Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Publications

Click here to view the latest issue of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s ACA Implementation News.

Click here to view the May edition of HCPF's At A Glance.

Click here to view HCPF's latest CICP Newsletter. [Source: HCPF]

Overview of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) presentation available

“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CPT, HCPCS, and Bundling 2015 presentation is available for review. The presentation provides an overview on CPT and HCPCS history, how changes in coding are determined, and how to use both manuals. The presentation also provides additional resources for agency staff that work with coding and billing.” [Source: CMS]

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER for our June 11th ClinicNET Affiliate Convening!

ClinicNET Affiliate Convening
June 11, 2015
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mile High Room at COPIC
7351 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver, CO
  

Please join us for a day of education and networking! Learn about current and upcoming practice transformation and innovation efforts in Colorado including the State Innovation Model (SIM), Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI), ECHO Colorado, the State's eConsult/eReferral System, recent legislative changes and much more. Light breakfast and lunch will be served and there will be plenty of time to connect with your peers in the health care safety net. Click here to register today! (Please note this convening is rescheduled from March 20th.)

Provider Revalidation and Enrollment Required in September 2015

“Beginning in September 2015, all existing Medicaid providers will simultaneously undergo revalidation while enrolling into HCPF’s new Medicaid Management Information System, Colorado interChange. The revalidation process is required for providers who want to continue, or begin, providing services to Medicaid and CHP+ members after September 15, 2015. For more information on the provider screening rule and the Colorado interChange system, see HCPF’s Provider Resources web page or the April issue of At A Glance.” [Source: HCPF]

ICD-10 Webinar Series

“Did you miss the ICD-9 webinar that was held on May 18? Review the ICD-9-CM Coding webinar from May 18.

The next ICD-10-CM Coding webinar will be on June 25 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Click here for more information.

With less than 6 months until ICD-10 implementation, this webinar will introduce you to the basics of coding in ICD-10. The majority of the coding concepts outlined in Webinar 1 will apply in this webinar, but we will review any guidelines and changes related to the new code set.  ICD-10 is all about specificity and this is derived from thorough provider documentation. This webinar will discuss new conceptual additions as well as chapter specific examples, which demonstrate how the code set is used in a practical setting. This webinar will cover a variety of specialties and conditions and will apply to all types of services such as family planning, school based health, chronic disease screening, and primary care.” [Source: CDPHE]

Input Requested: Kaiser Permanente Food Insecurity Screening Survey by June 5

“Kaiser Permanente is currently working with Hunger Free Colorado to identify patients that screen positive for food insecurity.  This has enabled 78% of referred patients to be connected to food resources. We would be honored to learn from our community partners, who we recognize may have greater expertise in this work, and welcome the chance to understand if you have a role in your community regarding hunger screening and resources. We would like to understand if your organization is screening your community for food needs and hunger challenges (aka 'food insecurity'). Here is more data about hunger in our state and its relation to health:

• One in seven Coloradoans and one in five families with children in Colorado struggle with having enough money to buy food during the year. (USDA Household Food Security 2013) 
• Colorado ranks 45th in the US for residents qualifying for food assistance receiving assistance. 
• One in three US adults with chronic illness have difficulty affording food, medicine or both. (Treat or Eat: Am Journal of Med: April 2014 Volume 127) 
• Food insecurity is associated with higher incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, iron deficiency, cognitive delays, anxiety and depression. 

