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
Monday, November 28, 2011
Making Sense of Multiple Delivery System Reform Efforts
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.
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.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Colorado Voices for Coverage Conference
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
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
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
New IHI Course
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.
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.
Monday, November 21, 2011
NEW! Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS)
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
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.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
CICP Proposed Rule Changes
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.
Please respond to cicpcorrespondence@state.co.us by December 8, 2011 with your feedback. Thank you for your continued participation.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
2011 General Session Recap
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.
Monday, November 14, 2011
PAP Application Software Demonstrations
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.
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
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
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.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Proposed changes to CHP+ cost-sharing
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.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
PEAK Webinars
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.
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.
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.
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.PEAK Support Calls
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
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.Application Walk-through Webinars
To join: call 712.432.0220 and enter the code 5642211#
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
Child Health Plans Plus: Quarterly Newsletter
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance
ICD 10 Billing & Coding Webinar
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.
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.
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