Department of Health Care Policy and Financing August Issue of At a Glance

The August At A Glance publication provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Updates from AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program

“Tools to Support Clinician, Patient Decisionmaking Released on Three New Topics:
Publications that summarize researching findings on three new clinical topics – kidney stones, groin hernias, and depression – have been released by AHRQ’s Effective Health Care (EHC) Program. The evidence-based information tools, based on comparative effectiveness reviews (CERs), are designed to help consumers, clinicians, policymakers, and others make informed health care decisions. The EHC Program has developed approximately 100 plain language research summaries in English and Spanish that cover a wide variety of health topics and explain the benefits and risks of different treatments.  

More New, Free Health Care Program Resources:

• Recurrent Kidney Stones, Preventative Medical Strategies
• Surgical Options for Inguinal Hernias
• Treatment for Depression After Unsatisfactory Response to SSRIs
• Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis:  Effective Treatment Options”  

[Source:  AHRQ]

Colorado Health Foundation – Applicant Information Webinar

“The Colorado Health Foundation is hosting an application information webinar for prospective grant applicants on Thursday, September 5th from 11:00am – Noon.   The webinar gives representatives from nonprofits that work in health care, health coverage and healthy living 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.  If you have questions, please contact Taryn Fort, Director of Communications, at tfort@coloradohealth.org or 303.953.3666.”  [Source: The Colorado Health Foundation]

CCHI Launching New Blue Guide Mapping Tool for Uninsured

“CCHI just launched their new online mapping tool, the Blue Guide, that will help uninsured Coloradans find safety-net clinics and health service providers, as well as sites that can help them enroll in Medicaid/CHP+ or Connect for Health Colorado, the new insurance marketplace. The new map is far more robust and user friendly than our old version, and can be accessed through the short url: cohealth.co/blue-guide. There are also customized mobile apps that can be downloaded for Android, and soon Apple devices (still waiting for the approval on the iOS app for Apple, but coming soon).”  [Source:  CCHI]

Safety Net Clinic Week Recap!

Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 was a huge success! There were a total of ten site-visits with policy makers and 7 open houses. Be sure to read Sharon Adams's op-ed in both the Boulder Daily Camera and The Fort Collins Coloradoan  and check out highlights from the week on ClinicNET's Facebook page and Twitter feed. Click here to view Health Care Aware Colorado's video about safety net clinic providers in Colorado.

from left to right: Jeff Martin, Executive Director of Open Bible Medical Clinic, Mia Ramirez, Senior Community Specialist at Kaiser Permanenete Colorado, and State Representative Exum (HD 17) at Open Bible's Safety Net Clinic Week Open House.

from left to right: Robin Dickinson, MD, Community Supported Family Medicine, State Representative Daniel Kagan (HD 3), Sharon Adams, Executive Director, ClinicNET, and Bebe Kleinman, Executive Director, Doctors Care, visiting Community Supported Family Medicine during Safety Net Clinic Week.

A big thank you to our Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 Coordinator, Amber Burkhart, who returns to Colorado College for her senior year next week! ClinicNET enjoyed having her with us for the summer! We will miss her!

September 11th Webinar: All Hands on Deck – State Plans for Consumer Assistance

“All Hands on Deck: State Plans for Consumer Assistance webinar is offered Wednesday, September 11th from 1:30-3:00pm EDT.  Register Here.

States are working hard to make sure consumer assistance is available for individuals enrolling in coverage through health insurance exchanges in October. In this webinar, we'll hear how different exchanges, and different exchange types, are approaching this mission.

Three panelists will offer state perspectives on the scope and format of training for Navigators and in-person assisters; strategies for managing hand-offs among call centers, Navigators, Medicaid agencies and others; and plans for monitoring the effectiveness of assistance provided. Other experts will give an overview of key features of consumer-assistance strategies generally, including roles for Navigators, In-Person Assisters, certified application counselors, call centers, websites, agents and brokers. Our knowledgeable panel will take questions from webinar listeners as well, so sign up to participate.

Featuring:

• Adela Flores-Brennan, Connect for Health Colorado
• Dan Van Sant, MNSure
• Sandra Cook, Arkansas Health Connector     
• Heather Howard, Princeton Univ. and RWJF's State Health Reform Assistance Network
• Rachel Dolan, National Academy for State Health Policy
• Anita Cardwell, National Academy for State Health Policy”  

[Source:  NASHP]

Health Equity Learning Series - September 12th

"You still have time to join us on Thursday, September 12 from 11:00am-1:00pm for the next Health Equity Learning Series Lunch at The Colorado Trust | 1600 Sherman Street | Denver, CO.

