What is the Primary Care Fund?
The Primary Care Fund was created through the collection of additional tobacco taxes in Colorado. In accordance with Section 21 of Article X (Tobacco Taxes for Health-Related Purposes) of the State Constitution, an increase in Colorado's tax on cigarettes and tobacco products became effective January 1, 2005, and created a cash fund that was designated for health-related purposes. House Bill 05-1262 divided the tobacco tax cash fund into separate funds. The law assigns 19 percent of the tax collections to establish the PCF and it specifies how the funds are to be allocated. The monies in this fund are allocated to health care providers who meet specific qualifications.
What is a Qualified Provider?
As defined by the Primary Care Fund, a Qualified Provider is an entity that provides comprehensive primary care services in an outpatient setting to uninsured or medically indigent patients in Colorado and:
- Accepts all patients regardless of their ability to pay, and uses a sliding fee schedule for payments or does not charge uninsured clients for services,
- Serves a designated medically underserved area or population,
- Has a demonstrated track record of providing cost-effective care,
- Provides or arranges for the provision of comprehensive primary care services to persons of all ages,
- Completes an initial screening evaluating eligibility for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan Plus, (CHP) and the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP), and
- Is a federally qualified health center (FQHC), or a health center where at least 50% of the patients served by the provider are uninsured or medically indigent patients, Health First Colorado and CHP+.
Who should apply?
Any health center that meets the Qualified Provider criteria. The application form and process can be found on the Primary Care Fund Information for Providers page.
Each year Qualified Providers must apply for Primary Care Funds. The Fiscal Year 2024-25 process is below:
- Application Form released January 29, 2024
- Application Responses are due to the Department COB on May 24, 2024
- Tentative Award Notification will be approximately July 8, 2024
How are Awards determined?
- Awards are based on the percentage of medically indigent clients the provider serves.
Contact Information
Primary Fund Inbox:
hcpf_primary.care@state.co.us