Please take a few moments (less than 2 minutes) to complete this brief 5 question survey to help us understand how food insecurity is currently being addressed in our communities.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SNfoodscreenabrvd” [Source: Kaiser Permanente]

Colorado Medical Home Community Forum June 9: Colorado Access to Care Index

“RSVP for the next Colorado Medical Home Community Forum about the Colorado Access to Care Index on June 9th 4:30-6:30pm. There will be presenters from the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved and the Colorado Health Institute. The event will be held at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, DOC Room, Building A, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246. RSVP by clicking here. You can also attend the meeting via the webinar link and call-in 1-877-820-7831 and passcode 300218#. Contact Meredith Henry at meredith.henry@state.co.us with questions.” [Source: Colorado Medical Home Initiative]

Funding Opportunity to Provide Volunteer Tax Assistance

“The Internal Revenue Service recently announced a new grant opportunity for community organizations to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA to underserved populations in hard to reach areas; both urban and non-urban. The deadline for grant applications is June 1, 2015.” [Source: IRS]

Medicaid Dental Benefits town hall meetings

“DentaQuest will hold two Town Hall Meetings on Wednesday, June 17 at the Colorado Dental Association, 8301 E Prentice Ave, Suite 400, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. The Medicaid Child Benefit will be discussed from 9–11am. The Medicaid Adult Benefit will be discussed from 1–3 pm. For those unable to attend the meetings please dial 888.977.4700 and enter Access Id 65786.

Additional Updates:

• Please be advised that the key work used for Assistant Surgeons will be revised to “Lark” starting July1, 2015. Please look for this forthcoming revision in the ORM. 
• The deadline to submit the manual claims for the 2% rate increase is May 29, 2015. Please make every effort to comply with this deadline.” [Source: DentaQuest]

The Colorado Opportunity Project - request for interventions

“The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, in collaboration with the Departments of Human Services, Public Health and Environment, and Labor and Employment invites you to submit your interventions/programs to be considered for participation in the Colorado Opportunity Project.

They need your help identifying government, non-profit, private and community initiatives (“interventions”) that support the goal of the Colorado Opportunity Project to create a pathway to middle class for all Coloradans. Initiatives included in the Colorado Opportunity Project will be part of a larger community effort to enhance economic opportunities for low-income Coloradans and may receive new resources to enhance and expand their efforts.

To submit an intervention, submit your responses to the Colorado Opportunity Project Solicitation Survey Monkey. Please respond to the survey no later than Monday, June 15.

For more information on the Project, please visit the Colorado Opportunity website.” [Source: HCPF]

Emergency Fix Implemented in CBMS for Unsent CHP+ Enrollment Fee Letters

“Due to an issue with the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), CHP+ enrollment fee letters were not generated between January 24, 2015, and April 10, 2015. As a result of this problem, 2,278 cases were identified that had not received a CHP+ enrollment fee letter notifying the client that the enrollment fee was due. In addition, 294 cases were identified that had been closed for not paying the enrollment fee. An emergency fix was implemented in CBMS on April 15, 2015, to resolve the problem. The emergency fix included the following resolutions:

• A mass update was run on all 2,278 identified CHP+ cases that had not been notified of the fee to pend the case for 30 days, and extended the enrollment fee due date to May 14, 2015. CBMS generated and sent a CHP+ enrollment fee letter for these cases.
• A mass update was run on the 294 cases that had been closed to reopen them, and an enrollment fee letter was sent.” [Source: CBMS]

Articles & Publications and new resources

Health Elevations: Integrated Care is Ready to See You Now
May 2015 - The Colorado Health Foundation

New Models of Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care
May 15, 2015 – The Colorado Health Institute

The Problem of Underinsurance and How Rising Deductibles Will Make It Worse
May 20, 2015 – The Commonwealth Fund

We’ve also added new resources to our website, including:

• Consumer Reports has developed a library of infographic that can help you explain topics such as the benefits of health insurance, provider networks, co-insurance, co-pays and other topics.
• USA Rx provides discounted prescription medications.
• ICD-10 Fact Sheet: Basics for Small and Rural Practices
• ICD-10 Provider Resources from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Visit the ClinicNET website for more Articles and Publications and Resources.

REGISTER TODAY for our June 11th ClinicNET Affiliate Convening!

