Connect Campaign wants to hear from you!

ClinicNET continues to participate in the Connect Campaign, a collaboration of stakeholders formed in 2011 to fulfill the promise of coverage and care for newly Medicaid eligible low-income adults without dependent children (AWDC.) Over time, the Campaign’s focus broadened to ensure Medicaid’s ability to cover and care for all of its populations efficiently and effectively.

We would like to be able to accurately represent your perspective and experiences relative to AwDC Medicaid Early Enrollment to date. For example, have patients been asking any questions about the Medicaid roll out or have you encountered any specific issues in the first 2 months of this Medicaid expansion? Please contact Brooke Powers, brooke.powers@clinicnet.org, or Aubrey Hill, aubrey.hill@ccmu.org with any stories or experiences you would like to share.

Progress-to-date of the adults without dependent children Medicaid expansion

"The currently limited adults without dependent children expansion in Medicaid has been progressing. The maximum number of enrollments has been consistently fulfilled while the waiting pool has been growing an average of 1,000 per month since September 2012.

It is positive to see that people are continuing to apply for benefits. Despite being put into the waiting pool, a connection to CICP in the meantime will assist them with needed care. Additionally, the state will be able to automatically enroll them into benefits on January 1, 2014.

We're pleased that the Department continues to share data on enrollment and we continue to request data on care utilization. Check out our data dashboard showing progress thus far (which excludes this month's expected enrollment increase)..."  Click here to read more.  [Source: Connect Campaign]

HCPF Newsletters (CHP+ and "On the Horizon") and upcoming CICP Stakeholder Forum

The February 2012 issue of the newly titled, "On the Horizon" CHP+ Newsletter features the following:

• Frontline , Children’s Buy-In Update & AwDC Update
• Adult Buy-In Update & 2013 FPLs
• Timeliness Corner & Did You Know?
• Medical Services Board
• Resources
• Work Group Update & Contact Information

The  February 2013 Provider Bulletin is also available.  This bulletin contains information about Medicaid Expansion in 2014; OAP Provider Rate Increase; EHR Incentive Program; Healthy Living Initiatives and more.

Finally,  the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is holding a CICP Stakeholder Forum on February 21, 2013 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Click here to view the agenda. Please RSVP to Karen Talley.

Connect Campaign wants to hear from you!

ClinicNET continues to participate in the Connect Campaign, a collaboration of stakeholders working toward successful coverage and access to care for Colorado’s uninsured adults. We would like to be able to accurately represent your perspective and experiences relative to Medicaid's expansion to Adults without Dependent Children and Medicaid overall. Please take a minute to fill out this quick survey.

Connect Campaign: Broadening the Focus

"The Connect Campaign recognizes that many issues that AwDC face are also faced by the larger Medicaid population, so we will be shifting the project's focus to making Medicaid more efficient and effective. Read more here." Click here to read more about this shift.  [Source: The Connect Campaign]

CHP+ Newsletter August 2012

"This newsletter keeps you up-to-date on eligibility and enrollment in the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program...We will be transitioning this newsletter to reflect updates regarding all of the programs the Colorado Eligibility and Enrollment Medicaid Assistance Program processes including CHP+, Family Medicaid (including the Medicaid Children’s Buy-In Program), and Adult Medicaid (specifically the Adult Buy-in and Adults without Dependent Children programs)." Click here to read the newsletter.

How has the AwDC rollout impacted your clinic and patients?

ClinicNET works to represent you by participating in various activities including conversations surrounding the Adults without Dependent Children Medicaid expansion as part of the Connect Campaign.  We need to hear your feedback, questions, stories, concerns, successes, etc. during this crucial phase in the AwDC expansion roll out.  Please contact Brooke (720.863.7800 ext. 103).

Nearing the Adult without Dependent Children (AwDC) Cap & Other Announcements

Click here to view the latest news from the Connect Campaign including information about:

• HCPF and the Department of Human Services two-day regional conferences at 7 locations around the state.
• iFoster is offering low-cost refurbished computers and laptops to nonprofits who work with low-income families.

