HCI Primary Care Medical Provider Monthly Newsletter

August 2022

IN THIS ISSUE:


Provider Resources:

  • National Immunization Awareness Month
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  • Reminder to Verify Provider License Status
  • Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT)
  • Incorrect Health First Colorado Member Billing
  • New National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
  • Diabetes Study Patient Recruitment
  • Colorado's Youth Have Extended Access to Therapy
  • Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) Providers: Update to ACC Member Disenrollment Rules
  • Home and Community Based Services for Persons with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities Waiver Programs
  • Provider Handbook

COVID Information:

  • Stay Updated on the Public Health Emergency Declaration
  • COVID-19 Outpatient Therapeutics Flowsheets and Resources
  • FREE COVID Self Tests
  • COVID-19 Therapeutics Program for Health Care Providers
  • CDPHE Quick COVID Provider Guide
  • State Wide Vaccine Information

Events & Webinars

Provider Resources

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH


August is National Immunization Awareness Month which highlights the efforts to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccinations. Below you will find links to resources that will assist you in communicating this annual observance with your patients and provide you with tools as well.


988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE

 

988:The easy-to-remember, three-digit dialing, texting, and chat code for anyone experiencing a suicidal or mental health related crisis or emotional distress. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) developed a 988 Partner Toolkit to equip the field with key messages, answers to frequently asked questions, branding guidelines, etc.

REMINDER TO VERIFY PROVIDER LICENSE STATUS

A Message From The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

 

Providers are reminded to keep licenses up to date. If a provider has recently received a notification about an expired license, the status can be confirmed by logging into the Provider Web Portal to verify the license status and update licenses as applicable.

 

1.     Login into the Provider Web Portal. Note: Delegates have limited access, check with your

       administrator if your access allows updating capabilities for licensing.

2.     Select Provider Maintenance, twice.

3.     Click on Provider Identification Changes.

4.     Result: All applicable licenses that are on file and associated with the portal account will display.


Refer to the Provider Maintenance - Update License Quick Guide for more information.

EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT (EPSDT)

 

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides free, comprehensive and preventive health care services for children and youth ages 20 and under including adults who are pregnant, who are enrolled in Medicaid. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and youth receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, developmental and specialty services. Click here for more detailed information.

INCORRECT HEALTH FIRST COLORADO MEMBER BILLING

From Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing


Health First Colorado members cannot be billed for services covered by Health First Colorado.


Providers cannot bill members in the following circumstances:


Third-Party Liability (TPL) co-pays and deductibles – Providers cannot bill members

for the difference between commercial health insurance payments and the billed

charges when Health First Colorado does not make additional payment. The provider

also cannot bill members for co-pay or deductibles assessed by Third-Party Liability

(TPL) (commercial insurance). Refer to the General Provider Information Manual for more

information.


Delayed Notification of Eligibility from the member - Providers must verify eligibility

within a timely manner.


Claim denials - Timely filing, place of service invalid, contract invalid, or other

denials for the line item or the entire claim are not valid reasons to bill the member.


Provider is not enrolled with Health First Colorado - Once the services have been

rendered to the member, the provider must enroll with Health First Colorado in order

to receive payment. The provider may not bill the member if they choose to not

enroll.


Providers shall not send overdue Health First Colorado member accounts to collection

agencies unless the billing is for a non-covered service and the member has reneged on a

written payment agreement.


Visit the Policy Statement: Billing Health First Colorado Members for Services web page for more information.

NEW NATIONAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE

 

The new National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support, resources and referrals to any pregnant and postpartum mothers facing mental health challenges and their loved ones. The service is available via phone and text in English or Spanish.

 

Call or text, 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746) to connect with counselors at the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

 

Pregnancy and a new baby can bring a range of emotions. In fact, many women feel overwhelmed, sad, or anxious at different times during their pregnancy and even after the baby is born. For many women, these feelings go away on their own. But for some women, these emotions are more serious and may stay for months. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline’s counselors provide real-time emotional support, encouragement, information, and referrals. Pregnant and postpartum women can get the help and resources they need, when they need it.

For more information, visit this webpage.

DIABETES STUDY PATIENT RECRUITMENT


A diabetes study is being conducted by Tamara Oser, MD and Sean Oser, MD, MPH of the Department of Family Medicine University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Your patients may qualify if they:

  • Are over 18 years of age
  • Have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
  • Have an interest in diabetes technology

Eligible participants are adults 18-89 years old with Type 1 Diabetes diagnosed at least 1 year ago, treated with injections (not an insulin pump). Study participation will consist of two 14-day periods as outpatients, virtually or in-person.