ClinicNET Affiliate Convening
June 11, 2015
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mile High Room at COPIC
7351 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver, CO
  

Please join us for a day of education and networking! Learn about current and upcoming practice transformation and innovation efforts in Colorado including the State Innovation Model (SIM), Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI), ECHO Colorado, the State's eConsult/eReferral System, recent legislative changes and much more. Light breakfast and lunch will be served and there will be plenty of time to connect with your peers in the health care safety net. Click here to register today! (Please note this convening is rescheduled from March 20th.)

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) offerings for ClinicNET affiliates

Through a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit Program, ClinicNET is pleased to be able to offer access to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) offerings. This program offers contributing ClinicNET affiliates access to registration scholarships and travel support funding to participate in IHI activities. Click here to see current 2015 offerings.  Upcoming seminars and training can also be viewed on IHI's website.

If you are interested in a particular offering please contact Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org or 720-863-7803. [Source: IHI]

Recorded Webinar: Criminal Justice 101 and the Affordable Care Act

The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition gave a webinar presentation on the criminal justice system in Colorado and shared resources for connecting justice involved people to care, including the Take Care Health Matters website. Click here to view the webinar recording (please note the recording begins about 3 minutes into the presentation). Audio and powerpoint slides from all ClinicNET webinars are available on the Affiliate Only section of the ClinicNET website.

Next ClinicNET Affiliate Practice Administrators Cohort July 8th

The next ClinicNET affiliate Practice Administrator Cohort is scheduled for July 8th 1:00-3:00pm at Kids First Health Care, 4675 East 69th Avenue, Commerce City. If you have not done so already, please RSVP to Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org.

Denver Health Medicaid Choice (DHMC) Passive Enrollment Modification

“The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) in conjunction with Denver Health Medicaid Choice (DHMC) is modifying the DHMC passive enrollment process. The current DHMC passive enrollment process enrolls ALL Medicaid eligible Denver County residents into DHMC regardless of current plan or previous history with a non-Denver Health provider. This process has negatively affected some Medicaid population’s ability to receive services. DHMC and HCPF have collaborated and created a new process intended to decrease the roadblocks for those negatively affected.

During the month of May, the current MMIS DHMC passive enrollment logic will be removed and a new process will be implemented that prevents DHMC passive enrollment of the following:

• Medicaid clients with existing attribution to a non-DHMC provider.
• Refugee populations that utilize Volunteer Agencies addresses as residential addresses
• Foster children

Removing these populations from the DHMC passive enrollment process does not restrict the client from selecting DHMC as a health plan; it merely provides the client with ability to choose their plan and not be defaulted into DHMC. The modified process will be implemented beginning June 1, 2015 and will be seamless to the client and health plans.

This new process will only be applicable to newly eligible Medicaid clients and will not affect currently enrolled clients. All other existing process and procedures related to enrollment are unchanged (e.g. open enrollment, etc.). If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Denver Health Contract Manager, Jeremy Sax at jeremy.sax@state.co.us or 303-866-3227.” [Source: HCPF]

Request for Proposals: Public Will Building focusing on Homelessness in Metro Denver

“The Public Will Building Development Team, comprised of the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, Metro Mayors' Caucus, The Governor's Office of Homeless Initiatives, Denver Homeless Out Loud, The Denver Foundation and leaders with personal experience being homeless, is pleased to release our Request for Proposals for diverse community collaboratives to receive funding up to $35,000/year to be part of a Grassroots Network to Build Public Will to Address Homelessness. Proposals to participate are due on June 19, 5:00 pm MST. 

We will host a Question and Answer Session for interested applicants on May 28, 2:00-3:30 at The Denver Foundation in the 7th Floor Community Room, 55 Madison St., Denver, CO 80206.  Please RSVP to Alma Martinez at amartinez@denverfoundation.org.” [Source: Denver Foundation]

Delta Dental Request for Applications: Oral Health Mini-Grant Project

“Delta Dental of Colorado issued a statewide request for applications (RFA) to fund projects working to improve children's oral health in local settings. Approximately $100,000 in funding is available through this RFA, with awards ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 per grant.

