NGA names four states for chronic care collaborative

The National Governors Association (NGA) announced Tuesday that Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Pennsylvania have been selected to participate in the NGA's new learning collaborative on integrating chronic disease prevention services.

According to NGA, chronic disease is a major contributor to rising healthcare costs in the United States, accounting for 84 percent of healthcare spending. To address one of the root causes of rising costs, state public health officials focus on preventive care by promoting physical activity and better nutrition, smoking cessation, screenings for cancer and diabetes and programs to help people control their blood pressure and asthma.

For more information, click here.

New web resource for tracking public policy

The Colorado Trust launched a new section of its website dedicated to tracking and informing public policy issues that could affect the health and well-being of Coloradans. The new section of the site includes information about federal, state and local  laws, regulations, bills, judicial decisions and political events. It  highlights information about Colorado health and fiscal policy, federal health care reform and national health policy, and provides daily news updates, links to key publications and health policy-related websites.

Building Medical Homes: Lessons From Eight States with Emerging Programs

The Commonwealth Fund reports on eight states that are at different stages in the development and implementation of a medical home program and have relied on different strategies to encourage primary care providers to adopt the model, including developing state medical home qualification standards instead of  adopting national standards. Click here to read the full report.

State Health Spending Gap Widens

Kaiser Health News reports that a state-by-state breakdown of estimated health care spending found that the  gap is broadening between the highest-spending and lowest-spending states. Click here to read the complete article.

Update to the Colorado Medicaid EHR Incentive Program

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing continues to work on implementing the
Colorado Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, through which eligible health care
professionals and hospitals can receive incentive payments for adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR
technology.

> Medicaid Program Status Update

Mental Health Care in Colorado

In 2003, the Mental Health Funders Collaborative, a group of eight Colorado grantmaking foundations, commissioned TriWest Group to conduct an assessment and critical analysis of the public and private mental health systems in Colorado. The Status of Mental Health Care in Colorado was published that year and revealed alarming data about the lack of mental health care funding and access to care for people in the state. It also published, for the first time, information about Colorado’s many overlapping and fragmented systems for providing mental health services.

In response to these findings, four Colorado foundations partnered to create Advancing Colorado’s Mental Health Care (ACMHC). Visit the ACMHC website for more information about the project.

CICP Proposed Rule Changes

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has submitted a draft proposed rule concerning the  Medical Assistance Rule Concerning the Colorado Indigent Care Program.

A hearing on the proposed rule is set for Friday, January 13, 2012 at 09:00 am at The Capitol Center, 225 E. 16th Ave., 6th floor, Denver CO 80203. For more information about the proposed rule, you can contact Judi Carey, MSB Coordinator at 303-866-4416 at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

If you want to provide feedback on the proposed rule or amendment to help us make that determination, please email opr@dora.state.co.us before Tuesday, December 20, 2011.