What's happening on the national level with health care?

Although there are lots of conversations taking place on many fronts about the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and what might, or might not come next, we really know nothing for sure yet. To that end, however, please be aware of a few important Colorado efforts relative to federal health policy:

• The Colorado Health Institute has launched a federal health policy project called 'Re: ACA'.
  
  
• The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is coordinating a newly formed Protect our Care Colorado Campaign. Click here to join the coalition & consider attending the March 7, 9:00-11:00am coalition meeting to learn more about what is happening at the federal level on key health policy issues and how advocates can work together to protect the programs that are vital to our health care system. Also, be sure to check out  the Protect Our Care Colorado Toolkit! 

• The newly formed Colorado Health Policy Coalition is a broad & diverse group of stakeholders dedicated to proactively positioning Colorado to shape the federal conversation about the future of health care in America."The goals of this effort were to (a) educate, engage and serve as a resource to coordinate and support advocacy efforts of a broad cross-section of stakeholders and (b) help influence/shape the thinking of Colorado’s state and federal lawmakers’ about impending changes in federal health policy. Specifically, we coalesced around the goal of ensuring that policymakers do not repeal the Affordable Care Act without a clear path forward for an alternate health policy framework for our country that is rational, practical and grounded in shared values. The coalition has an informal Steering Committee and is being supported by Cody Belzley & Michele Ames through funds from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Hospital Association & Colorado Health Foundation." 

Latest from the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF)

• At a Glance - February 2017 (At a Glance is a HCPF publication which provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates.)
• Medicaid Provider Bulletin - March 2017
• Learn more about Medicaid's (Health First Colorado) Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) and ACC 2.0 (July 1, 2018 start). Additionally, learn more about the related Primary Care Payment Reform work!
• Learn about the proposed changes to the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)! New provider application will be released April 14 and due May 15. 
• Primary Care Fund - 17/18 application has been released and is due May 25!
• Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) - SIM RFA for Cohort 2 open now!

State Legislative Session!

Thanks to a contract with Frontline Public Affairs, community safety net clinic directors are receiving email updates on the activities in the current 2017 State of Colorado Legislative Session. (The state legislature is scheduled to be in session January 11 - May 10, 2017.) Click here to view a 2017 bill tracker specifically for community safety net clinics.

Immigrant health stories needed

The Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU) and the Coalition for Immigrant Health are looking for storytellers to work with media as we receive requests. They would love storytellers from two perspectives: 

1. Patient stories (especially patients who live in these counties: Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Mineral, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache, Adams, El Paso, and Jefferson), and 
2. Health care leader perspective (including but not limited to providers, administrators, CEOs).

CCMU will work one-on-one with storyteller volunteers to prepare them for media interviews, and will also work to protect storyteller identity if storyteller would prefer to conceal name and photos (e.g., if a person is an immigrant). These stories will help boost much-needed attention among constituents, legislators, and other decision-makers on how much we value health for immigrants in Colorado. Once you've expressed your interest, you are free to decline or accept any opportunity that comes your way. Interested storytellers should contact Aubrey Hill (aubrey.hill@ccmu.org).

Welcome to the Community Safety Net Clinic Update!

Although ClinicNET has officially closed, some remaining funds (being fiscally sponsored by Inner City Health Center) have enabled me to enter into a limited short-term contract to continue to provide some advocacy, policy and communications work on behalf of community safety net clinics (CSNCs).

I have relaunched the Safety Net Scene blog and will sending out periodic Community Safety Net Clinic Update emails from the blog (similar to the ClinicNET Update emails)!

Some clinic leaders may have March 10th on their calendars for a gathering over the lunch hour, however that gathering will not take place but WE STILL NEED YOUR VOICE IN ALIGNING FUTURE WORK ON BEHALF OF CSNCs! Clinic EDs/CEOs: Please complete this Doodle poll ASAP so we can schedule a facilitated strategy session (in person & via Zoom) to hear updates on outreach with health funders, community stakeholders and partners from Kraig Burleson, Jessica Dunbar & Kim Boyd (ClinicNET's last Board Chair). NOW is the time to reconvene and chart the plan for next steps for a collective voice for community safety net clinics!  PLEASE PRIORITIZE THIS ENGAGEMENT…your voice is essential!

Brooke Powers, MSW/MPA
720.233.7375
@BrookePowers72

Primary Care Payment Reform

There are ongoing efforts at the state level relative to the current & future Medicaid program (Health First Colorado) and related payment reform and delivery system redesign lead by the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF). Of particular interest is the work going on around Primary Care Payment Reform. Stay tuned for more info to come...

Latest from the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF)

• At a Glance January - a HCPF publication which provides information on their major initiatives including policy changes and program updates 
• Provider Bulletin February
• Medicaid (Health First Colorado) Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC)
• ACC 2.0 The next iteration of the ACC will be implemented July 1, 2018. Most recently HCPF received comments from stakeholders on its draft RFP; the RFP will be officially released this spring.
• Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) - the CICP program will be changing and your clinic may be interested in applying to become a participating provider! To find out more, call-in or attend the CICP Executive Forum on Feb. 21, 9-11 am at 303 E. 17th Ave, Denver, Conf. Room 11AB. Call-in number is 1-877-820-7831, 496143# and the handouts can be found on our stakeholder page under 2017 Executive Forum.
• Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) - SIM RFA for Cohort 2 open now!