The Supreme Court Decision and the Affordable Care Act

Yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act restoring our focus,  and to a degree, clarifying the parameters within which ClinicNET and Community-Funded Safety Net Clinics will continue their work on behalf of low-income, uninsured and underinsured Coloradans.

Some provisions of the ACA were modified and are addressed by briefs and releases from organizations with whom ClinicNET collaborates.  There is value in learning what key stakeholders and associations have to say about the ruling.  Here are some recommended resources:

CCMU is proud to be a part of the work in Colorado to expand and improve health insurance options…—“CCMU Statement on the Affordable Care Act & Health Care Reform,” Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved

ACA-related grants will continue to flow to Colorado organizations.—“The Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act: Implications for Colorado,” Colorado Health Institute

… all rural provisions included in the ACA were upheld in entirety.— “CRHC Responses to Supreme Court Decision,” Colorado Rural Health Center

The Court's decision on the constitutionality of the Medicaid expansion is divided and complicated.—“Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act,” National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics

The continuation of the ACA means that Colorado Community Health Centers will continue to provide health care homes.—“Colorado’s Uninsured Are Winners in the Supreme Court Decision,” Colorado Community Health Network

Colorado can now continue moving forward implementing other provisions of the act and ensuring that all Coloradans are secure in the knowledge they have access to quality, affordable health care when they need it.—“Supreme Court Decision Ensures Health Security for All Coloradans,” Colorado Center on Law and Policy

Examples of Affordable Care Act grants not outlined above to Colorado include: 3.5 million [dollars] for school-based health centers, to help clinics expand and provide more health care services such as screenings to students.—“Two Years Later: The Benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Colorado,” Healthcare.gov

ClinicNET will stay engaged and keep you informed as the safety net community and other leaders in health care reform work through the details of implementation to maximize its benefit for individuals and communities.

PEAK Updates for July 2012

There are several new PEAK updates. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) just finished accepting applications for the PEAK Outreach Project.  Successful applicants have received notification already, and there will be a PEAK webinar specifically for grant recipients on July 12th.

Join HCPF for the 1.5 hour Introduction to PEAK webinar where HCPF will present the rationale behind why PEAK was created, review what functionality is available on PEAK, share support materials and other resources available to you, and discuss ways you can use PEAK to assist clients. Click here (event password is 'peak') to register about this webinar.  Also visit the PEAK Training Calendar for additional upcoming event details, including the July 5th PEAK Support Call for County and Community Partner staff on 7/5/2012 and the Application Walk-through Webinar on 7/9/2012.

The Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act: Implications for Colorado

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and especially the individual mandate provision, stands to affect Colorado’s health care system – and hundreds of thousands of the state’s residents - on a variety of fronts.

CHI estimates that about a half-million uninsured Coloradans will gain health insurance by 2016.

These newly-insured Coloradans – those who will become eligible for an expanded Medicaid program, middle-income individuals and families who will qualify for government subsidies to purchase insurance, and employees of small and some larger businesses who aren’t currently offered coverage – will most likely have significant implications for Colorado’s insurance market as well as how health care is delivered in the state.

The Supreme Court ruling created more certainty for the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange (COHBE). Authorized by state law but funded initially through the health law, COHBE is scheduled to open a new marketplace designed to provide affordable insurance by late 2013. A good portion of the newly-insured will most likely buy their coverage through COHBE."  Read Original Article.  (Source: Colorado Health Institute)

Also, please review CHI's Ruling Brief, "The Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act: Implications for Colorado".

Celebrate Safety Net Clinic Week 2012! Clinic Toolkit Available

Celebrate Safety Net Clinic Week 2012

CLINIC “TOOLKIT”

In an effort to raise awareness of Colorado's health care safety net providers, we encourage your clinic to participate in the third annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 20-24, 2012. Sponsored by ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center, the week is devoted to educating the public and policy makers about these vitally important health care clinics - Community-Funded Safety Net Clinics (CSNCs) and federally certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs.) We have created a “toolkit” to help clinics participate in Safety Net Clinic Week 2012. Included in the “tool kit” are many easily customizable pieces, click on each to open:

• Short Overview of Safety Net Clinic Week, Social Media Templates, and Safety Net Clinic Week 2012 Logo (use as content for your website, blogs, social media, newsletters, email signatures...)
•    Safety Net Clinic Week Flyer (full page and half page flyers)
•    Letter to the Editor (for submission to your local paper)
•    Governmental proclamation (request a proclamation from your city and/or county)
•    Safety Net Clinic Week Invitation (consider inviting city, county, state officials, candidates for elected office and local business and community leaders to visit your clinic during Safety Net Clinic Week. *see helpful links below)
•    Safety Net Clinic Week Fact Sheet (include with any invitation extended and use, in addition to specific information about your clinic, as speaking points during Safety Net Clinic Week)
•    Safety Net Clinic Week Press Release (submit to your local media.)

ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center will be requesting a proclamation for Safety Net Clinic Week 2012 from the Governor and be doing a general statewide press release. We will also be extending invitations for clinic site-visits to the Governor, our congressional delegation, targeted state legislators and other public officials. Our Safety Net Clinic Week Project Coordinator, Charlotte Kaye, is available to help you; she is coordinating all Safety Net Clinic Week 2012 activities. Please let her know if you utilize any parts of the toolkit above or if you need support in doing so.

Project Coordinator, Safety Net Clinic Week 2012:
Charlotte Kaye, 720-863-7805, charlotte.kaye@clinicnet.org

*Links to Identify your Elected Officials:

•     Identify your U.S. Representative, State Senator, and State Representative
•     Identify your County Commissioners
•     Identify your members of local government municipalities

Tobacco Cessation: Helping Providers Work with Patients to Quit Smoking

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care and National Jewish Health have archived a webinar presented earlier this month HERE. This FREE webinar covers the essentials of smoking cessation for your patients who use tobacco.  Click here to view the webinar and receive its handouts.

Colorado’s Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan - Webinar

The Governor’s Office, the Division of Insurance and the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange will convene a public webinar on Friday, June 29, from 10 to 11 a.m., to discuss the process of selecting an Essential Health Benefits (EHB) benchmark plan for Colorado.  Colorado will choose an EHB benchmark plan in the coming months that establishes minimum health benefits required for many health insurance plans beginning in 2014.  In addition to answering common questions about the process, the webinar will provide an introductory overview of Colorado’s options for an EHB benchmark plan.  Click here to register for the webinar.

Bundled Payments Webinar: Resources and Legal Considerations for Colorado Providers

As part of CIVHC's efforts to enable coordinated health care delivery approaches that reward value rather than volume, CIVHC is pleased to invite you to a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of how to implemented bundled payments for health care services. 

WHAT: Bundled Payments - Resources and Legal Considerations for Colorado Providers

WHEN: July 17th, 12:30-2:00 pm MT

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Hospital administrators, physicians, physician practice managers, health plan executives.

Registration is free.  Click here to learn more about this opportunity and to register.

Upcoming CICP Stakeholder Forum

The next CICP Stakeholder Forum is scheduled for Thursday, June 28, 2012 9:00-12:00 at 225 E. 16th Ave., 9th Floor, Conference Room 9A/B

Tentative agenda items include:
•       Continued discussion on the legality of requesting lawful presence documents annually
•       Potential changes to CICP in light of federal health care reform
•       Adjusting the CICP copayment cap date from the annual date to application date
•       Adding an additional copayment for “Outpatient Ancillary Services” for services performed in a hospital setting
•       Excluding Child Support as exempt income
•       Upcoming Provider deliverables
•       Client relations and accountability
•       General Department updates
Please send any additional agenda items to be discussed to cicpcorrespondence@state.co.us

Please RSVP (e-mail, phone:303-866-3170) as to if you will be attending in person or via phone. 

CORHIO Lowers Physician Office HIE Fees

"CORHIO has recently adjusted the cost model for physician practices and office-based providers wishing to participate in health information exchange (HIE). The adjustment includes reduced monthly subscription fees for all office-based providers..." Read more about these changes. (Source: CORHIO)

CHP+ Newsletter June 2012

"This newsletter is designed to keep county partners, community-based organizations and other stakeholders up-to-date on eligibility and enrollment in the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program. This edition has a new format. “Frontline” is a section for eligibility workers with tips on new interfaces and other critical information..." Read more.  (Source: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing)

Final Innovation Awards & New ACO Application Opportunities Announced

The second and final round of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Health Care Innovation Challenge awards were announced and include two new Colorado applicants - Denver Health and Southeast Mental Health Services in Prowers County. They join the Upper San Juan Health District (award announced in May) as the only Colorado-specific proposals to receive awards. Under the Innovation Challenge initiative, these projects are testing creative ways to deliver high-quality health care services at lower costs.
 
