News
July 2011
July 11, 2011
Exchange board meeting materials can be found: http://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/cohiex/board
June 2011
June 10, 2011
Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board of Directors Inaugural Meeting
July 11, 2011
10:30 – 1:30 (Lunch will be provided for board members at 12:30)
225 16th Avenue, Denver, CO
1st Floor Conference Room
May 2011
May 19, 2011
The state is seeking volunteers to help design evidence-based outreach and education materials for the uninsured. The committee will be co-chaired by the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and the exchange planning grant staff. We will hold our first meeting mid-June to discuss current efforts, what we will need going forward, and ways to coordinate with other organizations and existing initiatives. If you are interested in being part of the workgroup that will meet monthly starting in June, please email henneberryj@coloradohealthinstitute with your contact information.
May 11, 2011
Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board accepting applications
March 2011
March 18, 2011
Request for Proposal from the Colorado Health Institute
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), authorizes the establishment of “American Health Benefits Exchanges” (“Exchanges”) in each state. Exchanges will provide a new marketplace for individuals and small employers to shop for and enroll in both public and private health insurance coverage. CHI is seeking to procure assistance with the research and development of a comprehensive report detailing the current state of health insurance coverage in Colorado, and critical details about the existing health insurance marketplace. The procured services will inform the design and implementation of COHIEX. We are interesting in knowing more about the potential customers coming to the exchange in 2014, in order to guide our policies and operations to best meet the needs of those customers.
March 10, 2011
Affordable Care Act Initial Funding for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grants
March 9, 2011
Progress Report on the exchange planning grant
March 9, 2011
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) “State Option to Provide Health Homes for Individuals with Chronic Conditions” provides an opportunity for states to receive additional federal support for enhanced integration and coordination of health care services and supports for persons with chronic conditions.
February 2011
February 25, 2011
A new web page: Buyers Guide to Purchasing Individual Health Insurance
http://www.dora.state.co.us/insurance/consumer/HealthInsuranceBuyersGuide.htm
January 2011
January 11, 2011
This stakeholder perspective starts to layout the most consistent perspectives shared during the community forums about governance and authority in the creation of state exchanges. This reflects what was shared in the ten community forums across the state. Each forum was attended by a wide variety of stakeholder groups including health underwriters, health plans, consumer groups, advocates, provider groups, business representatives, elected officials and members of the general public.
November 2010
November 22, 2010
New regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) require health insurers to spend 80 to 85 percent of consumers’ premiums on direct care for patients and efforts to improve care quality. This regulation, known as the “medical loss ratio” provision of the Affordable Care Act, will require in 2011 that insurance companies publicly report how they spend premium dollars. More information about the medical loss ratio is available at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/medical_loss_ratio.html. The regulation and other technical information are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html.
November 19, 2010
Letter from Secretary Sebelius addressing Exchange guidance and initial guidance to States on Exchanges
To access these, please follow the links below:
Exchange Guidance Cover Letter
Initial Guidance to States on Exchanges
November 5, 2010
Federal Health Reform Accounts for less than 5% of Health Rate Increase in Colorado
Speculation continues to swirl about the effects of Federal Health Care Reform on health insurance premiums, so Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marcy Morrison decided to get answers and set the record straight. The Division of Insurance is in the process of reviewing rates submitted by hundreds of health carriers. “What we found isn’t surprising: health insurance premiums continue to rise,” Morrison said. “But what may be eye-opening for some people is that federal health reforms have contributed from zero to a maximum of 5 percent of those increases. It’s not the primary cause for increasing rates.” Morrison said that a variety of factors contributed to health rate increases in past years, and for the most part, those same factors are driving current increases. For example, people are scheduling more doctor visits, receiving more tests and more expensive lab tests, the population overall is aging, and the average health status of Americans is decreasing.
For more information on how health rates are reviewed by the Division of Insurance, see:
Frequently Asked Questions on Health Rate Reviews in Colorado.
To see more detail about factors which are driving health care rate increases, see:
Factors Affecting Health Insurance Premiums in 2010 on the Division’s website
November 4, 2010
Gov. Ritter Applauds $23 MIllion for Groundbreaking Biomedical Research
October 2010
October 8, 2010
New CO Participants in the Early Retiree Program
HHS this week announced 1,000 addition businesses, state and local governments, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and unions have been approved to participate in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program established under the Affordable Care Act. This brings the total number of participants in the program in Colorado to 23. Additional information on the Colorado participants is available here.