This Friday, May 22nd, 11:00am -12:00pm there will be a project overview teleconference to discuss the RFA and answer questions. To join call 877-820-7831 and enter participant code 7529864#.

Important Dates (click here for more information):

• May 22: Project Overview Teleconference
• June 12: Applications Due
• August 21: Notify Applicants of Awards
• October 1: Letters of Agreement Issued.” [Source: Delta Dental of Colorado]

CDPHE's Chronic Disease Prevention Conference on June 12th

“Evidence-based Solutions for Prediabetes and Hypertension: Shifting the Practice Paradigm
Learn evidence-based strategies that can support the prevention and management of cardiovascular-related chronic diseases. Take away tools to translate evidence into practice. Check out the conference brochure.

Date: June 12, 2015
Time: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112
Cost: Free

Click here to register! Password: CDPHE

For more information, visit colorado.gov/cdphe/chronicdisease2015events." [Source: COPrevent]

ACA Implementation News

Click here to view the latest issue of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s ACA Implementation News. [Source: HCPF]

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! ClinicNET Webinar May 19th: Criminal Justice 101 and the Affordable Care Act

ClinicNET is hosting a webinar on May 19th, noon-1pm featuring the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition! Join us on your lunch break to learn more about the criminal justice system in Colorado, how to get justice involved individuals connected to care, other helpful resources including the Take Care Health Matters website, and a Q&A session. Click here to register for the webinar. Contact johanna.gelderman@clinicnet.org with any questions.

REGISTER TODAY for our June 11th ClinicNET Affiliate Convening!

 ClinicNET Affiliate Convening
June 11, 2015
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mile High Room at COPIC
7351 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver, CO
  

Please join us for a day of education and networking! Learn about current and upcoming practice transformation and innovation efforts in Colorado including the State Innovation Model (SIM), Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI), ECHO Colorado, the State's eConsult/eReferral System, recent legislative changes and much more. Light breakfast and lunch will be served and there will be plenty of time to connect with your peers in the health care safety net. Click here to register today! (Please note this convening is rescheduled from March 20th.)

Next ClinicNET IT Cohort August 5th! (note the date change)

The next ClinicNET affiliate IT Cohort is scheduled for August 5th, 1:00-3:00pm at Clinica Tepeyac, 4725 High St., Denver, CO 80216.Please RSVP to Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org. We look forward to seeing you there! (Please note this date has changed from the originally scheduled August 6th).

Children's Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment Survey

Children’s Hospital Colorado is conducting a community health needs assessment and they need your input.  Every three years, Children’s Colorado asks the community about any concerns they have about the health of children in our state and the role that the hospital can play in addressing those concerns.  If you have a child living in your home, they want to hear from you.  Please take 5 minutes to respond to their anonymous survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHCOCHNA2015. [Source: Children’s Hospital Colorado]

Caring for Colorado funding opportunity: SMILES Dental Home Project

“Caring for Colorado announced a funding opportunity to improve access to oral health care for vulnerable and underserved populations. Click here to view more information on the SMILES Dental Home Project – Spanning Miles In Linking Everyone to Services. Here are some key dates:

• May 15, 2015 – Caring for Colorado’s on-line grant application will be available.  To access the application go to www.caringforcolorado.org.
• May 27, 2015 – Caring for Colorado will host a webinar, at 10:00 AM, to describe the project and give guidance for the application. Registration for the webinar is required. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7622780341141267714.
• July 1, 2015 – Application deadline.

Please direct any questions to Colleen Lampron, SMILES Dental Home Project Director at clampron@caringforcolorado.org.“ [Source: COPrevent]

Covering Kids and Families: Invitation to participate in focus group informing pathways to coverage

"Colorado Covering Kids and Families is conducting focus groups with coalition members and clients to inform a new Maze report. The report will diagram the new pathway to coverage, identify the new barriers that Coloradans face, and propose a new set of recommendations for improvements. But we need your help to accomplish this important task! Focus groups will be held in June and early July. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this survey by Wednesday, May 20, and we will reach out to you with more information. This is your chance to inform CKF’s advocacy work for years to come and play an important part in improving the path to enrollment in our current health coverage landscape.