Health equity is providing fair and equal opportunities for all people to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where they live. Since January, we’ve hosted presentations from experts discussing the definition of health equity, the role of health policy to achieve health equity and how community engagement is key to creating health equity.

Please plan to join us for the next event to learn how communities from across the country are tackling inequities in health and reaching health equity solutions. Leaders from three foundations will share their challenges, successes and lessons for communities in Colorado working toward health equity. We will hear from the following presenters:

• Elizabeth Myung Sook Krause, Vice President, Policy and Communications, Connecticut Health Foundation. 
• Nichole June Maher, MPH, President, Northwest Health Foundation. 
• Yanique Redwood, PhD, President and CEO, Consumer Health Foundation. 

RSVP to Alisa Bourne at abourne@coloradotrust.org by Wednesday, September 4.  Note that space is limited!  If you are unable to attend the luncheon, click here to register for the live stream."  [Source: The Colorado Trust]

Dental Benefits Collaborative

"Thank you to all attendees who participated in the second Dental Benefits Collaborative meeting, either in person or on the phone.  The updated meeting schedule may be found here.  The general Dental Listening Log and a special Dental Service Delivery and Network Option Listening Log may also be found on the Benefits Collaborative website.

Important note: All materials the Department has received in reference to the choice of a dental service delivery model and/or network option will appear directly below the corresponding listening log. We plan to use this log to continue the conversation around service delivery model and network options. Please send further comments, responses and/or questions to Kimberley Smith using the contact information below. I will update the listening log with your feedback."  [Source:  HCPF]

ACA Training for Community Partners, CAAS, & PE Sites

“The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is conducting Regional Trainings in conjunction with our partners at PEAK and Covering Kids and Families to deliver Community Partner training to Certified Application Assistance Sites (CAAS), Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Sites and other community organizations. The Community Partner Regional Trainings will be two days and will be held concurrently with the Regional Trainings for County and Medical Assistance Sites across the state.

The Community Partner Regional Trainings are geared towards individuals and organizations that assist potential clients through the application process. These trainings are to help build a common understanding of key elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Colorado's ACA implementation plan, and to strengthen community organizations' capacity to help families understand the application process, benefits potentially available to them, and tools to manage their benefit account. These trainings will not impact the certification or re-certification for CAAS and PE sites but are recommended for CAAS and PE to attend to learn about the implementation of the ACA.  Sessions will cover:

• an ACA overview,
• changes in Medicaid and CHP+  policy,
• Connect for Health Colorado,
• systems interactions, PEAK,
• the new Medicaid/CHP+ application,
• and information for CAAS and PE sites.

Registration is free and will be first come, first serve. Attendees can participate in any of the seven trainings and are not limited to attending the training in their area. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day to all attendees. Mileage will not be reimbursed.

Dates and Locations:  (Please note: Community Partners , CAAS, & PE Sites should sign up for the following trainings only.  HCPF's 3-day MA and County Training are limited to MA and county staff and require pre-training and access to CBMS.)

• Sept. 4-5, 2013: Loveland - Embassy Suites
• Sept. 5-6, 2013: Pueblo - Pueblo Convention Center
• Sept. 9-10, 2013: Sterling - NE Junior College
• Sept. 10-11, 2013: Alamosa - Inn of Rio Grande
• Sept. 18-19, 2013: Crested Butte - Crested Butte Mountain Resort
• Sept. 19-20, 2013: Glenwood Springs - Ramada Inn
• Sept. 23-24, 2013: Denver - Location TBD

Register HERE for the Community Partner Trainings. Please contact Stephanie Brooks (sbrooks@cchn.org) with questions.

MA and County Trainings: To register for HCPF's 3-day Medical Assistance (MA) and County ACA Trainings,  click HERE. *Please note the MA/County trainings are managed by a different registration system than the community partner trainings.  [Source:  PEAK]

New Report: Who are the Likely Consumers of the Health Insurance Marketplace?

"Thousands of Coloradans will soon begin buying health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s new insurance marketplace. Uninsured Coloradans who will be eligible for subsidies through the marketplace are its most likely users. Colorado’s Health Insurance Marketplace: A Profile of Likely Consumers is a new report based on survey data from the Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) that describes the demographic characteristics of this group, and how they currently use health care.