October 8, 2010
HHS Announces a Major New Investment in Community Health Centers
More than $727 million in grants from the Affordable Care Act to upgrade and expand community health centers (CHCs) to provide care for underserved patients
Over the next five years, the Affordable Care Act provides $11 billion in funding for the operation, expansion and construction of community health centers across the country. $9.5 Billion will be targeted towards operations and $1.5 Billion will support major construction and renovation projects at CHCs. In addition to this $11 Billion, the National Health Service Corps also received $1.5 Billion in new funding. This expansion of sites and services will help community health centers to serve nearly double the number of patients receiving care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Click here to see a list of awards
Three Colorado Community Health Centers Received Funding
October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010
Press Release: Colorado Gets $1M to Help Build a Competitive Health Insurance Marketplace
A copy of the grant can be found here
October 1, 2010
Colorado Comments to HHS on the Creation of Health Insurance Exchanges
September 2010
September 29, 2010
Colorado was awarded $150,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to complete a comprehensive workforce plan that will lead to an expansion in the primary care workforce in the state. Colorado has a strong interest in improving the health of Colorado's underserved and vulnerable populations by alleviating health disparities resulting from poor access to primary health services.
September 27, 2010
The Division of Insurance launches new webpage on Child Only Policies
September 27, 2010
HHS awarded nearly $100 million in grants for public health and prevention priorities. Colorado received 4 grants totaling $1.07 million. These grants made possible by the Affordable Care Act will support programs across the country that will make Americans healthier. In addition, Colorado received $300,000 to improve public health services. These funds will help health departments around the country to improve the quality and effectiveness of the critical health services that millions of Americans rely on every day, said Secretary Sebelius. Strengthening our public health system through better coordination and collaboration will help to deliver higher quality health care more efficiently.
September 27, 2010
PPACA Celebrates Six-Month Anniversary. September 23, marked the six-month anniversary of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the implementation of several of the laws provisions, including:
- Prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions for children, lifetime coverage limits and rescissions
- No cost-sharing for preventive benefits
- Dependent coverage until age 26
More information on the provisions implemented beginning September 23, is available here
September 2, 2010
There are many workforce components in the Affordable Care Act. The state will continue to leverage the work of the Colorado Health Professions Workforce Collaborative which is administered by Colorado’s state office of rural health (the Colorado Health Center) and is funded by The Colorado Trust to establish a strategic public policy framework for Colorado that will advance health professions workforce priorities to alleviate provider shortages and strengthen the health care system. The Colorado Health Professions Workforce Collaborative consists of policy leaders, health care providers, educational institutions, state agencies, workforce planning authorities and others working collectively. For more informationor to get more involved, contact Terri Hurst at th@coruralhealth.org or visit the Workforce Collaborative’s webpage.
September 1, 2010
Benefits of the Affordable Care Act - A new fact sheet is available that outlines the specific benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Colorado. The fact sheet outlines the Act’s immediate benefits, including steps to close the Medicare Part D “donut hole” prescription drug coverage gap. Colorado’s benefits include:
- 8,284 seniors in Colorado have already received their $250 tax free rebate for hitting the donut hole
- 574,000 of Medicare enrollees in Colorado will get preventive services
- 90,800 small businesses in Colorado have received postcards from the IRS indicating they may be eligible for the new small business tax credit
- Nearly 200 people are receiving medical care through GettingUSCovered, Colorado’s statewide, comprehensive health plan for people with pre-existing medical conditions
- 16 Colorado companies, unions, state and local entities became eligible for early retiree subsidies
August 2010
August 31, 2010
Nearly 2,000 employers and unions approved into new program to provide health coverage to early retirees
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of applicants accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Businesses, other employers, and unions that are accepted into the program will receive reimbursement for medical claims for early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents. Applicants who are approved into the program receive reinsurance for the claims of high-cost retirees and their families (80 percent of the costs from $15,000 to $90,000). The program ends on January 1, 2014 when State health insurance Exchanges are up and running. HHS has approved the following Colorado applications: Alenco, Inc.; Board of Trustees - Pipe Industry Health and Welfare Trust; Board of Trustees of the Colorado Finishing Trades; Board of Water Commissioners; Carpenters & Millwrights Health Benefit Trust Fund; City of Colorado Springs; City of Grand Junction; Colorado Permanente Medical Group, P.C.; Colorado Sheet Metal Workers' Local 9 Family Health Plan; Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company; Hermes Consolidated, Inc.; JA Worldwide; Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Trust Fund; Public Employees' Retirement Association of Colorado; Trustees, Co Laborers H&W Fund; University of Colorado.
August 17, 2010
The Division of Insurance has received a $1 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enhance its health insurance review process and consumer outreach related to health reform.