In addition to holding focus groups with coalition members, we want to engage Medicaid, CHP+, and Connect for Health Colorado clients. If you work with clients or community members who might be interested in providing feedback about the application and enrollment process, please contact Liz Tansey at ltansey@cchn.org by Wednesday, May 20. In addition, if your organization holds regular community meetings that we could use as a focus group, please contact Liz." [Source: Colorado Covering Kids and Families]

"Lunchtime Learning" Professional Skill Development Distance Learning Series

"Registration for the “Lunchtime Learning” Professional Skill Development Distance Learning Series is open. This event is sponsored by Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) and Community Health Association of Mountain/Plains States (CHAMPS). Participants from Community Safety Net Clinics will be charged $50/link after the event. These 1-hour leadership and skill development webcasts are designed to provide professional and skill development opportunities to safety net staff with the goal of enhancing advanced clinical transformation. Safety net members from all levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. Webcasts take place Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00pm MST:

• May 20 - Lisa Mouscher, Customer service: The Art of Caring
• June 17 - Lisa Mouscher, Civility in the Workplace: Creating a Friendlier and More Productive Work Environment
• July 15 - Maria Agnew, Influencing Options, Asking for What You Want
• Aug. 19 - Maria Agnew, Influencing Options, Facilitation of Problem Solving
• Sept. 16 - Cerise Hunt, Cultural Competency (Registration coming soon.)” [Source: CCHN]

Grants Promote Oral Health Care for People in Need

“The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation is dedicated to supporting promising initiatives that achieve measurable impact and facilitate real change in oral health care. The Foundation is offering grants of up to $25,000 for innovative, sustainable, scalable projects designed to increase access to oral health care for those in need. Funded projects should not only improve access to oral care in their immediate area, but also have the potential to grow and be implemented in other areas of the country. Applications are accepted from dental organizations, dental schools, universities, government organizations, and nonprofit organizations for programs located in the United States and its territories. (The Foundation is also offering one Foundation/Dental Lifeline Network Grant of up to $25,000 for a project specifically related to providing access to dentistry for individuals with disabilities, or who are elderly or medically compromised.) The application deadline is May 27, 2015. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the application guidelines and forms.” [Source: Dental Trade Alliance Foundation]

Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program Practice Manager Newsletter – ICD-10 Presentation Recording

“ICD-10 Presentation Recording and Slides: On Thursday April 23rd, Denny Flint from The Talon Group gave a fun and informative presentation with practical guidance on how practices can prepare for the rollout of the new ICD-10 diagnosis code set. The presentation recording and PowerPoint slides can be accessed here.

Check out CCHAP’s latest Practice Manager Newsletter for information on:

• Medicaid 2015 Fee Schedule is Live
• Medicaid Enhanced Primary Care Program
• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment - Important Policy & Coding Updates
• Add-A-Baby Project
• Child Abuse and Neglect Campaign
• Repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)” [Source: CCHAP]

2015 Legislative Session wraps up!

The 2015 Legislative Session ended May 6th, 2015. During the session ClinicNET monitored 42 bills and took positions on 11 of those bills. Thank you to the ClinicNET Policy Committee for reviewing proposed legislation and making recommendations to the ClinicNET Board of Directors. Listed below are the bills we took a position on during the session. The Governor's action on bills passed is required by June 6th.