Click here for more information on the Colorado-specific awards and multi-state awards that include Colorado organizations.

Helping You Prepare for Safety Net Clinic Week

How will your clinic participate in Safety Net Clinic Week 2012?

Safety Net Clinic Week Project Coordinator, Charlotte Kaye, is here to help you get the most out of the third annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 20-24, 2012! Are you interested in hosting public officials, candidates for office or business leaders for a site-visit? How about hosting an open house? Do you already have an event or activity planned that week that could be highlighted by Safety Net Clinic Week? Seize this opportunity to celebrate your clinic and the important role you fill in the health care safety net with help from ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center. Please contact Charlotte Kaye for assistance and ideas! She can be reached at charlotte.kaye@clinicnet.org or at 720-863-7805.

To get a sense of Safety Net Clinic Week, click here for a look at past years’ activities!

The Safety Net Clinic Week “toolkit” will be posted very soon!  The “toolkit” will include fact sheets, flyers, logo and templates for press releases, letters to the editor, invitations for site-visits, and governmental proclamations.

Register for CMS and ONC's Joint National Provider Call on Using Certified EHR Technology to Meet Meaningful Use

"CMS and ONC are holding a joint National Provider Call on Wednesday, June 27, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET for eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals to hear an overview of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, and learn about the use of certified EHR technology to meet meaningful use"...Click here for more information and to register. (Source: Colorado Rural Health Center)

All Together Now: Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care in Medicaid

"Integrating behavioral health and primary care can help the newly Medicaid eligible (and other enrollees) manage mental health and substance abuse issues.  This can improve quality of life, enable self-management, and avoid undesirable acute care utilization...." Read more.  (Source: State Reforum)

HPSA scores: What does it mean to me and my clinic?

"What exactly is a HPSA score? This score is a federal designation assigned to a geographic area, population group (such as low-income), correctional facility, state or county mental health hospital, or private, public or nonprofit facility that can demonstrate a shortage of health professionals in the service area. HPSAs can be created for primary medical care, dental health, or mental health..." Read more.  (Source: Colorado Rural Health Center)

Funding Opportunity Announcement: Investing in Colorado’s Health Care Safety Net - Building Organizational Capacity for the Future

"Grant awards will be used to support technical assistance and implementation activities geared towards strengthening the capacity of Colorado’s safety net clinics. 

Deadline for Applications:

August 14, 2012 at 5:00pm MDT

Application instructions and materials can be accessed, submitted and completed via the Caring for Colorado Foundation website at www.caringforcolorado.org. 

Caring for Colorado Foundation will host a webinar to share information about the funding opportunity and to answer applicant questions on Wednesday, July 11^th at 9:30am MDT.  Participants must register in advance at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/39hf3/register/8896760251764236032

For more information, please contact Colleen Church, Senior Program Officer, at cchurch@caringforcolorado.org.

Non-profit clinics in the following categories are eligible to apply:  charitable/free health clinics, community-based health clinics, FQHC’s and FQHC look-alikes, public health clinics and rural health clinics.  For-profit clinics serving vulnerable populations may also be eligible." 

Click here to read more about this funding opportunity. (Source: Caring for Colorado)

New NASHP Resource: Access and the Safety Net

Click here to visit NASHP's new web section for resources about the safety net and access to care for vulnerable populations. Since 2006, NASHP has developed a breadth of work on this topic with the support of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and The Commonwealth Fund. In addition to information on Access and the Safety Net initiatives, NASHP’s recent publications and other resources, including webinars, blogs, and meeting materials on this topic area are available.

Webinar: “Health IT Project Management 101: How to Avoid Failure”

Health Resources and Services Administration is offering a Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar called “Health IT Project Management 101: How to Avoid Failure" on Friday June 22, 2:00 PM ET.  This webinar focuses on the basic concepts and knowledge areas of project management as they apply to a health information technology (IT) implementation. Click here for more information on this webinar and to register.

What's Working to Control Costs

"Without major changes in the way the U.S. pays for and delivers health care, total national health spending is projected to rise to $4.6 trillion—or nearly 20 percent of GDP—by 2020. In a new blog post, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis says policymakers looking for savings should "go where the money is," and focus on improving care for patients with multiple, high-cost conditions. The post is based on a presentation given today at a Washington, D.C., briefing cosponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform and The Commonwealth Fund"...Read more.