Key findings show:

• Nearly one in four (24 percent) of those likely to use the marketplace are Hispanic.
• Most Coloradans (70 percent) in this group are employed, with 43 percent working for small businesses of 50 employees or fewer, and 27 percent working for large businesses.
• Only about half of this group reported having a usual source of care, compared to 86 percent of those who are privately insured. Forty-two percent reported they did not visit a doctor when they needed one, because of the high cost. This may mean that Colorado’s health care system could experience a period of pent-up demand once this group is insured.
• Half of the Coloradans in this group have a high school education or less. They will need assistance, education and literacy-appropriate materials to make the best use of the marketplace and the health care system.
• This group may not be prepared to spend as much on health insurance premiums as they will need to spend.

The report is available at www.ColoradoHealthAccessSurvey.org." [Source:  The Colorado Trust]

Connect for Health Colorado Explains Why You Should Have Health Insurance - Community Partners Update

"We now have new materials that you can download on our Partner Resources page, including a tri-fold brochure and a rack card.  Here is a piece that we encourage you to use in newsletters, blogs and other communications to your community to help provide education about the value of health insurance.

Why Should I have Health Insurance?
No one plans to get sick or hurt, but we all need to get treated at some point for an illness or injury, and health insurance helps pay these costs. Health insurance provides the security of knowing that you can get medical care when you need it. You can also get free preventive services, including cholesterol and diabetes screenings, to help you stay healthy and maintain your active lifestyle. Health insurance also helps you avoid very high medical bills that could threaten your financial future. Medical bills are the top cause of personal bankruptcies. In Colorado, the average cost of a knee replacement is over $23,000 and the national average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is $30,000. Why worry about your health and finances? Get covered. Connect for Health Colorado opens October 1 for health coverage that starts January 1, 2014.

Are you new to health insurance? Learn the basics on Insurance 101.

Are you eligible for new financial help to reduce the cost of health insurance? Check out our cost-savings calculator."  [Source: Connect for Health Colorado]

ACA Implementation Newsletter

Click here for the latest ACA Implementation Newsletter from August 29th.  This issue contains updates on consumer communications, trainings and links to ACA resources.  Additionally, it contains an update from Connect for Health Colorado and from the Governor’s Office of Information Technology.  Click here for the ACA Implementation Newsletter from August 19th.  [Source:  HCPF]

Keep the 2013 Colorado Health Symposium Conversation Going

“Whether you observed online or at the Keystone Resort & Conference Center, we would like thank all participants, presenters, volunteers, staff and others who made the 2013 Colorado Health Symposium an unprecedented success.

Want more? Get what you need online.
Our new online Symposium hub provides a convenient way to scan, share or revisit highlights from the conference. Use the hub to access:

• Archived footage from the Symposium's plenary and keynote sessions
• Slides from Symposium presentations
• Social media discussions including takeaways via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• An updated roundup of Symposium-related news coverage and commentary
• A subscription link for our quarterly journal, Health Elevations, which will provide a rich supplement to this year's Symposium in the fall issue.

Thank you for spreading the word about the Symposium and for continuing to support a healthier Colorado.”   [Source:  The Colorado Health Foundation]

Happy Safety Net Clinic Week 2013!

Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 activities have been a huge success so far! Check out highlights on ClinicNET's Facebook page and Twitter feed. Click here to view Health Care Aware Colorado's video about safety net clinic providers in Colorado. Two ClinicNET affiliates, Community Health Services and Colorado Primary Care Clinic, are featured in the video! We hope you are enjoying celebrating Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 (Aug. 19th-23rd)!

August 29th Webinar: Connecting Two Worlds – States Integrating Primary & Behavioral Health Care

“The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is pleased to announce a new webinar, Connecting the Two Worlds: States Integrating Primary and Behavioral Health Care," on August 29, 2013, from 12:30-2:00 pm (EDT).

As states pursue payment and delivery reform to yield a more integrated delivery system, stronger connections between primary and behavioral health care are essential. This webinar will explore challenges and opportunities to building linkages and care models that meet the needs of patients with physical and behavioral health care needs. It will also examine strategies for blending disparate funding streams from different payers and exchanging data needed to support care coordination and working relationships between varied providers. The webinar will feature the experiences of Washington state, Minnesota, and an innovative community mental health center that is leveraging a Health Care Innovation award from the CMS Innovation Center to integrate care. Register now here.

This webinar is the final installment in a multi-part NASHP series to help states that are ready to take the next step in thinking about multi-payer approaches to payment and delivery reform, moving beyond the medical home. Previous webinars in the series can be viewed here.

Following the webinar, a small group of participating states will be invited to join in a virtual consultation with our featured faculty and project staff around the issues raised in this webinar.

