Colorado SIM website launch, press release and Advisory Board meeting

“The SIM Office is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website www.coloradosim.org. While the URL has not changed, the content has been completely redesigned to offer a cleaner, more efficient user experience. Please check back often as updates will continue to be made throughout the next couple of months. We encourage anyone who has feedback on the website to send us an email using the contact us section of the site.

Also check out SIM’s recent press release recognizing commitments made by six Colorado health insurers and the state's Medicaid program to adopt delivery and payment reforms designed to integrate behavioral and physical healthcare, including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Colorado Access, Colorado Choice Health Plans, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare. Click here to read the full press release.

The next SIM Advisory Board meeting is 1-3pm July 6, at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 E. Cherry Creek Dr. S, Denver. It will be held in the Sabin/Cleere conference room on the first floor. Click here to view the agenda. If you cannot attend in person, we hope you will listen to the meeting live by calling 1-866-740-1260 with access code 6201667# and URL https://cc.readytalk.com/r/k9409wko9fny&eom.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Advisory Board Announcement

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of four SIM Advisory Board members. The Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions looked carefully at the dozens of applications that were submitted for only a handful of positions and made some very difficult choices. We welcome these four highly-qualified professionals to the SIM Advisory Board:

• Dr. Glenn Madrid, Primary Care Physician, Primary Care Partners
• Lilly Marks, Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Colorado and Executive Vice Chancellor of the Anschutz Medical Campus
• Jeannie Ritter, Mental Health Ambassador and former First Lady of Colorado
• Patrick Gordon, Associate Vice-President, Rocky Mountain Health Plans

They will join the other five board members appointed via their positions in the administration as enumerated in the Governor's Executive Order establishing the SIM governing structure -- Reggie Bicha, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Sue Birch, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, Marguerite Salazar, Colorado Insurance Commissioner, Dr. Larry Wolk, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Vatsala Pathy, SIM Director.

The first meeting of the SIM Advisory Board has been scheduled for June 15, 2015 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., in the Sabin-Cleere room at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 East Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Workgroup and Advisory Board – Application deadlines extended to April 17

“The application deadline for SIM Workgroups has been extended to close of business on April 17th. You will find the links provided below to the application for the workgroups, criteria for each workgroup and the expectations for workgroup members. All applications should be submitted to gov_simgrant@state.co.us.

• Health Information Technology, Data, and Quality Measures: Criteria and Application
• Workforce Development: Criteria and Application
• Population Health and Consumer Engagement: Criteria and Application
• Service Delivery and Practice Transformation: Criteria and Application
• Policy and Evaluation: Criteria and Application
• Payers, Purchasers, and Payment Reform: Criteria and Application

NOTE: Workgroup membership may preclude you or the organization you work for from competitively bidding on SIM grants.  Specifically if the workgroup members are significantly contributing to the design of work on working product that will be a part of the procurement opportunities that will become available later in the cooperative agreement.  The SIM office is working with the Attorney General's Office to clearly define what conflict of interest means when it comes to bidding on procurement. A position statement will be released once available. In addition, we have provided a diagram that will clarify the process for the workgroups.

The SIM Advisory Board application process has also been extended to Friday, April 17, 2015. Please submit your application no later than close of business on April 17th. Those interested in applying for the State Innovation Model Advisory Board shall do so at the following web address: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1249674847715” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Workgroups and Advisory Board applications - due April 10

“Colorado's State Innovation Model (SIM) would like to announce the launch of the SIM Workgroup Application Process. The application process is not to discount any work that has already been done, but to make for a clean transition to the new process for each workgroup and to document applicants and work that is being done in the community. You will find the links provided below to the application for the workgroups, criteria for each workgroup and the expectations for workgroup members.

• Health Information Technology, Data, and Quality Measures: Criteria and Application
• Workforce Development: Criteria and Application
• Population Health and Consumer Engagement: Criteria and Application
• Service Delivery and Practice Transformation: Criteria and Application
• Policy and Evaluation: Criteria and Application
• Payers, Purchasers, and Payment Reform: Criteria and Application

Applications for each Workgroup will be accepted through close of business, Friday April 10, 2015. All applications should be submitted to gov_simgrant@state.co.us.

Applications are also being accepted for the SIM Advisory Board. The SIM Advisory Board shall provide advice, oversight, and guidance over the operation of the SIM office. The SIM Advisory Board will also provide recommendations about how to better integrate behavioral health and physical health care in Colorado. Interested applicants should apply for the SIM Advisory Board  by April 10, 2015 and appointments to the Board will be designated by the Governor's Office.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

State Innovation Model (SIM) Updates

“Upon hearing of our notification of award, our small (but growing) SIM team has been putting many building blocks in place so that we can have a smooth and efficient year ahead.  We are excited to provide you with some key updates, FAQs as well as a high level budget for SIM. There are several important items I would like to highlight:

• The first year of our federal cooperative agreement is a ramp-up year.  This year will be used to ensure the best operational structure and decision-making processes for SIM -- ones that allow us to be both accountable and transparent.  This, in part, entails the development of a number of contracts and interagency agreements with some of our key partners and procurement for other essential parts of our program.
• In addition, we will be hiring a number of positions and establishing an advisory board in the coming months and are looking for talented individuals to help us realize our goals.  Stay tuned for more!” [Source: Colorado SIM]

Colorado awarded SIM Funding!

“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has awarded Colorado with $65 million in State Innovation Model (SIM) funding to create a coordinated, accountable system of care that gives Coloradans access to integrated primary care and behavioral health. Click here to view the press release for the announcement.

