Public Health Emergency Planning Updates

Feb. 16, 2023

NEWS UPDATE: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has formally extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The PHE can be extended for up to 90 days at a time. The Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, issued a Statement of Administration Policy on Jan. 30, 2023, that the Administration plans to extend the PHE to May 11, 2023.

COVID-19 PHE Planning Update

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE). During the PHE, state agencies were required to provide health care coverage for all medical assistance programs, even if a member’s eligibility changed. This is known as the continuous coverage requirement. Congress passed a bill in December 2022 to end the medical assistance continuous coverage requirement in spring 2023.

Colorado will return to normal eligibility renewal processes for Health First Colorado and CHP+, with renewals due in May and noticing beginning in March. This process will take 12 months (14 months including noticing). Not all members will be renewed at the same time. Each member’s renewal month will align with their already established annual renewal month.

Separately, President Biden recently announced the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency will be May 11, 2023. The end of the PHE will mean rolling back certain flexibilities that were in place for our programs. Some changes we have made permanent while some changes will take place over time. We will be communicating to the providers or partners that are impacted by those changes and posting information on our partner resource center over the coming months.

As we return to normal operations, the Department is estimating that more than 325,000 Coloradans (about 20% of current members) may no longer qualify for our safety net coverage programs, and will therefore be disenrolled beginning in May and over the 12 months that follow. Given the magnitude of this transition of Coloradans from Medicaid to commercial coverage, we are asking all stakeholders to join the Department and the Polis-Primavera Administration in a shared effort to Keep Coloradans Covered.

Read the entire February message from Executive Director, Kim Bimestefer here.

Communication Toolkits and Resources

The Department has been working with stakeholders and partners to develop communication toolkits to prepare members for the return to normal renewal processes.

The Take Action on Your Renewal toolkit is new! The materials in this toolkit are designed to encourage members to look for their renewal packet in the mail and PEAK mailbox and take action when they get it. This toolkit includes general member awareness outreach partners can share in their websites, newsletters, social media as well as direct-to-member email and text messaging communications. It also includes downloadable, customizable flyers. These resources are currently available in English and Spanish.

The Preparing for Renewals toolkit includes renewal process information that explains key terms and provides sample notices so partners can see exactly what the member will see when they go through the renewal process. In addition, both partners and members can view short videos in English and Spanish on key actions: updating an address, completing the renewal process, and transitioning to other coverage if a member no longer qualifies.

Update Your Address Campaign

We know that many members have moved over the past few years. It is crucial that we have correct addresses so that members get the information they need to keep or change their coverage. Please continue to help us spread the word to Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members to update their contact information. Update Your Address tools are available in the top 11 languages for HFC members.

Health First Colorado Renewals Page

In preparation for renewals to start back up, the Department has added an informational webpage for members on the Health First Colorado website. Members can find general information about the renewal process and answers to frequently asked questions. This page is published in English and Spanish.

For the latest information on returning to normal renewal processes and other communication resources, visit our webpage.

Emergency additional SNAP benefits are ending in March 2023

All Coloradans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see a reduction in their monthly benefit amount after February 2023. The temporary additional benefit amounts (emergency allotments) are ending because of recent congressional action. This is a change enacted by Congress and is not appealable. SNAP serves more than 290,000 households and 554,000 individuals in Colorado each month by providing money to purchase food and safeguard the well-being of SNAP participants and their families.

Emergency allotment gave SNAP participants additional money for food during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing households up to their maximum amount of money for food they can receive for their household size and circumstances. This reduction in benefits may have a significant impact on many households.

A messaging toolkit has been created for community partners and the general public to use to help get the word out about the end of SNAP emergency allotment benefits. For more information please visit our website.

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