The Colorado Trust Announces New Funding Priorities

“The Colorado Trust is a private health foundation that, since its creation in 1985, has been dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of Coloradans. We believe all Coloradans should have fair and equal opportunities to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where we live. Thus, starting now, The Trust is refocusing its vision to address health equity issues. The Colorado Trust will engage partners to move our new vision forward by funding the following issue areas:

• Policy and Advocacy – advancing health equity policy solutions through a field-building approach.
• Data and Information – monitoring inequities in health outcomes and social determinants through data collection and analysis to inform stakeholders and advance health equity.
• Community-based Participatory Grantmaking – addressing health equity in partnership with communities throughout Colorado.

Good health depends on more than medical care. It is affected by where we live, the education we receive, the work we do, the wages we earn and by our opportunities to make decisions that improve our own family’s health.

By working together, we hope to end inequalities facing racial/ethnic, low-income and other populations. Read more from Dr. Ned Calonge about The Trust’s health equity vision. New grant strategies and funding opportunities will begin in early 2014. Sign up to receive notification of future opportunities.” [Source: The Colorado Trust]

Colorado Psychiatric Access and Consultation for Kids (C-PACK) Project

"Announcing an exciting opportunity for Pediatric Primary Care Practices in the Denver and Southern Colorado regions! Colorado Access and Value Options are partnering with CBHC and the Reach Institute to offer participating prescribers a mini-fellowship.  The fellowship will include education, consultation and care coordination increasing collaboration between behavioral health and primary care providers to better meet the over-all health care needs of children in Colorado, regardless of payer source.

The mini- fellowship includes:

• Phone consultation with a pediatric psychiatrist within 30 minutes of request (8-5, M-F, excluding holidays).
• Care coordination to assist pediatric primary care prescribers in making referrals to behavioral health providers.
• Training on Primary Pediatric Pharmacology, an evidence-based training offered by the REACH Institute.  The training will focus on proper assessment, diagnosis and medication management for depression, aggression, anxiety, ADHD and bipolar/psychosis.
• After the training, all participating prescribers will participate in every other week case-based conference calls for six months (12 calls total).
• A $1,500 stipend for prescribers upon successful completion of the mini-fellowship.  
• Participation in outcomes measurement to monitor success of C-PACK project.
• Practice support from C-PACK pediatric psychiatrists and care coordinators.

Interested in learning more?  For the Denver region, contact Jennifer Bock by email Jennifer.bock@coaccess.com or by phone 720-744-5628. For Southern Colorado regions, contact Mary Shatzer by email mary.shatzer@valueoptions.com or by phone: 719-538-1475 or 719-505-2666." [Source: Colorado Access]

ClinicNET is seeking a Quality Improvement Specialist

ClinicNET is looking for a new Quality Improvement Specialist, Part-Time Contractor. The QI Specialist educates, trains and assists Community Safety Net Clinics (CSNCs) in the identification and development of improvement goals to: enhance business operations and workflows; optimize patient experiences and outcomes; and enable best practices for screening, care coordination and activities that support patient and family centered care. Applications are due November 15th.  Follow this link for more information on the position: http://www.coloradononprofits.org/careers/career-center/quality-improvement-specialist-part-time-contractor/.  Please feel free to send this open position to anyone who may be interested.

New Health Care Provider ACA Resource Page and Webinar

“The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has developed a new Affordable Care Act (ACA) resource page for health care providers. The Department’s ACA Resources for Health Care Providers page is designed to deliver key information about health care reform, the Medicaid expansion and the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace. The resource page will be updated as new information becomes available and additional resources are developed for health care providers.

We also invite all nurses to view a recorded webinar hosted by the Department’s Executive Director Susan Birch, MBA, BSN, RN regarding the ACA. The webinar can be viewed on the ACA Resources for Health Care Providers page here.”  [Source: HCPF]

November PEAK Updates

“Regular PEAK Support Calls: County and community-based staff can connect with PEAK support matter experts and hear updates on known issues and resolutions.

• Dial in: 1.712.432.0200, Access code: 5642211#
• Wednesday, November 6th, Noon
• Wednesday, December 4th, Noon

PEAK Tech Support: Consumers and Community Based Organizations should contact: cbms.help@state.co.us. County staff should submit a ticket through the CBMS Service Desk.

ACA Implementation News: This newsletter is designed for county partners and other eligibility workers and stakeholders who will be impacted by the Affordable Care Act’s changes to the Medicaid program, issues of the publication can be accessed here.

Colorado.gov/health: A new consumer-facing website with information and resources to help Coloradans find answers to questions about the new health care laws and what these mean to them.

Also view PEAK’s Outreach Training Calendar.” [Source:  PEAK]

HCPF Resources, PEAK Campaign, and FAQs

“Resources for Parents:
Beginning in January 2014, more Coloradans may qualify for Medicaid or for new financial assistance to help buy health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado. We know that most of those newly eligible Medicaid will be parents and adults without children. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has developed a brochure to help Coloradans learn about their options as well as a flyer that can help get the attention of parents who may be newly eligible in January for Medicaid.

• Medicaid brochure (English) (Spanish)
• Parent flyer (English) (Spanish)
• Other materials are available for download at Colorado.gov/HCPF/ACAResources

PEAK Campaign:
Beginning in mid-October, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing launched a targeted marketing campaign for PEAK. The campaign includes English and Spanish radio spots, billboards and online media. Keep your eyes and ears open for the advertisements through November. If you have specific questions regarding the campaign please contact Raina.Paisley@state.co.us.

NEW Frequently  Asked Questions:  
Applicants and community partners can now find additional guidance on the PEAK application at Colorado.gov/Health. On the Colorado.gov/Health FAQ page, you can find answers to your general application questions as well as question and answers specific to the online PEAK application. The FAQs can also be accessed directly from the PEAK site by clicking on Quick Links, then Client FAQs. We will continue to add to these FAQs as well as others about health care reform regularly, so check back often.

NEW ACA Inbox for Stakeholder Questions: 
In an effort to streamline responses, ensure consistency and provide all stakeholders and consumers with timely information, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has developed a centralized inbox for health care reform related questions. Questions regarding the implementation of the ACA should be directed to: ACAImplementation@hcpf.state.co.us

All stakeholders should to direct their questions to this inbox. For questions that are not already addressed on Colorado.gov/HCPF/ACAResources or Colorado.gov/Health, the Department will work to answer the question and post the response online in approximately 7-10 business days.” [Source: HCPF]

The Connect Campaign Updates: Adults without Dependents, Progress & Lessons

• A new data dashboard can be viewed here on the current limited enrollment of adults without dependent children in Medicaid.
• Department of Health Care Policy & Financing has a number of helpful resources that you can use in your outreach including:
• Flyer on where to apply for health insurance,
• Checklist on what you will need for application,
• All outreach resources can be found here.
• Paper application training coming soon – Covering Kids and Families is working on making this available for partners. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Stephanie Brooks at sbrooks@cchn.org.
• Latest details on dental benefits for adults on Medicaid to start next year.”  [Source: The Connect Campaign]