Active Support

• SB15-197: Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriptive Authority (Sent to Governor)

Support

• HB15-1032: Licensed Mental Health Professionals Treat Minors (Governor Signed)
• HB15-1039: Prescription Give-back for Institutions (Governor Signed)
• HB15-1194: Authorize General Fund Dollars for LARC Services (Postponed Indefinitely)
• HB15-1238: Tax Credit Preceptors Health Professional Shortage Areas (Postponed Indefinitely)
• HB15-1242: Patient Caregiver Designation Hospital Requirement (Sent to Governor)
• HB15-1389: Create New Hospital Provider Fee Enterprise (Postponed Indefinitely)
• SB15-053: Dispense Supply of Emergency Drugs for Overdose Victims (Governor Signed)

Oppose

• HB15-1141: Hospital Provider Fee Patient Billing Statements (Postponed Indefinitely)
• HB15-1163: Contingent Repeal Health Insurance Laws Aligning with ACA (Postponed Indefinitely)

Active Opposition

• SB15-275: Protections Information Provided General Assembly (Postponed Indefinitely)

Click here to view ClinicNET's 2015 Legislative and Policy Priorities. Click here to view ClinicNET’s Bill Tracker for more information. If you have any questions please contact Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org or 720-863-7803.

ClinicNET needs information from your Patient Navigators or Community Health Workers about barriers to care!

The Colorado School of Public Health and The Colorado Patient Navigator Training Collaborative are launching Learning Communities through Project ECHO to support connection and partnership within the community, focusing upon CHW and PN related interests and topics.

In order to help inform this project, ClinicNET is looking for case studies (it will be de-identified) of patients who have been difficult to serve. This can be for any reason (needs are great, unable to find services, patient not following through, unable to pay for care, etc). We would be grateful to have the opportunity to speak with anyone in this position of patient navigation and/or care manager (PN/CM), as well as providers or other staff who are engaged with patients who you are struggling with overcoming the barriers presented by the patient to engage in health care treatment. Below is a list of questions to complete.  Please email your answers to cathryn.benedict@clinicnet.org or call her at 720-280-0997. In return, Cathryn will provide your clinic with resources developed through this project. Thank you in advance!

• What does the person already have access to and connections within his/her community? What is missing?
• Do close relationships act as barriers or assets?
• What are the personal factors that contribute to this barrier or the difficulty in overcoming this barrier? What personal assets does this individual have?
• What are the Interpersonal/Relationship/Social Support barriers that you have identified? 
• What are the Interpersonal/Relationship/Social Support assets that you have identified? 
• What Institutional & Organizational resources does the person require? 
• Identify Institutional & Organizational resources the person has already accessed. 
• Where have you already searched for resources (i.e. 2-1-1, community directories, agency social worker, etc .. )? 
• What medical or health issues are relevant to the person accessing resources (i.e. disability, ESRD, etc.)?

Save the Date: ICD-10 Webinar Series

“Save the dates:

• ICD-10 Part 1: May 18th, 12:00-1:00pm
• ICD-10 Part 2: June 25th, 12:00-1:00pm

These webinars will be facilitated by RT Welter and the second webinar will build on the concepts and information shared in the first. Webinar content will be geared towards providers and coders. If you have specific questions, cases or codes you would like covered, please email them to greta.klingler@state.co.us. Login in information will be sent out closer to the webinar dates. No registration is required.” [Source: CDPHE]

CDPHE Data Stakeholder Survey - please respond by May 18th

“The following survey is designed to gather information from Colorado Department of Public Health and Enivronment's (CDPHE) internal and external stakeholders on how CDPHE is meeting public and environmental health data needs including data access, format, products, and CDPHE website functionality for dissemination of data and data results. Your input will help CDPHE to improve future data dissemination products.

Please note that data suppression, availability of sub-state-level data, and needs for specific data indicators are outside the scope of this survey. The primary objective of the survey is to gather information on your needs and preferences on how you access and use data from CDPHE.

Your responses will be anonymous, but you will be given the opportunity to provide your name and contact information if you would like us to follow up on or respond to any of your comments and recommendations. The hard deadline for responses is May 18, 2015.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CDPHEdata” [Source: CDPHE]

SafeCare Colorado Request for Applications

“SafeCare® Colorado is excited to begin the process for selecting new sites as part of our statewide program implementation, in Cohort 3. In a nutshell, SafeCare® Colorado is a partnership between the Kempe Center and CDHS Office of Children Youth and Families as a voluntary service for families in an effort to prevent entry or re-entry to the child welfare system. The program is designed for high risk families with children ages zero to five years. SafeCare® typically takes 16-19 weekly sessions to complete (about 4-6 months) and each session lasts 1 to 1.5 hours. SafeCare® Colorado is delivered in the home by trained home visitors.

