Provider Recruitment for Chronic Pain Disease Management Program

“The Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) invites you to participate in a new Chronic Pain Disease Management Program. Modeled after the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) program developed in New Mexico, the Chronic Pain Management Program leverages cutting edge telehealth technologies to connect PCMPs to specialists. PCMPs consult directly with specialists regarding client cases and learn best practices for treating clients with a variety of chronic pain conditions.

The Department will sponsor approximately 50 PCMPs to serve as telehealth pioneers for Colorado. Participation in ECHO-like program is easy and the benefits for providers and their clients are significant: click here to view a flier for more information. To learn more & sign-up for the Pain Management Program please e-mail jd.belshe@state.co.us by January 15th.” [Source: HCPF]

Accountable Care Collaborative – Request for Information due November 24

Click here to view the Request for Information on Colorado’s Accountable Care Collaborative Program. Click here to view a document describing the process for responding. The responses will inform the design of the next phase of the ACC Program. Please submit your response to RCCORFP@state.co.us by 3pm, November 24, 2014. Questions can be directed to RCCORFP@state.co.us or 303-866-5351.

Click here to view a fact sheet the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved has created to explain the RFI as well as give background information and some key areas you may want to consider for comment. [Source: HCPF]

Accountable Care Collaborative – Request for Information

“Click here to view the Request for Information on Colorado’s Accountable Care Collaborative Program. Click here to view a document describing the process for responding. The responses will inform the design of the next phase of the ACC Program. Please submit your response to RCCORFP@state.co.us by November 24, 2014. Questions can be directed to RCCORFP@state.co.us or 303-866-5351.” [Source: HCPF]

First Survey of Colorado Accountable Care Collaborative Clients Released

“The Colorado Health Institute released findings from the first consumer experience survey of Medicaid clients participating in the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC), the state’s signature project to reform the delivery of primary health care. The report focuses on 10 findings from the survey, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), in which adults enrolled in the ACC rated their health care experiences.

To date, the program primarily has been measured by whether costs and use of certain procedures and servers are declining. The new data contribute insights about clients’ perceptions of the value of having a personal doctor, access to preventative care and coordination across health care services. The survey was a partnership of HCPF, the Colorado Health Foundation, and the Colorado Health Institute. Data were collected in the spring of 2013. The analysis focused on clients in the ACC compared with clients remaining in the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) program.

Read the full report here.” [Source: Colorado Health Institute]

HCPF Updates

“Joint ACA Communications Webinar: The Department has collaborated with Connect for Health Colorado and the Division of Insurance to record a communications webinar for our partners and stakeholders. The webinar is less than 30 minutes, goes over what the key messages are for clients and applicants following the close of the private insurance open enrollment period, and gives community partners ideas on what they can do to help after open enrollment. To view the webinar click here. For more information or questions, contact ACAImplementation@hcpf.state.co.us.

New Medicaid Provider Search: The Department launched a new online Medicaid Provider search feature. The feature allows you to search for Colorado Medicaid providers by county for the following three categories: physicians, dentists or all providers.  Additionally, you can see the Medicaid Providers on a map and zoom in to your local community. Please note it is the responsibility of providers to ensure their contact information is accurate and up-to-date. If providers need to update their information, they should call 1-800-237-0757.

Accountable Care Collaborative Seeks Stakeholder Feedback: The Department is seeking stakeholder input and feedback on the future of the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC). The Department and the Colorado Health Institute are traveling to stakeholder meetings across the state to discuss the ACC and learn about successful policies and supports.  These meetings are open to the public and will help to develop the next iteration of Colorado's groundbreaking system of health care delivery. Please consider attending a stakeholder meeting if you're interested in helping to shape the ACC's Strategic Plan, or want to inform the development of the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs).  For information about the location and time of the meetings click here.  Click here to see the schedule of events. For more information, please contact Kathryn Jantz at rccorfp@state.co.us.” [Source: HCPF]

HCPF Updates

“Upcoming ACC Stakeholder Meetings: The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is seeking stakeholder input and feedback on the future of the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC). Through a series of stakeholder meetings, the Department, in collaboration with the Colorado Health Institute (CHI), seeks to collect client, provider, and stakeholder input on the next phase of the ACC strategic plan. Additionally, the stakeholder meetings will inform the Department’s development of the next Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCO). All stakeholder meetings are open to the public. For more information click here or visit Colorado.gov/HCPF/ACC then click on ACC Updates and News in the left navigation bar. If you have questions about the upcoming stakeholder meetings or RFP process, please contact RCCORFP@state.co.us.

LTSS Stakeholders List: If you would like to be added to HCPF’s Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Stakeholder meail list, please contact John Barry at John.R.Barry@state.co.us or (303) 866-3173. This email list receives communications in the following areas: (1) periodic email to LTSS stakeholders from Executive Director Sue Birch, on accomplishments and developments in the LTSS arena; (2) Meeting information and updates on the Community Living Advisory Group, a stakeholder / Department group appointed by the Governor, which is formulating recommendations on the future of LTSS in Colorado.  This group will finish its work in September 2014 – we want to share these recommendations, when they are published, with as many LTSS stakeholders as possible; (3) Announcements of opportunities for public comment and stakeholder participation in various Department initiatives in the LTSS area; and (4) LTSS-related news from our partner organizations.”  [Source: HCPF]

HCPF Updates

“Enrollment Metrics: Connect for Health Colorado and Colorado Medicaid have released their most recent enrollment metrics as of March 17, 2014. Since October 1, 2013, Medicaid has enrolled 151,050 individuals under the Medicaid expansion and Connect for Health Colorado has enrolled 100,112 Coloradans in private health insurance coverage. For more Medicaid enrollment metrics, including by gender, age and county of residence click here. Additional enrollment metrics from Connect for Health Colorado can be found here.