For more information please contact Mike Stanek at mstanek@nashp.org."  [Source:  NASHP]

August 23rd Dental Benefits Collaborative Meeting

The next Dental Benefits Collaborative meeting will be held Friday, August 23, 2013 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the COPIC Building, Mile High Conference Room, 7351 E Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss design of the Adult Dental Benefit, specifically:

• Preventive services;
• Diagnostic services; and
• Restorative services.

Please view the August 23rd meeting agenda and the presentation.

To attend the Aug. 23rd meeting by telephone:  Dial 1-877-820-7831 and enter the passcode 423066 and then wait to be added to the conference.  Please mute your phone when you are not speaking by dialing *6*.

A recording of each Dental Benefit Collaborative Meeting will be made available for those who cannot participate.  To access the recording of the Aug. 9th kick-off meeting:  Dial 1-888-203-1112; and enter replay passcode 31331261.  [Source:  HCPF]

Connect for Health Colorado Updates: Health Insurance Rates and Messaging about Privacy/Security

Health Insurance Rates
"Our partners at the Division of Insurance released information about the rates for health insurance plans that will be offered through Connect for Health Colorado and the outside market in Colorado. These are the rates for health plans that will take effect starting January 1, 2014. The Division of Insurance approved 242 health plans from 13 carriers to be offered through Connect for Health Colorado (150 health plans for individuals and families and 92 health plans for small employers). The Division of Insurance also approved 68 dental plans from 9 carriers to be offered through our Marketplace.

• DOI Press Release
• DOI FAQ

Visit the DOI website for more information about the health plans that were approved. You can refer questions about health plan rates and the rate review process to Jo Donlin, jo.donlin@state.co.us, 303-894-2950, and Vince Plymell, vincent.plymell@state.co.us, 303-894-2261.

Privacy/Security
The Denver Post published a guest editorial by Patty Fontneau in the August 11 newspaper. We encourage you to use this piece to answer questions about our privacy and security procedures.  And please feel free to use this in your communications with your communities."  [Source:  Connect for Health Colorado]

Colorado Primary Care Office Updates Essential Safety Net Data

“The Colorado Primary Care Office (PCO) updated the Community Health Assessment Data for the Safety Net and is again making it available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website, continuing to be the first to offer this valuable resource for all health partners.

The assessment data includes county level data profiles and Health Statistics Region profiles, information imperative for expanding health care to Colorado’s medically under-served. This new endeavor also substantially elevates customer service to Colorado’s federally-qualified (community) health centers and saves countless hours of difficult data collection.

The PCO utilized internal data expertise to supplement the increasing development needs of community health centers as they strive to expand primary care access in their communities.

This data is suitable for all safety-net providers and can be used for Service Area Competitive grant applications, Budget Period Renewals, New Access Point applications and other grant opportunities. It also can be useful for community level planning and primary care access needs throughout Colorado.

Because of the importance of reducing the barriers of access to health care, the PCO will collect safety net data annually and update each year. Unless otherwise noted, data were prepared by the Health Statistics Section at CDPHE.”   [Source:  COPrevent]

Preparation by Colorado Community Clinics for Anticipated Increases in Patient Volume in 2014

View the final report:  Preparation by Colorado Community Clinics for Anticipated Increases in Patient Volume in 2014:  a Survey.

Colorado Health Equity Commission Members Named

Fifteen members have been named to the state’s new Health Equity Commission. As set forth in HB13-1088, the commission replaces the Minority Health Advisory Commission. The commission advises the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through its Office of Health Equity on data collection and dissemination strategies, aligning the department’s health equity efforts, strengthening collaborative partnerships with communities and promoting workforce diversity.

The following commission members were appointed by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s executive director: Chris Armijo (Denver), Karen Koenemann (Leadville), Leonardo Kattari (Denver), Linda Burhansstipanov (Pine), Maisha Fields-Pollard (Centennial), Mayra Rosa (Denver), Melanie Tran (Lakewood), Nita Mosby Henry (Denver), Suzuho Shimasaki (Denver) and Tony Hernandez (Denver). 

Sen. Jessie Ulibarri (Commerce City) was appointed by the president of the Senate and Rep. John Buckner (Aurora) was appointed by the speaker of the House. Dr. Judy Zerzan will serve as the designee for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and Paul Stein will serve as the designee from the Department of Human Services. Karin McGowan will serve as ex officio member of the commission for the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Although Colorado ranks as one of the healthiest states, gaps in health persist. Some communities bear a disproportionate burden of disease, illness and, consequently, a poor quality of life. The Office of Health Equity is working closely with the Health Equity Commission to explore possible public health system changes to give every Coloradan an equal chance to be healthy.  [Source:  COPrevent]

Youth Needed for Tobacco Focus Groups

"The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is working with SE2 to develop materials to help local communities reduce youth tobacco use.  To that end, we need the help of partners like you to recruit youth to discussions about tobacco.