August 13, 2010
Community Health Centers and the Affordable Care Act: The Affordable Care Act provides $11 billion to bolster and expand community health centers over the next 5 years. HHS announced on August 9 (click here to view news release), the availability of $250 million being made available to support the establishment of approximately 350 new Access Points for the delivery of primary health care services for underserved in fiscal year 2011.
July 2010
July 30, 2010
Outline of Colorado's Implementation Plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new grant opportunity for states to begin establishing health insurance Exchanges. HHS announced the availability of up to $1 million in grants per state to help states begin work to establish Exchanges and published a request for comment calling for public input as HHS develops standards for the Exchanges.
HHS also issued a request for comment - asking states, consumer advocates, employers, insurers, and other interested stakeholders to provide input as HHS develops the rules and standards Exchanges should be required to meet. Comments are due by October 4, 2010. Read the complete request for comment at http://www.healthcare.gov/center/regulations.
Please visit the early childhood home visiting website to find out more information on the Federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program created in the Affordable Care Act
July 30, 2010
The Colorado Division of Insurance at the Department of Regulatory Agencies will host a stakeholder meeting to discuss the recently announced Consumer Assistance Program Grant opportunity from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The meeting will be held Tuesday, August 3, 10:30 a.m., at 1560 Broadway, Room 110D, in the DORA Conference Center on the ground floor. Please RSVP to Joan Tanenbaum at joan.tanenbaum@dora.state.co.us.
Click here to view other meetings regarding Colorado Health Care Reform
July 20, 2010
Updated Grant Opportunities Under Health Care Reform
July 7, 2010
New Federally Funded Health Plan, GettingUSCovered, Opens for Uninsured Coloradans with Pre-Existing Conditions.
GettingUSCovered is a statewide, comprehensive health plan for people with pre-existing medical conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months. As Colorado’s federal high-risk pool, the health plan was developed through a partnership between Rocky Mountain Health Plans, CoverColorado, the State of Colorado and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is funded though individual premiums and a federal financial subsidy. “Colorado is proud to announce this first and important step in national health care reform,” said Governor Bill Ritter. “This plan will offer tremendous relief to thousands of our citizens who have struggled to find affordable health insurance.” Here is additional information and frequently asked questions.
July 6, 2010
Tuesday, July 6: Gov. Ritter to Announce Insurance Pool
Continuing to implement national healthcare reform in Colorado, Gov. Bill Ritter with non-profit partners will announce details Tuesday, July 6, at 11 a.m. in the West Foyer of the State Capitol about the state’s new temporary insurance program for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Colorado will be one of nearly 30 states operating its own temporary pre-existing condition insurance pool. This plan will offer coverage through 2014 to residents who have been uninsured for six months or longer, and who have been unable to obtain coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. Beginning in 2014, insurers will be banned from discriminating against adults with pre-existing conditions. “Thousands of Coloradans are unable to get health insurance because of a pre-existing condition,” Gov. Ritter said. “I look forward to working together with our partners, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and CoverColorado, to provide Coloradans who have been denied coverage access to much-needed relief through this temporary insurance plan. This will be an important step toward improving the health security of Colorado families.”
July 1, 2010
Health Insurance Exchange Forums
The the Health Reform Implementation Board, Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU), and the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) are working together to host a series of community forums to discuss the options for planning and developing a health insurance exchange in Colorado. You are invited and encouraged to attend these forums and participate in this important discussion, with the first taking place on July 23rd from 9:00 – 11:00 am at National Jewish Hospital’s Molly Blank Conference Center in Denver. For more details, click here.
Explaning Health Care Reform: Questions About Health Insurance Exchanges
This summary provides responses to questions about the purpose and function of Exchanges and how they relate to regulation of the insurance market.
July 1, 2010
Colorado Moving Forward with State Health Workforce Development Planning Grant
The Health Resources and Services Administration within the US Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a competitive application for states to submit proposals to undertake comprehensive primary care workforce planning, which is anticipated to be followed by additional opportunities for implementation funding. The Governor’s Office, along with the Primary Care Office in CDPHE and the Colorado Health Professions Workforce Collaborative, will present Colorado’s plans for this opportunity and host a discussion for community input the morning of July 16th. Please contact Liza Fox, liza.fox@state.co.us or 303-866-4234, for more information.
July 1, 2010
CIVHC Plays an Important Role in Discussions Around Payment and Delivery System Reform
The Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) is a public-private entity created by Executive Order to identify and advance initiatives across Colorado that enhance consumers’ health care experiences, contain costs, and improve value across the entire health care system. As Colorado works to implement meaningful health reform, CIVHC will play an important role in advancing the state’s discussions on payment and delivery system reform and coordinating associated pilot demonstration and grant efforts. To get involved, contact CIVHC.
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