Department to Hold Public Meetings: The Department will be holding public medical assistance eligibility regulatory rule review meetings beginning Thursday, March 20, 2014. This meeting is first in a series of public meetings required by Executive Order to review rules to ensure that they are effective, efficient and essential. The meetings will seek input from the public on the eligibility regulations outlined within 10 CCR 2505-10 volume 8, sections 8.100.1 through 8.100.7 as well as CHP+ 10 CCR 2505-3 sections. Further details of the public engagement meetings can be found in the regulatory review director letter located here or by visiting the regulatory efficiency review page on Colorado.gov/HCPF.

New ACC Video: The Department has just released a new animated video about the Accountable Care Collaborative. Check out our new video here that helps to explain what the ACC is and how it helps Medicaid clients get connected to the right services, in the right setting, at the right time. Feel free to link to this video on your site.”  [Source:  HCPF]

ACC Feedback Requested

“During the last Provider and Community Relations meeting we discussed some of the challenges that consumer and health systems partners are experiencing with Health Colorado and the enrollment and attribution process.  If you have specific examples or areas of concern please email them to barbara.martin@state.co.us.  We will try to group the concerns into buckets that will be reviewed at the next PRC meeting.” [Source: CDPHE]

Colorado Finds Savings from Accountable Care Collaborative

“Visit the Colorado pages of NASHP’s Medical Home Map and State Accountable Care Map to learn more about a recent report on the state’s Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC).  The report estimates $44 million gross reduction ($6 million net reduction) in total cost of care in the initiative’s second year, as well as reduced hospital admissions and readmissions, use of high-cost imaging services, and emergency room utilization, and improved chronic disease management. Launched in 2011 to expand medical homes for Colorado Medicaid enrollees, the ACC program uses a regional model to support practices in providing medical home-caliber care.  NASHP has been working to support Colorado medical homes projects since 2007.”  [Source:  NASHP]

Materials from the 4/25 Safety Net Advisory Committee forum are now available

"Last Thursday marked our first SNAC Learning Lab of the 2013-14 season, and [Colorado Health Institute] couldn’t have asked for a better kick-off. Thanks to those of you who attended the forum on specialty care’s role in the Medicaid Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) and the ACC Payment Reform Initiative (HB12-1281)...The Colorado Health Institute team has posted materials from the meeting here, and plans to post the first of its new series of proceedings, Food for Thought: Updates from the Safety Net Advisory Committee (SNAC), later this week...

We are developing two tracks this year. Track 1 focuses on the ACC. Track 2 focuses on broader issues of access to care. Track 2 kicks off Thursday, May 23 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at CHI. You are welcome to attend either or both tracks.  If you would like to receive Microsoft Outlook meeting appointments for the remaining seven learning labs, please email Kathy Helm at helmk@coloradohealthinstitute.org."  [Source: Colorado Health Institute]

Accountable Care Collaborative Survey

The Connect Campaign is interested to learn how much you know about the Accountable Care Collaborative.  Please share your thoughts by taking this brief survey!

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.

Updates from HCPF

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has released the following:

• CICP November newsletter is now available.
• Annual Report to the Joint Budget Committee on the Accountable Care Program  
• Click here to read the November Provider bulletin.

Message from HCPF: Providing urgent care services and submitting claims for Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) Program members

"This letter is to clarify that Medicaid clients enrolled in the ACC Program may receive medically necessary services from any Medicaid provider, including urgent care providers. Providers may submit fee-for-service claims for services provided to ACC Program members, who receive the same benefits package as regular Medicaid clients...Click here to read original message.  [Source: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing]

ACC Payment Reform Initiative Update

"The Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) payment reform initiative bill passed during the 2012 legislative session allows the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to accept proposals for innovative payment reforms that will demonstrate new ways of paying for improved client health outcomes for Medicaid clients while reducing costs.

The Department is developing a formal process for requesting, receiving, evaluating and selecting proposals. The first step will be an invitation for abstracts. All abstracts must be submitted through the Accountable Care Collaborative's Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs) and their partners. Abstracts will assist the Department in developing the proposal evaluation criteria...Click here to read more about the process, to find the invitation for abstracts, a fact sheet and FAQs." [Source: Colorado Rural Health Center]

Invitations for Abstracts from RCCOs and Partners

During the last legislative session HB 12-1281 passed requiring HCPF to develop a process to review, choose and implement at least one Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) payment reform initiative.  HCPF has devised a 3 part submission and review selection process:

1.    Invite the ACC Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs) and their partners to develop abstracts which will help inform develop of the payment reform proposal criteria.
2.    In conjunction with stakeholders and the submitted abstracts, develop the proposal evaluation criteria.
3.    Invite RCCOs and their partners to develop payment reform proposals and then select and implement at least one of the proposals.

Please see three documents:
1.     Invitation for abstracts
2.     Frequently Asked Questions
3.     Fact Sheet

HCPF encourages interested parties to contact the RCCO in their region to discuss partnering on an abstract submission.  [Source: Kathryn Jantz of Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing]

All About ACCs and RCCOs

Interested in knowing more about the Accountable Care Collaborative and the Regional Care Collaborative Organization?  Read CCHAP’s August 2011 Newsletter.

Interested in learning more about the Accountable Care Collaborative?

The Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) is a new Medicaid program designed to coordinate the health care of its members. Medicaid clients in the ACC will receive services using the fee-for-service model, and will also belong to a Regional Care Collaborative Organization (RCCO) designed to help manage their care. Some Medicaid clients will be automatically enrolled into the program starting this month. Visit the ACC webpage to learn more.