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.

Kaiser Permanente's Free Webinars

Click here for a list of Kaiser Permanente's free webinars on topics ranging from smoking cessation to diabetes prevention.  To register for all webinars go to:  kpwebinar.org.

HHS Launches Health Insurance Marketplace Educational Tools, Call Center

"The Obama administration on 6/24/13 kicked off the Health Insurance Marketplace education effort with the relaunch of a new, consumer-focused HealthCare.gov website and the 24-hours-a-day consumer call center to help Americans prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for private health insurance.  The new tools will help Americans understand their choices and select coverage that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1.

'The new website and toll-free number have a simple mission:  to make sure every American who needs health coverage has the information they need to make choices that are right for themselves and their families, or their businesses,' said Health Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov will also be updated to match HealthCare.gov's new consumer focus.

Between now and the start of open enrollment, the Marketplace call center will provide educational information and, beginning October 1, 2013, will assist consumers with application completion and plan selection.  In addition to English and Spanish, the call center provides assistance in more than 150 languages through an interpretation and translation service.  Customer service representatives are available for assistance via a toll-free number at 1-800-318-2596 and hearing impaired callers using TTY/TDD technology can dial 1-855-889-4325 for assistance." [Source:  CCI Voice]

Connect for Health Colorado Updates

• "Our new phone number 1-855-PLANS-4-YOU (1-855-752-6749) is now live.  Our Customer Service Center Representatives are now standing by to take calls.
• Check out our new events calendar to see where we will be next in Colorado.
• The Board will meet Monday, July 8, at 8:30am.  Learn more.
• Connect for Health Colorado is offering an overview webinar about the Individual Marketplace, including information about who can use the marketplace, the different ways to shop, the financial assistance application and ways we will support customers.  Join us July 11, at 4:00pm.  Register today."  [Source:  Connect for Health Colorado]

HRSA presents a Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar

"Free Continuing Education Resources for Safety Net Health Professionals from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality" - Friday, July 12 at 2:00pm ET

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) are hosting a webinar to announce an exciting new HRSA website that provides HRSA grantees and safety net providers, such as health center providers, rural health providers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other safety net health professionals with free, clinically relevant modules to support continuing education and workforce training.  These free, accredited continuing education resources cover a variety of disease areas.  Click here to view the modules and for more information.

Furthermore, HRSA staff will discuss how these clinical training modules align with the work of HRSA grantees and debut the new user-friendly HRSA website for safety net providers to access these AHRQ resources. Register here.

For more information and to send questions to presenters email healthit@hrsa.gov.

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) requests feedback on block grant application

The MCH Block Grant funds are administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and are used to improve the health of Colorado mothers, women, children and youth, including those with special health care needs and their families.  The grant supports infrastructure, population-based, enabling, and direct services for the maternal and child health population with an emphasis on the infrastructure and population level services.

The 2014 Colorado Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant application/report will be submitted on July 15, 2013.  Here is the draft of the narrative sections of the application/draft.  We welcome comments and suggestions on this draft any time before we submit.  Please send your feedback to Risa Friedman at risa.friedman@state.co.us.  [Source:  COPrevent]

PetAid Colorado: Healthcare safety net for pets

Do you know of any pets that might need a healthcare safety net?  PetAid is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare to underprivileged and at-risk pets. “With diverse programs that seek to address an array of animal health and welfare issues, PetAid Colorado serves as a consensus builder and a visionary organization ready to lead in the future.”  Since their conception in 2002, PedAid strives to make Colorado a better place for animals and people through animal hospitals, disaster services, and grants to veterinary clinics.  To learn more about PetAid visit their website or facebook page.  [Source:  PetAid Colorado]