Get Help Selecting the Best Practice Transformation Track

"As practices gear up for new payment models and integrate behavioral health and primary care to ensure healthier patients, there are many options for support and coaching. The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) is one of several options for primary care practices in the state. The SIM team created a decision tree survey to help you identify which program is best-suited to help your practice move along the continuum of value-based care."

Click HERE to take the decision tree survey.

[Source: SIM Office Newsletter]

IMPORTANT Update from the SIM Team

The SIM team is delaying the application for cohort 2 to allow practices time to prepare, identify the federal initiatives that are right for them and move forward accordingly. Instead of releasing the application Aug. 31 we will release it in the fall to provide time to incorporate lessons learned from the first cohort.

CPC+
We encourage practices that applied for CPC+ to download a PDF of their applications. When the SIM application is released this fall, your practice will have the opportunity to submit this PDF as part of the SIM application. Your practice can then access an abbreviated set of SIM questions to avoid re-entering information asked on the CPC+ application into the SIM application. We believe that SIM and CPC+ are complementary, which is why we have encouraged practices to apply for both initiatives that are funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Now that we are six months into implementing practice transformation activities with cohort 1 practices, we have identified areas that can be fine-tuned to ensure long-term success, which is one reason for delaying the application for cohort 2. We want to be responsive to the feedback we have received from practices, practice coaches and payers so we can ensure that the SIM initiative helps primary care practices move along the continuum toward value-based payment that rewards a person-centric approach to healthcare delivery.

Next steps

1. We realize that some practices have signed up for webinars focused on the SIM application and will ensure that those individuals receive new dates for the webinars once the SIM application is posted this fall.
2. The SIM team, which includes a small group of professionals who work with the Governor’s office and trusted partners at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine, is dedicated to helping practices integrate behavioral health and primary care with infrastructure supports to ensure sustained success. 
3. We realize the hard work this entails. We have identified several success stories in the first six months of implementation and a few ways to improve the program for providers as well as payers. The request for application for cohort 2 will include details that will help prepare practices for the program and create an environment for success.
4. Please stay tuned for the release of the SIM application for cohort 2, follow the SIM team on social media channels (and sign up for the SIM newsletter (https://goo.gl/9CZT2q) to hear more about the successes we are seeing with cohort 2 practices, the benefits of joining this transformation community and the ways in which the SIM initiative prepares practices for success in a value-based world.

[Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Meeting Update

“The SIM Team extends its gratitude to everyone who attended the conference on Thursday for making the meeting a great success.  The minutes from the SIM meeting on 11/20 will be posted to the website as soon as they become available. The PowerPoint presentations from the meeting can be viewed using the links below:

• Main SIM Presentation
• Evaluation Presentation
• HIT, Data and Quality Measure Presentation
• Population Health and Consumer Engagement Presentation” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Team Status Updates

“The SIM Team will be holding a working meeting for the SIM workstreams from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the History Colorado Center (1200 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80203). The meeting will be open to the public, but space will be limited. To RSVP for the SIM working meeting on 11/20 please click here.

The agenda for the SIM meeting on 11/20 is still being finalized and will include:

• Overview of SIM proposal and progress to date;
• Discussion led by co-leads of the SIM workgroups:

• HIT, Data and Quality Measures
• Payers, Purchasers and Payment Reform
• Service Delivery and Practice Transformation
• Population Health and Consumer Engagement 

• Mapping the road ahead

Two of the SIM workstreams (workforce and evaluation) will begin meeting in January of 2015. Please click here to sign-up for one of these workstreams.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Meeting: Save the Date for November 20th

“The SIM Team cordially invites you to participate in a working meeting on Thursday, November 20, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (MST) at History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203.  Space will be limited, so please be sure to register early to reserve your spot. Agenda and meeting materials will be posted to the website as they become available. If you have any questions please submit them through the contact us page of the SIM website.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Management Team Status Update

“In recognition of this busy season, the SIM Management Team has re-evaluated the focus of the November 20th gathering. The Health Transformation Summit will now be held in the spring of 2015. The full day meeting on November 20 will be a working meeting that focuses on further refining the workplans for the SIM workstreams. This meeting will be open to the public. More details to follow as they become available.