We are looking for kids:

• Ages 12-16
• At risk of using tobacco
• Diverse (urban/rural, different races, interests, etc.)

For more information on these focus groups and what we're looking for, or if you think you can help us out, please contact Abigail Kesner, abigail@publicpersuasion.com, at SE2."  [Source:  COPrevent]

Grant Offers FREE Self-Management Program to Older Adults with Chronic Disease in Colorado

"The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a six-week, peer-led, evidence-based workshop developed at Stanford University.  Through a grant held by the Colorado Department of Human Services, State Unit on Aging, this workshop is currently offered free of charge to Coloradans age 60 and older with a chronic health condition or age 18 and older with a disability.

CDSMP gives participants the tools they need to set achievable goals, reduce stress, eat healthier foods and increase their physical activity.  The program also cuts health care costs, reducing hospitalizations and physician visits.

Workshops are offered in counties across the state.  For a full schedule go to selfmanagementcolorado.org."  [Source:  COPrevent]

Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 Kicked-Off!

We kicked-off Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 yesterday at Doctors Care! Katherine Blair from the Governor's Office presented us with a proclamation for Safety Net Clinic Week from Governor Hickenlooper. Thank you to Kaiser Permanente Colorado and COPIC for their support of Safety Net Clinic Week 2013!

from left to right: Barb Hanson, Development & Marketing Director, Doctors Care; Steve Linton-Smith, Congressman Mike Coffman's Office and Amber Burkhart, Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 Coordinator

Katherine Blair, Health Policy Advisor, Office of Governor John W. Hickenlooper and Steve Conner, MD, volunteer provider at Doctors Care, recently retired from Kaiser Permanente. Click here to check out the proclamation.

Amber Burkhart, Safety Net Clinic Week Project Coordinator
720-863-7805
amber.burkhart@clinicnet.org

Preparing Safety Net Providers for ICD-10 Webinar

This webinar on Friday, August 23 from 2-3pm ET will focus on how safety net providers can prepare for the ICD-10 transition.  Preparing for the ICD-10 transition is imminent and mandated for all HIPAA covered entities by October 1, 2014.  Presenters for this webinar will focus on the following topics:

• How providers can start to manage the transition for the ICD-10 compliance deadline of October 1, 2014;
• Understand the billing and coding impacts for their safety net organization; and
• How providers in Iowa have already begun their ICD-10 transition.

Presenters Include:

• Robert Tagalicod, Director & Senior Privacy Official, Office of E-Health Standards and Services; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Bill Finerfrock, Executive Director; National Association of Rural Health Clinics
• Bob Schlueter, Provider Services Account Manager; Iowa Medicaid Enterprise

Click here to register.

Previous HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinars can be accessed at the HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinar website.

Technical Assistance Resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Health Resources & Services Administration have several valuable resources available on ICD-10. These include:

• CMS ICD-10 Website, which provides a variety of comprehensive resources about ICD-10 including timelines, training modules, and fact sheets.
• HRSA ICD-10 Website, which provides a variety of related ICD-10 resources for safety net providers.

Questions for presenters are welcome ahead of the event and may be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov.  [Source:  HRSA]

Dental Collaborative Meeting Materials

The initial Dental Benefits Collaborative kick-off meeting was held Friday, August 9th.  Recordings of these meetings will soon be made available on the Benefits Collaborative website.  Please see the documents below that were discussed at the first meeting:

• Benefits Collaborative Ground Rules
• The Benefits Collaborative Process
• Guiding Principles
• Delivery System Options

The next Dental Benefits Collaborative meeting is August 23, 2013 from 9:00am-12:00pm.  Please visit the website for more information and the meeting agenda.

CORHIO Meaningful Use Boot Camp

When:  September 27th, 10:30AM - 4:40PM
Where:  Hilton Garden Inn - Tech Center
Register here.  Registration is required for this event.

"This will be the last Meaningful Use Boot Camp offered by CORHIO, so don't miss out.  Attend and learn what's already changed and what will change with the Meaningful Use Incentive Program. Find out what you need to know to begin or continue your participation in the program.  Please view the event flyer, FAQs - Eligible Professionals, and COREC Overview & EHR Incentives for additional information.

