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.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has formally extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The PHE can be extended for up to 90 days at a time.

For the eighth year in a row, Mental Health America released its annual State of Mental Health in America report, which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 15 mental health access and prevalence measures. The report illuminates the continuing crisis both in the prevalence of mental health conditions and in access to mental health services. It is clear that we must do more to ensure that Americans are able to lead mentally healthy lives.

Health Colorado's website provides many resources for members to access to keep up with their health and wellness. Get access to all things member related here and share as needed.

Beacon and Health Colorado will assist with questions new members have regarding Medicaid benefits.

Beacon and Health Colorado invites anyone to participate in this "working" workshop where forms are available for members to state their wishes if they were unable to communicate them.

HELP GET THE WORD OUT! FREE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR HEALTH FIRST COLORADO MEMBERS

Members can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov or on the myStudentAid mobile app in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Anyone who does not have lawful immigration status or does not qualify for FAFSA can apply for the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Please note: students cannot get free money from both FAFSA and CAFSA.

For more information, visit My Colorado Journey or email MCJ@dhe.state.co.us.

This toolkit was created for anyone to use to spread the word that expanded tax credits can help lift up to 40% of Colorado families out of poverty. The toolkit contains English and Spanish language messages, a flyer for distribution in physical settings, and sample newsletter and text message content. Please share with your networks and families who could benefit from these new cash-back resources!

Colorado is distributing free rapid COVID-19 over the counter (OTC) self tests directly to people’s homes. The program uses Abbott BinaxNOW™ rapid antigen tests that show results within 15 minutes. The program has been specifically designed to provide parents, guardians, and caregivers some peace of mind by making it easy to test school-aged children and help keep schools open. Individuals must apply through the CDPHE rapid at-home testing program website. Share this widely with your patients.

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

RAE ROUNDTABLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH---2nd Fri of every month at 11am

Please click here to join the webinar:

Visit the HCI website for details on previous calls.

Beacon hosts several provider geared webinars throughout the month that you may find helpful for staff and billing personnel. Click here for the current monthly list as well as archives.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove significant expansion in federal- and state-based telebehavioral health policies, playing a critical role in ensuring access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services. In this webinar from innovaTel Telepsychiatry, a panel of clinical, compliance and legal experts will examine the most important telehealth policy changes and impact(s) on the delivery of mental health and SUD/medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services.

Mental Health America and IDONTMIND will present this live, free, two-day event. These sessions will cover a variety of topics like equity and disability in mental health, using social media for good, and LGBTQ+ leadership and wellness. You’ll learn from open and honest conversations with a diverse group of artists and actors, TikTokers, YouTubers, mental health experts, and more.

The Mountain Plains Metal Health Technology Transfer Center is hosting this introductory webinar that will bring awareness about perinatal mental health and highlight common perinatal mental health concerns, symptoms, and validated screening tools appropriate for use in multiple settings.

The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center invites rural behavioral health providers to this webinar on effective ways to prevent farm/ranch suicide.