In this issue:

• Public Health Information
• Vaccines for Kids Communication Toolkit
• Influenza and RSV
• Monkey Pox Resources
• New COVID-19 Counseling Codes
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Program for Health Care Providers
• Public Health Emergency Information
• Colorado COVID-19 Health Care Provider Vaccine Information Toolkit
• Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Colorado Healthcare Respiratory Toolkit
• Provider Resources and Information
• National Stress-Free Holidays Month
• Expanded Family Planning Benefit
• Remind Members to Update Their Contact Information
• Updated Uniform Service Coding Standards Manual
• Health First Colorado Data Analytics Portal (DAP)
• Online PCP Toolkit for Behavioral Health Care Management
• RAE Roundtable Resources
• Member Complaint and Appeal Information for Providers
• Provider Handbooks
• Focus on the Member Resources
• Upcoming events and webinars

INFLUENZA AND RSV

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released a press release with information about what to expect this flu season. Please visit CDPHE’s webpage for the latest information on influenza trends and activity throughout Colorado.  You may also visit this webpage from the CDPHE with information on RSV and the flu in Colorado.

COLORADO HEALTH CARE RESPIRATORY VIRUS TOOLKIT

The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created a respiratory virus toolkit.

Respiratory viruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu, and COVID-19 are spreading across Colorado and the nation. Below is some helpful information for providers to share with members:

• Getting vaccinated. Both flu and COVID-19 have effective, safe vaccines. Anyone 6 months and older can get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19. It is safe to get the vaccines together.  
• Seeing or calling a health care provider or doctor before going to a busy emergency department when you or your child has respiratory symptoms. Your provider can help you determine the best ways to manage symptoms and when it is important to be seen in the clinic, urgent care, or emergency department.
• Staying home when sick, including not visiting or interacting with people who may be at higher risk, including older adults, young children, and infants. What might feel like a mild cold for one person can be very serious for another person. This is important to preventing the spread of viruses and causing outbreaks, which put additional strain on the hospital system. 
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol. 
• Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper arm sleeve when you cough or sneeze, throw away the tissue after you use it, and clean hands as instructed above.
• Cleaning potentially contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, tables, handrails, etc. 
• Avoiding sharing cups, eating utensils, and touching your face with unwashed hands. 

EXPANDED FAMILY PLANNING BENEFIT

Starting July 1, 2022, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (the Department) has expanded the reproductive health benefits available to individuals who would not have otherwise been eligible for Health First Colorado services. This expanded coverage addresses barriers to our members accessing essential health care services that help all members and their families to thrive.

The new covered populations are:

1. People residing in Colorado who do not meet citizenship requirements but meet all other eligibility criteria for Health First Colorado are now eligible for family planning services; and
2. People residing in Colorado with incomes over 133% but under 260% FPL are now eligible for family planning and family planning related services.

The above benefit plans are delivered without co-pays to enrolled members for eligible services, and enrolled members may immediately receive a 12-month prescription and supply of contraception from their provider.

More information on the family planning benefit expansion legislative programs can be found on the Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health webpage. You may also utilize this summary and billing manual as additional resources.

Email feedback regarding this billing manual to hcpf_MaternalChildHealth@state.co.us.

HEALTH FIRST COLORADO DATA ANALYTICS PORTAL (DAP)

For Primary Care Medical Providers (PCMP)-

To support the Accountable Care Collaborative's (ACC's) goal of improving member health and reducing costs, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) along with IBM Watson Health have created this data analytics tool for PCMPs and Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) for population and performance information. For more information, please visit this webpage.

ONLINE PCP TOOLKIT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

Primary care settings are increasingly the first line of identification for behavioral health (BH) issues. As your members primary medical practitioner, you already know the large number of member who present with both physical and behavioral health disorders. Beacon Heath Options (Beacon) supports PCPs as the locus of treatment for a wide variety of BH diagnoses. To that end, Beacon offers PCPs this toolkit to help with identification and next steps in treatment of BH conditions.  Please access the online PCP toolkit for more information.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RAE ROUNDTABLE RESOURCES

Please visit this webpage for information that was offered in previous Beacon RAE Roundtables, including the November call information on member services, updated coding manual and provider email update.

MEMBER COMPLAINT AND APPEAL INFORMATION FOR PROVIDERS 

Health First Colorado members have the right to file a complaint and/or appeal at any time. For information about this process, please review this information to assist members with questions. This information can also be located on the Northeast Health Partners' website.

PROVIDER HANDBOOKS

As a reminder, you can access both the primary care provider and behavioral health provider handbooks on Northeast Health Partners' website under the Provider Handbooks & Policies section. Please utilize these resources to answer questions in regards to member services, provider information, key performance indicators, etc.

For questions, please email coproviderrelations@beaconhealthoptions.com.

EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT (EPSDT)

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) members age 20 and under. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and youth receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, developmental and specialty services. Please review this flyer more information.

NORTHEAST HEALTH PARTNERS' WEBSITE

Northeast Health Partners' website provides many resources for members to access to keep up with their health and wellness. Please share this information as needed.