It is a dynamic time for telehealth advancement in our state and nation. The Office of eHealth Innovation and Prime Health launched Regional Telehealth Learning Collaboratives to collect insights that will create a set of strategies and recommendations for statewide telehealth infrastructure. The office needs input from health care leaders around Colorado. Please consider taking this survey to share information about telehealth in your practice as well as your own experiences with telehealth.

Contact the Program Manager, Katrina Chaffin, katrina@primeheathco.com for questions regarding the survey. 

Providers are reminded that members do not need to present their Health First Colorado ID cards to receive services. The Health First Colorado Member Handbook states that members only need their date of birth and either their Social Security number or Health First Colorado ID Number (Medicaid ID). Providers should check eligibility via the Provider Web Portal, Integrated Voice Response (IVR) System or batch.

It is important that all health care providers know that Health First Colorado members cannot be billed for services covered by Health First Colorado. Please visit this policy statement for more detailed information.

Have questions? They are available to talk through your ideas and encourage you to connect with them before applying for funding. If you don’t already work with a program officer, please reach out by email at funding@coloradohealth.org or by phone at 303-953-3600, and be sure to note the county you work in and the focus area of interest.

Deadline for application is October 15, 2021. Here is the link to the opportunity.

Hear from rural health experts who will explore structural urbanism, rural social determinants of health and strategies to improve integrated rural health care.

Hear from a rural health provider who will share an overview of the mental health and recovery services workforce shortage in rural communities, strategies for increasing the rural mental health and recovery services workforce and for supporting wellness and training needs of rural health staff, and also success stories of rural health workforce opportunities.

CULTURAL COMPETENCY--A free, comprehensive online training provided by The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Colorado has opened vaccine eligibility to the general public age 12 and over Your patients trust information coming from you, even those who are hesitant to get vaccinated. Find more information on how to answer patients’ questions at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine-faq. 

The Department needs your help ensuring your Health First Colorado patients and CHP+ patients get vaccinated. Do your part by letting them know when you have the vaccine available for them, or where they can get it if you don’t offer it. Let them know that the cost is entirely covered; they won’t be charged co-pays or for the office visit. Reassure them that it’s safe to come to your office and that there is transportation available if they need it. 

If a member requires additional support to get the vaccine, please contact the assigned Regional Accountability Entity (RAE) or Managed Care Organization (MCO). Please also encourage your staff to get their vaccines, and refer them to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for information on vaccine safety. You can get more information on which phase your staff should be vaccinated in and where at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.  

How to Build Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines: A Short Guide for Immunization Coordinators in Medical Centers and Clinics - This informational guide presents six strategies for immunization coordinators to build vaccine confidence within their health system or clinics. It includes tangible actions to promote confidence, communication, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine, which can help support confidence among providers and patients. 

The COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Conversation Starter - This conversation starter is a prompt for engaging healthcare providers during an in-person or virtual meeting in order to identify tailored approaches to promote vaccine confidence within a facility.

Slide presentations and scripts are available to help health systems, clinics, and pharmacies educate healthcare personnel, teams and immunization coordinators about COVID-19 vaccination and build vaccine confidence within their organization: Building Vaccine Confidence in Health Systems and Clinics: Tips for Immunization/Vaccine Coordinators and Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines Among your Patients: Tips for the Healthcare Team. 

As a local public health agency, you are a critical and valued partner in slowing the spread of COVID-19, getting the vaccine to Coloradans, and ending the pandemic. Your communities have relied on you throughout the pandemic as a source of reliable information. To support your efforts, CDPHE has developed a statewide mass-media campaign and resources that can be used in your community. Resources to support the COVID-19 vaccine marketing campaign are below.

Now that Colorado's vaccine supply is becoming readily available, more and more primary care physicians are beginning to administer vaccinations to their patient population. CDPHE created a communication toolkit for primary care doctors who can help encourage their patients to get vaccinated.

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided guidance, tools and toolkits and other COVID-19 vaccine resources to support vulnerable populations who are a higher risk, to help them make decisions, protect their health and communicate with their communities. 

Toolkit for People with Disabilities - The CDC has created a toolkit to help people with disabilities and those who serve or care for them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities. This toolkit has several resources including: 

Vaccinating Homebound Persons With COVID-19 Vaccine - COVID-19 vaccination of homebound persons presents unique challenges to ensure safe and effective vaccination. This webpage provides guidance on management of vaccines and vaccination for persons vaccinated at home or in small group settings. 

Toolkit for People Experiencing Homelessness – This webpage provides guidance and tools to help homeless service providers make decisions and protect and communicate with staff and with people who are experiencing homelessness. 

COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics - The federal government is partnering with dialysis organizations, local and state jurisdictions to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for patients and healthcare personnel in outpatient dialysis clinics. This webpage provides information for dialysis partners and public health jurisdictions to ensure equitable and effective access to COVID-19 vaccines and increase availability of COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics. 

Health Colorado and Beacon host a monthly webinar: WELCOME TO HEALTH FIRST COLORADO Q & A WEBINAR FOR MEMBERS

For more information, call 833-511-0311 or visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org/how-to-apply.

OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF PLAYBOOK

The Office of Early Childhood is thrilled to share the highly anticipated PLAYbook with you!

The PLAYbook contains information and activities that anyone caring for young children – including parents, siblings, guardians, grandparents, babysitters, neighbors, and family friends - can use to prepare children to be successful when entering kindergarten. The PLAYbook contains activities and information that are designed to get caregivers thinking about building the child’s skills in the locations where they spend time together, using what they may already have around their home through play.

Here you will find a digital version of the PLAYbook in English and Spanish to review and share. The PDF file is interactive, allowing users to take notes or use the checklists and interactive tools digitally! The PLAYbook can also be downloaded and printed.

A communication toolkit has been developed to help you spread the word on The PLAYbook with those who care for young children. Thank you for your commitment and partnership in ensuring Colorado’s children are valued, healthy and thriving!

For more information, contact amanda.culbertson@state.co.us.

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is currently accepting member interest forms for the OEC Family Voice Council! Please share the interest form and the flyers (in English and Spanish) with parents and caregivers in your network.

For more information, contact amanda.culbertson@state.co.us.