To ensure all Coloradans have every opportunity to be fully vaccinated, the Colorado Joint Vaccine Task Force is joining the CDC in new guidance that advises that providers should not miss any opportunity to vaccinate every eligible person who requests a COVID-19 vaccination. Click here for more information.

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.  

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. 

Even though most of the things we need to be mentally healthy are universal — like safe housing, supportive relationships and good health care — a one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care just isn’t enough. We know that people from ethnic and cultural communities are, in general, less likely to receive necessary mental health services and those who are in treatment often receive poorer-quality care. Those who do seek help also may have difficulty obtaining mental health care from professionals who speak their language and/or understand and respect their cultural values. What can you do to promote better mental health in diverse communities?

July 28 is World Hepatitis Day led by the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), a day to raise awareness of viral hepatitis. With one person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, this year’s theme, “Hepatitis Can’t Wait,” will highlight the need to accelerate hepatitis elimination efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to WHA, viral hepatitis affects 325 million people worldwide and claims 4,000 lives every day, more than malaria and HIV combined. Yet, all the tools to reach elimination by 2030 exist; including effective treatments and a vaccine to protect children from hepatitis B infection and an easily administered cure for hepatitis C. Elimination can be reached with concerted – and properly resourced – action.

Left untreated, viral hepatitis can lead to serious health problems, including liver cancer. It is recommended that all adults get tested as the first step in protecting their health.

To learn more or to download campaign materials and resources, visit the World Hepatitis Day website.

Last July, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing expanded its contract with IntelliRide to manage all NEMT trip referrals, scheduling, and claims submission throughout the state. Local transportation providers and Health First Colorado members expressed concerns about the statewide approach shortly after its July 2020 implementation. The Department evaluated the feedback with IntelliRide and decided to restore the relationship between members and their local community transportation providers for those members outside IntelliRide's original nine-county service area. As a result, IntelliRide will no longer serve as the statewide broker for NEMT services effective Aug. 1, 2021. 

IntelliRide will reduce its NEMT service area to its original nine-county region — Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties — effective Aug. 1, 2021.

IntelliRide will continue to process mileage reimbursement claims for Health First Colorado members, no matter where they live in Colorado. IntelliRide will also continue scheduling air, train, and out-of-state travel for members statewide. Members should call IntelliRide at 1-855-489-4999 or 303-398-2155 (State Relay 711) or visit gointelliride.com/colorado/ for more information.

It is important to note that there will be no changes to NEMT service for Health First Colorado members living in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer or Weld County. Additionally, counties will not be required to take on additional work for this transition of service. However, the Department will provide counties a list of local transportation providers to support Health First Colorado members when they call county offices. Additional resources and information will be provided in future communications. Contact Ryan Dwyer with policy-related questions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 700 women die each year in the U.S. from problems related to pregnancy or delivery complications. CDC’s Hear Her Campaign seeks to raise awareness of potentially life-threatening warning signs during and after pregnancy and improve communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

Last month, the campaign released exciting new resources including posters and palm cards in multiple languages, PSAs, and website content syndication. The new materials highlight key information about urgent maternal warning signs and tips for talking about concerns with pregnant and postpartum people, their families and friends, and with healthcare providers.

To learn more or to download campaign materials and resources, visit the CDC’s Hear Her website.

The List of Programs web page is a useful resource for members and providers which includes links to information about the programs offered.

A Medicaid member who needs transportation through IntelliRide to get to their appointment with you will not be approved for the transportation if the servicing address is not listed with the state. The Find a Doctor tool is the same tool that IntelliRide reservationists use to confirm that a destination is a covered place of service. Please take a moment to ensure your service locations match with the state’s database so members can get to their appointments with you. Should you need to make updates, visit the Provider Enrollment webpage and contact the Provider Services Call Center listed on the enrollment page if you need assistance.

ProviderConnect is Beacon's provider portal. It makes routine tasks such as updating demographic information, processing claims, obtaining claims information, and verifying eligibility status easy and convenient. Below are resources to assist you in using ProviderConnect.

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

Click here to join the webinar.

Visit the NHP website for details on previous calls.

NHP RAE ROUNDTABLE PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL PROVIDER--3rd Wed of every month at 12pm

Please click here to join the webinar:

Or By Telephone: 1- 669-900-6833---Webinar ID: 971 5387 1547---Passcode: 869908

Visit the NHP website for details on previous calls.

Thursday, July 22, 2021 1:30pm - 3:00pm (MST)

Click here to join the webinar.

Or By Telephone: 1-346-248-7799---Webinar ID: 982 8765 8133---Passcode: 078853

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 10am - 11:30am (MST)

Click here to join the webinar.

Or By Telephone: 1-669-900-6833---Webinar ID: 979 290 595

Hosted by Beacon, this live training provides an overview of timely billing and claims information and how to bill Beacon using ProviderConnect or eServices along with reviewing best practices and avoiding claim denials.

Hosted by Beacon, this is an overview of how to view and access Beacon’s Medical Necessity Criteria via InterQual.  

Join Lt. Gov. Primavera, Health Cabinet Executive Directors and industry leaders for the Summer Health Cabinet Summit hosted by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. This FREE virtual event is designed for policy makers, advocates, payers, care providers, health care leaders and other industry stakeholders. Presentations, topics and panels will include:  

Click here to register.

Hosted by Summit BHC and presented by Cindy Branch, LCSW, CP, PAT

This is an engaging workshop for clinicians to gain knowledge about psychodrama, a group method of psychotherapy utilizing action methods.

National Guard service members and Reservists are activated to full-service in times of need and confront similar stressors and issues with substance use as other branches of the military. More than 10% of military Veterans are diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD). Join SAMHSA and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as they explore best practices, programs, and policies that exist in the National Guard for identification, education, treatment and referral of service members who exhibit high-risk behaviors of SUD.

Hosted by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing

You'll learn about technological advances and long-distance caregiving as well as gain a deeper understanding of self-care for community/community-based primary caregiving.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind national hotline to connect people with disabilities to information and services to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is now available to help people with disabilities find vaccination locations in their communities, assist callers with making vaccination appointments, and connect callers to local services – such as accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to vaccination. The hotline also can provide information and resources to answer questions and address concerns about the vaccines and can connect callers to information and services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs, such as food, housing, and transportation.

For more information, visit acl.gov/dial or call 888-677-1199.