The leads for four of the SIM workstreams have been identified and will begin meeting in October:

• HIT, Data and Quality Measures - Lead: Kate Kiefert, State HIT Implementation Coordinator, Governor's Office and Co-Lead: Camille Harding, Quality and Health Improvement Unit Supervisor, Clinical Services Office, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
• Payers, Purchasers and Payment Reform - Lead: Patrick Gordon, Associate Vice President, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and Co-Lead: Judy Zerzan, Chief Medical Officer, Client and Clinical Care Office Director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
• Service Delivery and Practice Transformation - Lead: Lisa Clements, Director, Office of Behavioral Health, Colorado Department of Human Services and Co-Leads: Zach Pierce, Human Services Policy Advisor, Office of Governor John Hickenlooper and Primary Care Physician, TBD.
• Consumers - Lead: Gretchen Hammer, Executive Director, Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved and Co-Lead: Katherine Blair, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Office of Governor John Hickenlooper.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Management Team Updates

• “Colorado received formal questions from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its SIM proposal. Responses were submitted on Monday, September 8th. The full response, as well as the revised SIM proposal can be downloaded by clicking here.
• If you would like to participate in any of the workstreams, please complete the signup form located at:  www.coloradosim.org/workstreams_signup/  Descriptions and objectives for the workstreams will be provided shortly. The SIM team has received numerous requests to participate in the workstreams. To see a list of individuals/organizations who have expressed interest in these workstreams, please click here.
• We continue to meet with stakeholder groups by request. If you would like a SIM-related update or presentation, please communicate with our Project Director, or visit the contact us section of the website. If you would like a SIM-related update or presentation, please communicate with our Project Director, or visit the contact us section of the website.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Management Team Update

“Important Dates to Remember:

• All attestation letters are due to the SIM Management Team by July 7th and should be submitted to: sara.richey@state.co.us
• Colorado’s submission is due on July 21st.

Progress:

• The SIM Management team has weekly meetings and includes representatives from the Governor’s Office, CDHS, CDPHE, HCPF, CHI, CU School of Medicine and CIVHC.
• The SIM team is working with key stakeholders on all portions of the grant proposal.
• We are producing a video with the Governors endorsement of the SIM project and will keep you posted when it is uploaded to the SIM website.

Communications:

• The Colorado SIM website (www.coloradosim.org) will be updated regularly with information and other relevant documents.
• The SIM Management Team is actively seeking input from the stakeholder community on the draft proposal, which was posted to the SIM website on Friday (6/27). Review the draft proposal by clicking this link. After reviewing the proposal, please provide feedback using the comment form located on the Colorado SIM website. The deadline for comments is Friday, July 4th.

For questions or concerns please contact: Vatsala Pathy, Project Director at sim_grant@state.co.us.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

Colorado’s State Health Innovation Plan Draft for Review by November 15th

“The latest draft of Colorado’s State Health Innovation Plan (SHIP) is now posted on their website and is ready for review.  All comments are due by November 15th to Lorez Meinhold at Lorez.Meinhold@state.co.us.

SHIP lays out a vision for making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.  As you review, please keep in mind that the plan content has been developed in response to specific requirements from CMS. Accordingly, the sections of each chapter, and the chapters themselves, reflect these requirements. We are not seeking wording or language changes at this time. Instead, please provide high-level content feedback including significant omissions or topics that were not sufficiently addressed; inaccuracies, misstatements or misrepresentations; or other issues or concerns about the contents." [Source: Colorado SIM]

Save the Date – SIM Stakeholder Meeting

“Colorado’s SIM project team is pleased to let you know the third meeting of the stakeholder group for the Colorado State Innovation Plan has been scheduled for Monday, November 4th, from 9am-11am at History Colorado | 1200 Broadway, Denver.  A formal agenda and reading material will be available soon.

RSVP by October 14th to Alexandria Gerace, Alex.Gerace@state.co.us.“ [Source: HCPF]

State Innovation Model (SIM) Provider Stakeholder Group – Final Report

“Thank you to those who participated in the Colorado Health Care Innovation Plan Provider Stakeholder Group.  Click here for the final meeting report based on discussion during the August 15th gathering.  All three of the provider stakeholder meeting reports can be found on the Colorado SIM website under the Meetings tab.  The provider stakeholder group meetings have concluded.  We welcome you and appreciate your ongoing engagement and feedback via the Colorado SIM Forum also located on the website.”  [Source:  Colorado SIM]

For more information on SIM, please see The Colorado Health Institute's blog post from their CEO Michele Lueck.

Second Meeting of the Colorado Health Care Innovation Plan Advisory Group

"Please join us for the second meeting of the Colorado Health Care Innovation Plan Advisory Group. Click here for the invitation, which includes the agenda. In addition, see a draft outline of the innovation plan and a description of the proposal to integrate primary care and behavior health.

We will meet from 9:00am-11:00am on Tuesday, August 6, at History Colorado in Denver.  Please RSVP to Kathy Helm, helmk@coloradohealthinstitute.org by Friday, August 2.  [Source:  Colorado SIM]

The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM)

Please review the Ten Frequently Asked Questions about the Colorado SIM project.  Feel free to contact someone from the Colorado's SIM Management team directly (listed below), visit www.ColoradoSIM.org or email Sara Richey at sara.richey@state.co.us for more information.

Colorado's SIM Management Team:

• Lorez Meinhold, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
• Laurel Karabatsos, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
• Ben Miller, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
• Edie Sonn, Center for Improving Value in Health Care
• Michele Lueck, Colorado Health Institute