In accordance with updated guidance and funding from CMS, effective March 15, 2021, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) is reimbursing physicians, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, pharmacies and other Medicaid enrolled, qualified immunizers $41.18 to administer each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  

All COVID-19 vaccine claims will be reimbursed at $41.18 for each dose for enrolled and qualified providers for administration of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. Pharmacists enrolled with Health First Colorado may submit claims for reimbursement of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to Health First Colorado members. Providers will receive vaccine products from the federal government at no cost. Only the administration fee associated with the vaccines may be reimbursed to providers. These updated rates can be found on the Department’s Provider Rates and Fees website under the “Immunization Rate Schedule” section. Additional information for providers can be found on the Department’s COVID-19 webpage. In order to offer the vaccine to your patients, you’ll first need to enroll in the State’s vaccine program.  

On April 2, 2021, Colorado moved into Phase 2 of vaccine distribution, opening vaccine eligibility to the general public. 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 who are 16 and older 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.  

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.

Together We Protect – Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Fund will support Colorado community-based organizations, working in partnership with state-contracted vaccine providers, to provide culturally relevant outreach, education, and support to ensure communities who face systemic barriers have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 will be awarded to applicants from across Colorado. Get more information here.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced that the vaccine data dashboard includes county-level vaccine administration data in beta. The goal of the expanded data dashboard is part of the state's commitment to prioritize data transparency throughout the COVID-19 response, to inform an equitable vaccine distribution process, and ensure accountability. Continue to stay up to date by visiting the Colorado COVID-19 website. 

For additional information about this opportunity, see NHP Community Investment Grant Overview. To complete an online application, click here. Applications are due on May 14^th, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. MST. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions via email to communityinvestmentgrant@nhpllc.org.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced April 7, 2021 that federal funding may now be used to purchase rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS) in an effort to help curb the dramatic spike in drug overdose deaths largely driven by the use of strong synthetic opioids, including illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Read the entire article here.

Do you plan to continue to provide telehealth services when the Public Health Emergency ends? If you answered YES to these questions and you would prefer our provider directory to show members that you provide telehealth services, please complete the Beacon Telehealth Provider Attestation. Email the completed form to CoProviderRelations@beaconhealthoptions.com.

OBH has convened a 9-8-8 Implementation Planning Committee to advise on key coordination, capacity, funding and communication issues, and develop a roadmap for the 9-8-8 launch in Colorado that will be released this fall. Committee members represent behavioral health providers, government and law enforcement agencies, community and advocacy organizations, and people with lived experience with mental health and substance use conditions. Because 9-8-8 is not yet operational, Coloradans who need mental health and substance use support should continue to contact Colorado Crisis Services by calling 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or texting TALK to 38255. Read the press release and visit the Committee's website to learn more, including how to provide input into the process.

Please see the links below for the new April 1, 2021 revision of the Behavioral Health Uniform Services and Coding Standards Manual.

Effective March 31, 2021, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department’s) website has a new look. The web address will remain the same, so any bookmarked pages should not be affected. This does not affect the Provider Web Portal.

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.

Connect for Health Colorado has opened an Uninsured Enrollment Period to help as many people as possible protect their health and safety during this time. Coloradans who are currently uninsured and don’t qualify for Health First Colorado can sign up for a health insurance plan through May 15, 2021.

Community partners can easily find social media graphics/copy, newsletter copy and virtual brochures in the new toolkit.

America continues to struggle with a public health crisis that remains overshadowed: Overdose deaths increased last year in all but three states, a fact obscured by the COVID-19 pandemic. In our new blog series, we share insights from public health experts and harm reduction advocates about the overdose increase occurring across the country. Read part one and part two of this blog series.

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

Please click here to join the webinar:

Visit the NHP website for details on previous calls.

SUD EXPANDED BENEFIT PROVIDER FORUM--3rd Tues of every month at 10am

Please 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.

Beacon's Quality Team is offering a SUD documentation standards training opportunity to providers and staff to assist in meeting the standards required by HCPF and Medicaid. Click here for more information.

CoPPCAP, the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation & Access Program, is offering this free, eight-session ECHO series to give participants the baseline knowledge and skills needed to assess and treat pediatric mental/behavioral health conditions in primary care.

Experts and stakeholders will join together to discuss emerging opportunities to reduce health care costs for Coloradans, employers and Medicaid. National and local experts will discuss policy as well as new and trending reporting on hospital affordability and community investment. This will include insights and opportunities voiced by the RAND Corporation, Colorado Center for Law and Policy, the Division of Insurance, the Department and the Colorado Hospital Association. The session will also include an active Q&A dialogue between panelists and attendees.

In a national assessment of 600 youth (ages 13-18) conducted in January 2021, nearly a quarter of the respondents reported that accessing substances was easy or very easy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear Thomas E. Freese, PhD, co-director for the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs and the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center, address the effects of the pandemic on youth and why it is more important than ever to understand youth substance use.

This course will challenge providers to examine their personal and professional frameworks as they relate to: Gender; sexuality; and the intersections of race, religion, and power, while enhancing their knowledge, skills, and cultural competence when working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) youth, adults, couples, and family systems. Please visit the program web page to learn more and register for the training.