Important upcoming events include RFA release (5/1), RFA completion (by 6/12), followed by selection and announcement of new sites in July 2015. Click here to download the SafeCare® Colorado Cohort Three Request for Applications (RFA).

To learn more about SafeCare® Colorado, please visit SafeCareCO.co4kids.org and contact SafeCareCO@childrenscolorado.org with any questions.” [Source: SafeCare Colorado]

Oral Health Colorado blog: New fluoride recommendation from Department of Health and Human Services

In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its final recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay at 0.7 milligrams per liter. Click here to read Deb Foote’s blog on how HHS came to its decision and what it means to oral health in Colorado.

Proposed Board of Health Regulation related to hepatitis C tests

“Click here to view a memo for the Board of Health regulation that the Viral Hepatitis Program at CDPHE is proposing related to offering hepatitis C tests in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. The proposal will be presented at the July 15, 2015 meeting. If you have concerns or questions regarding these proposed changes to the regulations please respond by May 18, 2015 to Amy Warner, Viral Hepatitis Program Manager, at 303-692-2673 or by email at amy.warner@state.co.us or Monica Molina, CDC Public Health Prevention Service Fellow, at 303-692-2974 or by email at monica.molina@state.co.us.” [Source: CDPHE]

Delta Dental Request for Applications: Oral Health Mini-Grant Project

“Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood condition and yet preventable. By supporting projects that increase access to care and address the causes of the disease and impacting systems, the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation has a unique approach to fighting childhood cavities. Now, we're looking for creative partners to join us on our journey.

Our statewide request for applications (RFA) has been issued to fund projects working to improve children's oral health in local settings. Approximately $100,000 in funding is available through this RFA, with awards ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 per grant.

We are looking for non-profit organizations and individuals who aim to improve children's oral health in Colorado. Applications may include requests for funding projects that take up to one year to complete. Funding is also available for a one time use. Applications are due June 12, 2015.

Important Dates (click here for more information):

• May 22: Project Overview Teleconference
• June 12: Applications Due
• August 21: Notify Applicants of Awards
• October 1: Letters of Agreement Issued.” [Source: Delta Dental of Colorado]

PEAK Updates

“April Enhancements:

• Spanish Translation: Resolved: Three issues were found in the Spanish application. Am I Eligible was missing text, the page for requesting a medical card was only partially translated, and the household member summary page contained errors.
• COBRA End Date: Resolved: In Report My Changes, PEAK was not queuing the correct pages when reporting an end date for COBRA.
• Application Status: Resolved: Some individuals were able to submit their application more than once due to an error with application status displaying incorrectly as "Not Submitted."

New to PEAK or Need a Refresher? The Intro to PEAK and Application Walk-Through recorded webinars are available anytime to watch at your convenience. Watch On-Demand:

• Introduction to PEAK
• Medical Assistance Application Walk-Through
• Food and Medical Assistance Application Walk-Through
• Manage My Account
• Remember to visit our outreach and training site where you can access all of our training and outreach resources.

Support Calls for Community Partners: Support calls for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are scheduled to follow major PEAK updates to discuss system performance and known issues.

• Thursday, May 28, 3:00pm-3:45pm, Dial-in: 1-877-820-7831 | Passcode: 349141#

Food Resource Materials: Click here to access Hunger Free Postcards to help connect your clients to food resources, or visit HungerFreeColorado.org to learn more.” [Source: Colorado PEAK]

Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: At A Glance and ACA Implementation News

Click here to view the April edition of HCPF’s At a Glance.

Click here to view the latest issue of HCPF’s ACA Implementation News. [Source: HCPF]