Workgroup progress:
HIT, Data and Quality Measures: The group gained consensus on the following two pediatric measures to be included in SIM: (1) Postpartum depression screening, and (2) Developmental screening. The group has been evaluating these measures from a data and cost perspective. A review of public health data integration will occur as a next phase of work, and a meeting with the Local Public Health Agencies is planned early in 2015. A follow-up meeting of the HIT, Data & Quality Measures group is also planned before the end of the year.

Payers, Purchasers and Payment Reform: The group had a successful kick-off in November and is currently working on a schedule for regular meetings in the new year.

Population Health and Consumer Engagement: Joe Sammen from CCMU will be replacing Gretchen Hammer as co-lead with Dr. Larry Wolk, with Gretchen Hammer's transition to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance. A meeting is being scheduled for January, 2015.

Service Delivery and Practice Transformation: Currently, the group is focusing on the development of practice milestones. It has reviewed the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative milestones, which will serve as a foundation of SIM milestones development, as well as looked at other relevant resources (i.e. Transforming Clinical Practices Initiative). Over the next month, the group will be facilitating targeted discussions around the milestones, including: pediatric-specific considerations and integrating primary care into a CMHC setting.

The SIM Team would like to extend its gratitude to those who submitted a post-meeting evaluation survey for the SIM conference on 11/20. We appreciate the valuable feedback we received from you. Please use the following link to download a PowerPoint presentation that illustrates the results of the survey: Click here to download the PowerPoint.”  [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 Updates

• “The SIM Management Team will be hosting an all-day summit on November 20, 2014. More details to follow.
• The team organized the SIM plan into six “workstreams” to tackle the work ahead: (1) HIT and quality measures, (2) Payers and payment reform, (3) Data and evaluation, (4) Consumers and purchasers, (5) Provider and workforce, and (6) Service delivery and practice transformation.
• Each workstream will be led by individuals with specific and relevant expertise, and meetings will begin in September. If you are interested in participating please contact Connor Holzkamp at: connor.holzkamp@rootstocksolutions.com.” [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM Management Team Status Update

“Progress: The SIM Management Team is pleased to report that the final proposal has been submitted, and will be uploaded to the SIM website next week!

Important Dates to Remember:  Starting in August we will have regular office hours.  Also, HHS anticipated making its decision in late October or early November.

Communications: Thank you to all who submitted a formal letter of attestation for the SIM project. A list of all these organizations who provided a letter can be found on the SIM website. The Colorado SIM website will be updated regularly with information and other relevant documents.

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

SIM Management Team Weekly Update

“Important Dates to Remember:

• The draft proposal will be distributed to stakeholders on June 27th.
• A webinar will be held July 2. More information will be distributed in the coming weeks regarding information for that webinar.
• All attestation letters are due to the SIM Management Team by July 7th and should be submitted to sara.richey@state.co.us.

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.
• Team leads are working with key stakeholders on all portions of the grant proposal and are submitting their draft narratives, budgets and budget narratives to the Project Director by Friday, June 20th.
• Members of the SIM Management Team have been responding to numerous information requests from interested member of the community.
• The Colorado SIM website will be updated regularly with information and other relevant documents.”  [Source: Colorado SIM]

SIM webinar and feedback request

“In case you were unable to attend the SIM Management Team’s webinar on June 5th, we encourage you to watch the full webinar and download the PowerPoint presentation by clicking here.

As discussed during the webinar, the SIM Management Team is seeking stakeholder input. The deadline for feedback is Monday, June 16, 2014. Please visit the website to view the documents and provide feedback using the response form that is provided.

Other ways you can help prior to the submission on 7/21:

• Read final draft proposal to be distributed 6/27
• Participate in webinar on 7/2 (details to be posted online/sent via email)
• Provide attestation letters (due on, or before, 7/7).” [Source: SIM Management Team]

Update on Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) Grant

“Colorado submitted its State Health Innovation Plan (SHIP) to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) in December.  You can access a copy of Colorado's SHIP here.  Since the start of 2014, the SIM management team has been meeting regularly to maintain momentum on this project.  More specifically, we've been working with our CMMI project manager to identify potential areas for improvement, communicating with payers and providers to try to refine our "asks" related to SIM implementation, and laying the groundwork for what we hope will be a successful application for additional federal dollars to support this work moving forward.

Speaking of dollars, we are hopeful that CMMI will release a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) sometime in the next month, which will allow Colorado to apply for additional implementation funds. Until the FOA is released, we won’t know how much funding is available, for how long the project will be funded, or what the funding parameters will be.

Those of you who were involved in our original SIM proposal in the Fall of 2012 likely recall that we had about 45 days to convene all of our partners and prepare a 200-page grant proposal.  This funding round is likely to be on a similar timeline, so please keep an eye out for meeting announcements!

Before the FOA is released, we would love for you to become familiar with the SHIP and send us any feedback or concerns you have.  This will allow us to more carefully target our outreach and conversations as we prepare the next grant proposal. You can send comments back to this address: simgrant@state.co.us. Thank you all for your continued interest and commitment in Colorado's SIM work.”  [Source: Colorado SIM]

Colorado Health Care Innovation Plan (SIM)

The next meeting of the Colorado SIM Provider Stakeholder Group will focus on Colorado’s proposal to integrate behavioral and physical health care across the state. As part of the discussion, they are looking for your input! Please take a minute to complete this survey.

Learn more about the State Innovation Model Grant

Colorado is preparing to apply for a competitive grant from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. This funding opportunity is known as the State Innovation Models cooperative agreement or SIM Grant, and Colorado’s application is due to CMMI on September 17, 2012. Over the coming weeks, the Governor’s Office will be working extensively with stakeholders both within and outside state government to develop a grant proposal that is reflective of Colorado’s existing healthcare innovations in and that clearly articulates our vision for an integrated and value-based health system...[The Governor's Office] invites you to visit this page often for updates and resources related to this opportunity. Click here to learn more.