Facilitating Improvement in Primary Care: The Promise of Practice Coaching

"Practice coaching, also called practice facilitation, assists physician practices with the desire to improve in such areas as patient access, chronic and preventive care, electronic medical record use, patient-centeredness, cultural competence, and team-building. This issue brief clarifies the essential features of practice coaching and offers guidance for health system leaders, public and private insurers, and federal and state policymakers on how best to structure and design these programs in primary care settings..."  Click here to access to overview and the issue brief.

States Prepare for Medicaid's Growth Spurt

The Affordable Care Act sets a new national floor for Medicaid coverage. By 2019, Medicaid is estimated to cover an additional 16 million of the most vulnerable Americans, significantly increasing the shape and size of the program. Getting ready for this growth spurt is largely in the hands of states.  On this State Refor(u)m webinar, officials from three states will provide a closer look at what states are doing to prepare.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
2:30 - 4:00 PM EDT
Register here: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/miml8o5de8fp

Safety Net Clinic Week is Back

In an effort to raise awareness of Colorado's healthcare safety net providers, ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center are pleased to announce the third annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 20-24, 2012. The whole week will be devoted to educating the public and policy makers about these vitally important health care clinics - Community-Funded Safety Net Clinics (CSNCs) and federally certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

There are currently 35 identified CSNCs in Colorado; they are free and charitable clinics, community clinics and family medicine residency clinics. They provide primary care and chronic care services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Colorado residents. Colorado has 53 federally certified RHCs that provide health care in rural and remote areas of Colorado.

Safety Net Clinic Week Project Coordinator, Charlotte Kaye, will be collaborating with clinics to make this year’s Safety Net Clinic Week a great success! Are you interested in hosting a public official or candidate for office for a site-visit? Do you have an event or activity the same week that could be highlighted by Safety Net Clinic Week? Please contact Charlotte directly if you are interested in participating in Safety Net Clinic Week. She can be reached at charlotte.kaye@clinicnet.org or at 720-863-7805.  We will continue to post more information on Safety Net Clinic Week, including resources to assist clinics participation.

safetyNETworking Event

safetyNETworking is a free educational event for providers; faith‐based groups; and health, social services, and community‐based organizations. This event will be of particular interest to faith based organizations, and organizations serving the Hispanic community. The event will provide you an opportunity to learn about Federal and State programs, benefits, and resources that may be available to you and your clients. In addition, you can meet the people who directly administer these programs and network with other organizations/agencies who may also interact with your clients. Representatives from participating Federal and State agencies will conduct breakout sessions on programs for low‐ to moderate‐income individuals and families; and, will host exhibits to share important publications and resources with you.  Click here for more information.

Date: Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Location: Adams County Government Conference Center
4430 South Adams County Parkway
Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: 303‐659‐2120

Regional Outreach and Eligibility Trainings 2012

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is offering its Regional Outreach and Eligibility Trainings. The trainings will be available at various locations.   They will be two-days long, each day providing information specific to audiences including CAAS, PE and MA Sites and more.  Please contact Medicaid.Eligibility@hcpf.state.co.us with any questions.

Click here to register for a Regional Outreach and Eligibility Training session.  More information is also available online.

Colorado Medical Group Management Association (CMGMA) Fall Conference

CORHIO's Outreach Operations Manager, Mark Carlson, will speak about health information exchange in Colorado on Thursday 9/13 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm at the Colorado Medical Group Management Association's Fall Conference.

When: September 13-14, 2012
Where: Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center , Breckenridge, CO 80424
Click here for more information and to register.

CCHN Ventures Launches Low-Interest Loan Program!

CCHN Venture is financing the growth and strength of Colorado's essential community providers.  It is a new non-profit loan fund whose mission is to increase access to flexible, attractive and predictable capital financing to Colorado’s nonprofit, primary healthcare service providers.  Click here for a fact sheet. Click here for the application. 

THE Consortium June Webinar - Preparing for the Summer

Please join us for THE Consortium webinar on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 from 12:00pm - 1:15pm where we will discuss preparing for the Summer by reviewing key upcoming changes that affect medical practices and hospitals. Topics will include:

·         What to expect with the Final HITECH HIPAA Rule
·         What to expect with the Final Meaningful Use Stage 2 Rule
·         Updates on 5010 and the required eligibility and claims status operating rules
·         Updates on Medicaid and Medicare attestation

To register, click here.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Purpose and Demonstration of the Health IT Hazard Manager and Next Steps

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has identified a gap in a health care/public health practitioner’s competency within the health IT environment. This webinar is designed to increase practitioners’ competencies in several areas: improving health care decision making; supporting patient-centered care; and enhancing the quality and safety of medication management by improving the ability to identify, categorize, and resolve health IT hazards.

