Medicaid Members

Page Updated: Oct. 10, 2024

CHA Advocacy Principle: Improve coverage for those eligible for Medicaid and improve enrollment processes and education.

What Has Been Completed:

Origin: The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) included a Medicaid continuous enrollment provision tied to an increase in federal matching funds that locked Medicaid enrollment, meaning anyone enrolled in Health First Colorado was guaranteed to keep their coverage. In the 2023 federal appropriations legislation, Congress acted to direct states to begin the unwind process on Saturday, April 1 as well as passed a phased-in significant decrease in federal Medicaid dollars.

Background:

• • Following the end of the public health emergency, declines in Medicaid coverage are putting Colorado’s patients and health care safety net at risk. In fact, Colorado ranks worst in the country in net Medicaid enrollment. 
  • Hospital emergency departments (EDs) are seeing nearly 50 percent more uninsured patients than before or during the pandemic; over 18,000 more uninsured patients are visiting the ED every quarter. This creates financial instability for safety net providers and drives up health care costs for all Coloradans.  
  • Colorado must take action to improve coverage and secure the health care safety net. 

Outstanding Items: 

CHA has been advocating that HCPF should adopt practices from high-performing states and increase assistance for patients ineligible for Medicaid to get commercial coverage. This includes action to implement a short-form application, expedite application processing, further expanding ex parte renewals, and increase strategic marketing about available subsidies.

1. Pursue additional federal waivers to streamline the reenrollment process and reduce the procedural denial rate
2. Work with the federal government to ensure that emergency Medicaid coverage is as inclusive as possible
3. Further streamline the lengthy and arduous Medicaid application process d. Ensure effective and efficient use of previously allocated state resources by improving coordinated marketing between HCPF, the RAEs, and Connect for Health Colorado
4. Increase training and targeted education messaging for counties with low commercial conversion rates
5. Expedite passage and implementation of presumptive eligibility options created under SB 24-116
6. Collaborate with other states to leverage their best practices

Resources: 

• • Letter to the Members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee 
  • HCPF Update Your Address Campaign: Includes information on how to communicate with patients.
  • CMS Informational Bulletin on the Medicaid Unwind
  • HCPF Webpage on end of the COVID-19 Continuous Coverage Requirement
  • HCPF Update Your Address Campaign: Includes information on how to communicate with patients.
  • CMS Informational Bulletin on the Medicaid Unwind
  • HCPF Webpage on end of the COVID-19 Continuous Coverage Requirement
  • Health First Colorado Managed Care Provider Complaint Form
  • Connect for Health Colorado’s online store for free enrollment education materials.
  • CHA’s February 2024 Regulatory Update Slides on Enrollment Resources
  • CHA Polis Administration long form
  • CHA Polis proposals summary

Meetings/Dates of Note:

• • Monday, April 1, 2024: PHE Medicaid unwind complete

CHA Staff Contact: Megan Axelrod, CHA senior director, regulatory policy and federal affairs, [email protected].