ClinicNET affiliates please let us know about your/your patients experiences with AwDC!

Adults without Dependent Children now eligible for Medicaid

On April 1, Adults without Dependent Children (AwDC) under 10% of FPL are eligible to apply for Medicaid. Here are some reminders and a list of resources:

• AwDC Eligibility and Enrollment FAQs - The frequently asked questions for AwDC is a working document and will be updated as necessary. 
• AwDC Manual - This comprehensive resource geared toward eligibility staff has program and policy information and examples of client communications.
• Client assistance tools:  
• Client one-page flyer for counties and community partners to post at their sites, which will give high level program information meant to encourage clients to ask relevant questions. 
• Client Correspondence Summary - A guide to indicate which letters/communications clients may expect with reference to Version 2.0 of the AwDC Manual.

Questions? Please contact Andrea Skubal at HCPF or Aubrey Hill at CCMU.

AwDC Eligibility Expansion Starts April 1

Here are 5 AwDC tips to prepare you for next week's AwDC expansion:

1. Missed the Connect Campaign webinar? Never fear! Powerpoint can be found here, and frequently asked questions can be found on the blog here.
2. Stay educated! The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) has helpful FAQs here (including some new ones about the Accountable Care Collaborative). 
3. Hot off the presses! Make sure you are on the HCPF distribution list so you can get the latest AwDC-related news. Email Susan Mathieu to be added to the listserv. 
4. Share, share, share--Forwarding these emails or chatting with your colleagues and networks about this information is so important to a successful expansion. 
5. Stay in touch! Let the Connect Campaign know how everything goes in the next couple of months and how they can be helpful to you. They are collecting lessons learned for when Colorado goes to a full expansion in 2014.

Webinar: Resources for Low-Income Adults

The application period opens for low-income adults without dependent children on April 1. HCPF has set up regional meetings and webinars to inform people about the expansions and PEAK. If you've missed them, you can find all materials here.

To provide additional information on available resources that are outside the AwDC Medicaid program, the Connect Campaign is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 20th from 2:00-3:00pm.

This webinar is for those who will be interacting with people interested in applying for AwDC Medicaid, regardless of their eligibility. They will discuss resources outside the AwDC Medicaid expansion, including the health care safety net, the state's discount-care program (CICP), and other non-medical resources.

This information will help you assist your clients in taking advantage of the programs outside AwDC Medicaid. Click here to register.

Preparing for AwDC Expansion

The AwDC expansion is intended to start (on a limited basis) on April 1st of this year. Since the approach is different from how other program changes have occurred in the past, it is critical that you get educated on the details and share with your networks.

Here's a list of helpful documents and webinars:

• Updated documents from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing including FAQs and fact sheets.
• Statewide meetings and webinars hosted by HCPF for eligibility workers and general community members are continuing. Register for a meeting near you! 
• Colorado PEAK, the state web-based application for medical and non-medical programs, has trainings and webinars. Information available here and dates here. 
• Updated Connect Campaign Resource List for assisting clients with needs besides Medicaid coverage.

New Seats on the ACC Advisory Committee

HCPF is adding two new seats to the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) Program Improvement Advisory Committee. One seat will represent dually eligible individuals (Medicare and Medicaid), and one seat will represent the adults without dependent children. These committee members will act as liaisons between the ACC Program Improvement Advisory Committee and the AwDC Advisory Committee and Duals Stakeholder Groups, as the Department plans to enroll both dually eligible individuals and adults without dependent children into the ACC program. Information about the committee, as well as an application, may be found here.

Applications are due March 15th. You may return your application to the Department by faxing it to (303) 866.2803, or you may attach it in an email and send it to ACC@hcpf.state.co.us. For more information, contact Kathryn Jantz at the Department.

New Decisions Regarding AwDC

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

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

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