Date: June 11, 2012
Time: 12:30-2pm MTN
Click here to register

HCPF Provider Bulletin

Click here to read the June Provider bulletin. The index includes:
 

All Providers ........................................ 1

PAR Submission.................................... 1
ACC Providers....................................... 2
Colorado Choice Transitions (CCT) Program................................................. 2
Immunization Services Billing Manual .....2
Non Payment for Provider Preventable Conditions.............................................. 3
RAC Program Update............................ 4
Provider Status Verification ................... 4
Independence Day Holiday ................... 4
CHP+ Providers ................................... 5
Copay Changes..................................... 5
Dental & Orthodontic Providers......... 5
PAR Submission.................................... 5
DME & Supply Providers .................... 5
Revised Billing Manual .......................... 5
Home Health......................................... 5
Home Health PARs ............................... 5
Hospice Providers............................... 5
Prognosis Required for Hospice............ 5
PT, OT, S-L & Hearing Providers ....... 6
Benefit Coverage Standards ................. 6
Changes for Outpatient PT and OT Benefit ................................................... 6
Skilled Nursing Facility Providers ..... 6
New PAR Vendor in July 2012 .............. 6
Surgery Providers ............................... 7
Bariatric Surgery and Intersex Surgery Benefit Coverage Standards ................. 7
Pharmacy Providers............................ 7
PDL Update ........................................... 7
PDL News.............................................. 7
Next P&T Meeting ................................. 8
June & July 2012 Workshops............. 8

iHT2 Health IT Summit

HT2 Health IT Summit brings together C-level, physician practice management and IT decision-makers from North America's leading provider organizations and physician practices. For two full days, executives interact with a national audience of peers, national leaders and solution providers featuring the latest solutions for practice management, mobility, telemedicine, outsourcing, IT infrastructure, next-generation electronic medical records, disease management and more.

Dates/Times:July 24, 2012 8:00 AM - July 25, 2012 2:15 PM

Location:Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, CO
Click here for more information and to register.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Community Benefit Program

Through a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente, ClinicNET is pleased to offer the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Community Benefit Program. This program, offers contributing affiliate clinic leaders conference registration scholarships and travel support funding to participate in IHI courses.

IHI is an independent nonprofit organization that works to accelerate improvement by building the will for change, cultivating concepts for improving patient care, and helping health care systems put those ideas into action. IHI offers conferences and courses throughout the year.  For a list of IHI offerings available for support funding click here.

Click here for the more information about this scholarship opportunity.

COHBE Summer Outreach Road Trip Schedule

Staff from the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange will be traveling across Colorado this summer to expand their outreach efforts, meet with stakeholder groups, obtain input about their planning work and learn about effective health care initiatives. The current schedule and contact information is available here.  They will add dates and locations and update the schedule. They invite requests for meetings and presentations, including on dates that are not currently listed.

Colorado Medicaid Workshops

ACS is offering Web-EX presentations of basic billing for the CO1500 and the UB04 providers.  These Web-EX workshops are set up specifically for the providers servicing Medicaid clients outside the Front Range geographical area. In a time when practices need to run “lean and mean”, it may be good to know there is no enrollment fee for providers to dial into these sessions.

For more information on these Web-EX trainings please click here.

PEAK Outreach Project Funding Opportunity!

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, through funding from the HRSA SHAP grant, has developed the Program Eligibility Application Kit (PEAK) Outreach Project with the purpose of increasing the accessibility to the PEAK Website for Coloradans.  Click here fore more details and to access an application.

Webinar: 2012 Legislative Session in Review: Innovations in Health Care

What are some opportunities for health care cost containment, and how does care coordination fit in? What were the key themes of the 2012 session of the Colorado General Assembly, and what's in store for 2013? How will an aging population affect Colorado’s state budget and health care workforce?

The answers to these questions—and more!—are available through a new webinar series available to Colorado health care leaders. As a part of their tenth anniversary celebration, Colorado Health Institute will be offering 10 free webinars throughout 2012. The webinars are designed to review and discuss timely health policy information. Each webinar will be held from noon-1:00pm.

Upcoming webinar: June 6: 2012 Legislative Session in Review: Innovations in Health Care - Michele Lueck, President/CEO (Register)

Updates from HCPF

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's: At a Glance (May 2012) is now available.