To better understand the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on harm reduction, the National Council for Behavioral Health, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to announce the “COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Harm Reduction Services: An Environmental Scan,” a new report comprised of a literature review and 21 key informant interviews with staff from harm reduction organizations across the U.S.

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.  

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. 

Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit featured the Colorado Department of Agriculture in its Spring issue of Leader Magazine in order to highlight their efforts to destigmatize mental health and connect ranchers and farmers to lifesaving support through Colorado Crisis Services. In May 2020, CDA and OBH teamed up to produce a Rural Mental Health Toolkit, including a short documentary about one Colorado ranching family who lost their father to suicide. CDA has also created training for crisis counselors answering the crisis hotline so they are better able to understand and help rural callers. Read the article in Leader Magazine and check out CDA's Rural Mental Health Toolkit.

As of April 1, the State's new Behavioral Health Capacity Registry is live. Section 27-60-104.5, C.R.S. outlines the creation of a statewide, online registry for behavioral health capacity. This online tool tracks availability for mental health and substance use disorder treatment beds, and whether licensed Opioid Treatment Programs are accepting new clients. Programs are now able to access the system and begin updating their information. The next three months will be used as an implementation period to give providers and OBH time to refine internal processes and clarify outstanding questions. OBH will hold the next online forum on June 2 in order to help program administrators and individuals who track and update capacity information at their facility understand registry requirements. Visit the Capacity Registry website for more information, forum details, training resources and more.

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.

Effective May 1, 2021, Keystone Peer Review Organization (Kepro) will replace eQHealth Solutions Inc. as the new Utilization Management (UM) vendor to administer the ColoradoPAR Program, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing’s (the Department) Prior Authorization Request (PAR) program. Visit the ColoradoPAR: Health First Colorado Prior Authorization Request Program web page to access all communications and information available on the vendor transition. 

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.

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

If you are accepting new referrals, please take a moment to make sure your contact information is updated in CAQH and Provider Connect. If you are NOT accepting new clients at this time, please be sure to update this status in Provider Connect or by sending an email to coproviderrelations@beaconhealthoptions.com.

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.

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.

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.

Treating veterans with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) requires an understanding of military culture and the ways mTBI sustained by service members in a military setting are unique. Tina Fanello, MA, LCSW, CBIS and Catharine H. Johnston-Brooks, PhD, ABPP-CN from the Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will provide training on how to best serve members of the Veteran population with mTBI.

This presentation will focus on causal biopsychosocial factors influencing the development of PTSD in female veterans. The origin and neuropsychophysiological pathways of the PTSD that women encounter often vary considerably from men.

This presentation will focus on the last 2 developmental stages (belonging & purpose) experienced in emerging adulthood and how those impact the success of long term recovery for this population.

Personality disorders are common and pervasive mental health conditions across many clinical settings. However, the basic facts about personality disorders, including their development, etiology, and varied symptom presentation, are often not highlighted.

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.