There is still plenty of funding available for eligible providers and hospital who have adopted an electronic health record system.  But the program has a timeline, so now's the time to learn what you need to do to get your incentive payments and avoid future payment adjustments."  [Source:  CORHIO]

Kaiser Permanente released "Walk and Wheel" RFPs

Kaiser Permanente Colorado Community Benefit released two Requests for Proposal (RFP) making $1.35 million available as part of the KP Walk and Wheel Colorado grant program.  Kaiser aims to create increased assess to multi-modal transportation to assure mobility for people of all ages and incomes.  Through a focused effort to increase walking and biking for daily activities, KP seeks to engage communities in the creation of safe environments that foster access to, promotion of and demand for more livable communities.

• Local city or county governments (up to 10) can apply for up to $100K over two years to implement community based solutions to promote walking, biking and multi-modal transit.
• Charitable or non-profit organizations; city, state or federal government agencies (up to 10) can apply for up to 35K over two years to implement worksite solutions to promote walking, biking and multi-modal transit.

A recorded application workshop (webinar) will be held on August 22nd, 2013.  The local or county governments' workshop will be from 11-12pm MST, please register using the following information.  The worksite workshop will be on August 22, from 12-1pm.  Please register using the following information:

1. Click here to get to the online meeting.
2. If requested, enter your name and email address
3. If a password is requried, enter the meeting password: walkwheel2
4. Click Join

Please email tristan.j.sander@kp.org if you have any questions regarding the RFPs or workshops.  [Source:  COPrevent]

PHI Survey: Leveraging Mobile Phones to Engage Safety Net Patients

"The Public Health Institute has received a grant from the Commonwealth Fund to conduct a national assessment of the current status of deployment of mobile technology within the safety net in better serving the needs of their populations.  As health systems adopt more patient-centered care models under health care reforms, improved understanding among providers as to how mobile technology may be used effectively is required.

The survey will collect data from provider organizations on their use of mobile phones in engaging and better serving their clients' care needs.  Patient engagement, which involves actions that people can take to improve their health, can benefit from tools such as mobile phones and the information and other resources they provide to support a patient's motivation to change their behaviors in ways that can lead to improved health outcomes.

The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.  The participation of organizations that do not currently use mobile technology is also encouraged.  The data collected through the survey will provide evidence-based findings that promote understanding among providers as to how mobile technology may be used more effectively as well as to develop recommendations that advance health solutions in the field.

Individual survey response will be strictly confidential.  Findings will be reported only in aggregate format.  Please visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CVNZ22R

If you have any questions about the survey or concerns about your participation, please contact Andrew Broderick at the Public Health Institute at 510-285-5703 or abroderick@phi.org."  [Source:  CCI Voice]

Colorado Nonprofit Association's 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition - Registration Now Open!

"Don't miss Colorado's largest nonprofit conference.  Join us October 7th & 8th for two full days packed with sessions, plenaries, exhibits, networking and more!

Register by Friday, August 30th and save $30 on one-day registration or save $60 on two-day registrations.

Register here or visit FallConference.org to learn more.

Be sure to watch the Fall Conference promo video here!

2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition
October 7th & 8th
Renaissance Denver Hotel | 3801 Quebec St. | Denver, CO 80207
Click here for discounted hotel room rates."  [Source:  Colorado Nonprofit Association]

CCMU's Annual Luncheon: Health is Local

This year, the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved's luncheon aims to remind us that health is local - it is in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our workplaces - and we must engage our communities to lead the way towards better health.  This event will feature keynote speaker Majora Carter, who is known for her urban revitalization and environmental justice work.  Click here for more information.

When:  Wednesday, September 11th, 11:30am-1:00pm
Where:  Mile High Station
Register Now.

CCMU is also accepting nominations for their Community Champion Awards.  There are four categories:  physician, community leader/advocate, non-physician provider, and lifetime achievement.  Nominate someone now - winners receive a $250 donation for their organization!  [Source:  CCMU]

Free Webinar: Diabetes in Schools: Putting the Pieces Together for Successful Prevention and Management

"Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 22 from 12:00-1:00pm for the National Diabetes Education Program's (NDEP) webinar, "Diabetes in Schools:  Putting the Pieces Together for Successful Prevention and Management" featuring Francine Kaufman, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic Diabetes and Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics for the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and Leah Wyckoff, MS, BSN, RN, NCSN, School of Nurse Consultant for the Douglas County School District in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Click here to register.  You can also learn more about this webinar and register by visiting NDEP's webinar page.  Webinar details will be provided to those who register."  [Source:  COPrevent]

ACA Impact on Safety Net Providers

"The HRSA Office of Policy Analysis prepared a slide presentation on the Potential Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Safety Net Providers in 2014.  Download the presentation in PDF form here."  [Source:  ACU]

As federally funded Health IT training draws to a close, what are the other options?

