarter time (.25), etc. Aggregate information on the number of volunteers providing services is helpful to ClinicNET as we continue to provide education about the health care safety net in Colorado.

CLICK HERE to download the survey

Important Notes

Please have one person at your clinic complete the survey. If you are not the appropriate person to complete this survey, please ensure that the appropriate person receives the survey.
You may either complete the survey as an electronic Excel document (preferred), or print it out and fill it in by hand.
Completed electronic surveys should be emailed to Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org.
Completed paper surveys should be faxed to Brooke Powers at (303) 832-7496.
NOTE: If you receive a security warning about macros when opening this document, please choose “Disable Macros”. You will not lose any functionality with your spreadsheet.

Participation Incentives
We understand that completing the survey will take time, and that you all are very busy. As incentives for participation:

Persons submitting surveys by the September 19th deadline will be entered in a drawing to win one of four $25 gift certificates from Amazon.com.
The 2011 Salary & Benefits Report is scheduled to be released in early 2012. All organizations that submit a completed survey will receive one free copy of the report.

What Will Be In the Final Report
The final 2011 Salary & Benefits Report will contain:

Average salary and salary ranges by position title
Average dollar amount of benefits, plus the average benefits as a percentage of the average salary
Salary and benefits information for executive level employees (Executive Director, Fiscal Director, etc.) and for clinical providers and clinical mid-level staff broken down by years of employment
Information based on (4) Regions; Front Range, South Central, Eastern & Western Colorado

ICD-10 Webinar

2011-09-07T10:25:00.001-06:00

September 20, 2011; 12-3pm

Register now for a webinar offered by the Colorado Rural Health Center, covering ICD-10, documentation, billing and coding updates, as well as identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future. All health care providers, particularly physicians are invited to attend.

Click here for more information and to register.

Eligibility Verification Interfaces are Live as of August 29th

2011-09-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

To make it easier for applicants for public programs, CBMS (Colorado Benefits Management System) will interface with other systems to receive information about the applicant's income and citizenship.

Covering Kids and Families has information on these interfaces, which will be of interest for those who do application assistance as well as public policy staff. Please contact Christy Trimmer if you have questions.

Clinics celebrate Safety Net Clinic Week!

2011-09-03T15:39:00.007-06:00

Highlights of Safety Net Clinic Week 2011 include:

Chaffee People's Clinic in Salida was featured in an article in The Mountain Mail and the Chaffee County Times.

Community Health Services in Commerce City hosted a visit from Congressman Perlmutter staff members, Jerry Pifer and Jose Rodgriguez. Additionally, the Commerce City Sentinal ran Community Health Services letter to the editor!

Congressman Coffman staff member, Jennifer Creager, & State Rep. Gerou visited Mtn Resource Center Pediatric Health Clinic in Conifer.

Congresswoman DeGette staff member Andrea Autobee visited Rocky Mountain Youth Denver Clinic.
State Rep. Kefalas visited Fort Collins Family Medicine.
Congressman Gardner staff member, Maria Secrest visited North Colorado Family Medicine.

Update on State Medicaid Expansion to Adults without Dependent Children

2011-09-01T20:58:00.001-06:00

The Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing has made decisions regarding expanding Medicaid coverage to adults without dependent children (AwDC), including when and how the expansion will begin and who will be eligible in the first phase. Please click here to read the update provided by The Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved's Connect Campaign. ClinicNET participates in the Connect Campaign and other efforts to educate and help inform policy decisions. We would love to hear your concerns about the expansion and ideas for how the expansion can best move forward. Please email Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org with your thoughts.

Webinar for Potential Colorado Health Foundation Applicants

2011-08-28T23:03:00.000-06:00

Thursday, September 8; 12-1pm; Register Now

The Colorado Health Foundation is hosting an application information webinar for prospective grant applicants. The webinar gives representatives from health-related nonprofits a chance to learn about the Foundation's grantmaking program. During the webinar, Foundation staff will provide a concise overview of the application process, including:

How to prepare applications
Important proposal requirements
A step-by-step walk-through of the online application process

Staff also will review the Foundation's funding priorities and take questions about any part of the process.

This webinar requires advanced registration, so please register now. Please note that participation in the webinar is not a required part of the application process.