 

Please review this flyer. If providers need more information or have questions, please reach out to either:

Sean Oser sean.oser@cuanschutz.edu  717-552-6333 

Tamara Oser tamara.oser@cuanschutz.edu  717-552-6334

COLORADO'S YOUTH HAVE EXTENDED ACCESS TO THERAPY



The I Matter program will receive an additional $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding following the passage of House Bill 22-1243. Colorado’s youth will now have continued access to free therapy sessions until at least June 30, 2023. The program, which launched last Oct. 27, provides accessible, confidential and non-judgmental behavioral health services to any Colorado youth.

ACCOUNTABLE CARE COLLABORATIVE (ACC) PROVIDERS: UPDATE TO ACC MEMBER DISENROLLMENT RULES

From Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)


Effective June 15, 2022, ACC disenrollment rules will be updated. Previously, when a Primary Care Medical Provider (PCMP) updated their accepted age ranges for member enrollment, the change would not affect enrolled members. Beginning June 15, when a PCMP updates the accepted age ranges, all geographically attributed members who fall outside the PCMP’s accepted age ranges will be disenrolled at the end of the month in which the updates are made. This change will not affect members who are attributed via client choice or via claims history. PCMPs should work with the Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) to ensure that all accepted age ranges are accurate.


Contact HCPF_accenrollment@state.co.us for more information.

HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WAIVER PROGRAMS


The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs provide Health First Colorado members who meet special eligibility criteria access to additional services in their homes and communities as an alternative to institutional care. Level of care determinations are made annually by the case management agencies (aka Community Centered Boards). Members must meet financial and medical eligibility, as well as program-specific criteria to access services under a waiver. The applicant must be at risk of transition to a nursing facility, hospital, or Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). To utilize waiver benefits, members must be willing to receive services in their homes or communities. For more information, click here to be taken to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's webpage regarding this program.

PROVIDER HANDBOOK

As a reminder, you can access The Provider Handbook on Health Colorado's website under the Provider Handbooks & Policies section. Please utilize these resources to answer questions in regards to member services, provider information, key performance indicators, etc.
COVID

STAY UPDATED WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS


Another extension started July 15, 2022, and if extended the full 90 days, runs through October 13, 2022.

Keep updated on the public health emergency declarations for COVID-19 by visiting this site. You are also encouraged to visit the state site as well.

COVID-19 OUTPATIENT THERAPEUTICS FLOWSHEETS AND RESOURCES


The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has provided the following checklists with resource documents which is intended to assist prescribing providers with their assessment of the utilization of these particular therapeutic selections.


FREE COVID-19 SELF TESTS


Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free COVID-19 self- tests on USPS.com.

  • Each order now includes 8 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
  • Orders will come in 2 separate packages (4 tests in each package), each with its own tracking number and will ship for free

Self- tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. They give your result in a few minutes and are different from laboratory-based tests that may take days to return your result. 

Order Free Self-Tests Here

COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS


In an ongoing effort to decrease hospitalizations for at-risk Coloradans by ensuring access to COVID-19 therapeutics, we are sharing information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for health care providers. Included here is updated National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations, as well as provider eligibility and enrollment information for both the CDPHE Therapeutics program and Health and Human Services (HHS) Test to Treat program, Health care providers are encouraged to learn more about these lifesaving treatments and talk about them with patients who may be eligible to receive them.

CDPHE QUICK COVID VACCINE PROVIDER GUIDE

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released a quick reference guide for healthcare professionals including information on the proper storage, preparation, and administration of the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccine products in the United States.
STATEWIDE COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides extensive resources and up to date information regarding the COVID vaccine. 

For vaccine information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, visit this webpage.

Events & Webinars

DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION CARE USING TELEHEALTH AND REMOTE MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES--WEBINAR

Hosted by ECHO Colorado In Partnership With Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment


The goal of this series is to provide updates and practical guidance on the use of telehealth tools and programming in diabetes, hypertension and high blood cholesterol management. The three-session series will provide practical information on incorporating remote patient monitoring (RPM) in your practice, including the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring. This series will also include components of telehealth policy and reimbursement, and how COVID-19 has impacted change in these areas. Learn from experts in the field on how to incorporate these tools into your practice in order to gain confidence and improve care for your patients.


  • Three weekly ECHO sessions held virtually on Wednesdays 12pm - 1pm (MST) starting

             August 17, 2022


  • Click here for more information and to sign up for the series.
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August 2022