"The federally funded HITECH Workforce Training is drawing to a close as the project ends September 30, 2013.  To continue the opportunities for education, the following options are available at no cost:

OPTION 1:  The entire HITECH curriculum can be downloaded from:  Health IT Workforce Curriculum Components National Training and Dissemination Center - on the left, 'create new account.'

OPTION 2:  Bellevue College has developed self paced modules based on this curriculum that are available on the National Training & Education Resource website - do a search for Bellevue and it will take you not only to this option but also CAHIMS Exam Preparation and all of Bellevue's courses both collectively and individually."  [Source:  CRHC]

ICD-10 News: Final ICD-9-CM Code Update

"The final updates to ICD-9-CM codes will take effect on October 1, 2013.  These updates will be in effect until the ICD-10 transition takes place on October 1, 2014.  You can find the last official ICD-9-CM code titles, both full and abbreviated, posted on the CMS website.

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10:  Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014 deadline.  Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter."  [Source:  CRHC]

CDC releases health equity web guide

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Health Equity Resource Web Guide as an instruction tool to complement the CDC Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities. The toolkit can help increase the capacity of state health departments and their partners to work with and through communities to implement effective responses to obesity in populations that are facing health disparities.  The primary focus is on how to create systems and environmental changes that will reduce obesity disparities and achieve health equity."  [Source:  COPrevent]

Safety Net Clinic Week Site-Visits

SAFETY NET CLINIC WEEK (Aug. 19th-23rd) is almost here! Many safety net clinics are preparing for their open houses and site-visits. Is your clinic hosting a site-visit with your state legislators, city council and/or county commissioners? If not, it is not too late! Use our Safety Net Clinic Week Invitation and send a personal invitation today. In addition, make sure to utilize the Social Media Templates to help get the word out about your clinic and Safety Net Clinic Week via Facebook and Twitter! Click here to view the entire "Tool-Kit," which provides many easily customizable templates.


Also, watch out for "Safety Net Clinics Care" wristbands that will be coming to ClinicNET affiliates in the mail! To celebrate Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 and your amazing work, we ordered these in hopes of increasing awareness and generating conversation about Safety Net Clinic Week and the importance of safety net clinics in general.

Our Safety Net Clinic Week Project Coordinator, Amber Burkhart, is available to help you with Safety Net Clinic Week 2013 activities. Please let her know if you utilize any part of the toolkit above or if you need help in doing so! She can be reached at 720-863-7805 and amber.burkhart@clinicnet.org

ACA Communications Webinar August 21st

"The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will be hosting a webinar on August 21st to support the messaging efforts of community partners who work directly with current and potential clients.  Please see the details below.  For more information, please contact Colleen in our Communications Office at colleen.daywalt@state.co.us.

Key Messages for Clients/Applicants:

• Coverage of the newly eligible Medicaid expansion population does not begin until January 2014.
• Medicaid takes applications year round and does not have a specific open enrollment period.
• Coverage by health plans purchased on the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace does not begin until January 2014.
• Open enrollment for the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace is October 2013-March 2014.
• Starting in October, you can research and apply for coverage online at the Connect for Health Colorado and PEAK websites, in person or over the phone.
• There will be a common application for both so applicants have 'no wrong door' to apply for health coverage.

ACA Communication Webinar:  The Department will be holding a webinar on August 21, 2013 from 1:00-2:30pm in conjunction with Connect for Health Colorado.

• The webinar is geared towards partners, advocates and others who interface with current and potential clients.
• This will not focus on eligibility or training but on consumer messaging.
• This webinar will focus on:
• How to talk to consumers about Connect for Health Colorado, Medicaid and PEAK
• Key messages for Connect for Health Colorado and Medicaid
• What you can do to help get the word out!
• Registration information can be found in the next issues of the Departments newsletter, ACA Implementation News.
• If you would like to be added to the ACA Implementation News distribution list please contact Colleen (colleen.daywalt@state.co.us)"  [Source:  HCPF]

ACA Implementation Newsletter

Click here for the latest ACA Implementation Newsletter.  This issue contains newly released resources and updates, an overview of September CBMS system build, updates from PEAK, as well as an update from Connect for Health Colorado.  Additionally, we will provide you a list of ways to learn more about the implementation of the ACA.  [Source:  HCPF]

Medicaid Expansion & the Health Insurance Marketplace

In partnership with Connect for Health Colorado, the Department of Heath Care Policy and Financing convened a series of meetings with stakeholders to discuss the issues related to the movement between public and private coverage through these new programs.  The following questions were raised during the series of stakeholder meetings. Click here to review the questions and answers related to the movement between Medicaid and the new health insurance marketplace.

August Issue of On the Horizon

August 2013 Issue of On the Horizon.  "The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed about CHP+ Family Medicaid (including Children's Buy-In), and Adult Medicaid (specifically the Adult Buy-In and Adults without Dependent Children) programs."  [Source:  HCPF]

Zooming In On Health Reform: a new online tool from the Kaiser Family Foundation

"A new online tool released 7/31/13 by the Kaiser Family Foundation provides detailed projections on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Medicaid enrollment and the uninsured in local communities across the nation. The tool is one of several interactive offerings on the Foundation's recently redesigned website that can help people understand key elements of the health reform law, its implications and its implementation.

Zooming In On Health Reform:  Understanding the Potential Impact of the ACA on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the Local Level, the new interactive infographic, and a companion brief, State and Local Coverage Change under Fill Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, reveal substantial geographic variations in the law's impact.

The tool's interactive map allow users to identify communities that could experience the largest declines in the uninsured and where the remaining uninsured populations are likely to be concentrated, as well as to identify key local areas for enrollment outreach. Users can enter zip codes or place names to compare different states, counties, and localities, and to examine the characteristics of the changing Medicaid and uninsured populations by race, age, gender and language spoken at home, and to assess the impact going forward with the optional Medicaid expansion for a state. The tool's estimates reflect the projected impact if all states were to undertake the expansion.

For more information about the "Zooming In" tool and other Kaiser resources related to health reform, visit:  http://kff.org/health-reform/"  [Source:  CCI Voice]

Social Impact Bonds in Denver and Colorado

"Denver Mayor Hancock and Governor Hickenlooper are committed to recognizing innovative solutions to the delivery of public services and funding programs that are proven to work. To that end, the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships and Governor's Office of Policy and Research are currently evaluating the feasibility of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) in Denver and Colorado.

SIBs seek to harness the ingenuity of the public, private, and philanthropic sectors in order to (1) give service providers the upfront capital they need to be innovative, (2) produce independent evaluations that fully examine a program's effectiveness, and (3) directly connect proven programs with the government's ability and commitment to bring programs to scale.

The Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, the Governor's Office of Policy and Research, and the Colorado Nonprofit Association invite you to an informal discussion about the concept of SIBs. We ask for your ideas and suggestions on the possible application of SIBs in Denver and Colorado.

Please join us for this important event Monday, August 12th from 10:00-11:30am, 789 Sherman St. Reservations are requested." [Source: Colorado Nonprofit Association]

Department of Health Care Policy and Financing July Issue of At a Glance

The July At A Glance publication provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Invitation to Dental Benefits Collaborative Meeting

"The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is convening a series of stakeholder meetings in response to:

• The passage of SB13-242 by the Colorado General Assembly, which adds preventative dental services for adults to the list of optional services provided under Medicaid; and
• The Department's desire to resume the Benefits Collaborative discussion of the Children's Orthodontia benefit; and
• Authorization through Senate Bill 13-230 (the Long Bill) to fund the creation of a Dental Administrative Service Organization (ASO) and the associated reprogramming of the MMIS system to manage dental benefits; and
• The Department's goal of enhancing the Children's Medicaid Dental Benefit package.

The initial Dental Benefits Collaborative kick-off meeting will be held:  

Friday, August 9, 1:00-3:00p.m.
COPIC Building, Mile High Conference Room.
7351 E. Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO 80230

Meeting Objectives:

• Define the stakeholder role in the development/re-development of each benefit
• Review the benefit design and implementation process, including future Benefit Collaborative meeting dates and the general benefit areas to be discussed at each meeting
• Provide background on authorizing legislation
• Review potential service delivery model

Click here for more information including the agenda, presentation, meeting schedule, and information on how to attend the meeting via telephone.  All members of the public are welcome to attend."  [Source:  HCPF]

CU Offers Well Body Toolkit

The Behavioral Health and Wellness Program (BHWP) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine provides a number of free toolkits including the Dimensions:  Well Body Toolkit for Healthcare Providers. This toolkit is designed for a broad continuum of healthcare providers, including direct providers, administrators and healthcare organizations and educates about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, motivational interviewing and skills for engaging in weight management conversations, assessing readiness for behavior change, and evidence based treatment options.

The Well Body Toolkit contains a variety of information and step-by-step instructions about:

• Weight and health
• Assessment and planning for change
• Evidence-based treatments
• Maintaining a health body weight
• Weight management resources

This toolkit, along with other resources including Tobacco Cessation toolkits and supplements for priority populations, are located on the BHWP website.  [Source:  COPrevent]