The Power of Many – Colorado’s Chronic Care Collaborative
While we do not underestimate, in fact we encourage, the power of one person to create change and make a difference in our community, we want to seize the opportunity for many to come together to have a more significant impact. In late 2007, the Colorado Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society organized a meeting for chronic care organizations in the state to discuss a shared agenda around health care reform in Colorado. With the subsequent membership of 27 organizations, the Chronic Care Collaborative (CCC) was launched.
With 27 organizations, the Chronic Care Collaborative (CCC) was launched. Together we represent one in four Coloradans, or 1.2 million, that live with a chronic disease in our state.
Our common set of issues:
Since we represent 1.2 million Coloradans who are living with a chronic disease, we have been involved in many state issues especially the following:
- Influenced the content of Governor Ritter’s “Building Blocks for Health Care Reform” platform
- Consulted by Governor Ritter’s healthcare policy staff as well as the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) on the needs of persons with chronic disease
- Testified before the interim legislative health and welfare committee about the needs of persons with chronic disease in the state’s health care system
- Appointed to the following:
- The Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE)’s Committee on Home Health Care Agencies — resulted in early regulation efforts of employees in home health care
- The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)’s Long-term Care Advisory Committee recommends research and discusses long-term care policies to the department, especially for increased sustainable, individual-centered, and coordinated care.
- The Governor’s Center to Improve the Value of Health Care (CIVHC) — gathering information to recommend how to reduce hospital readmissions for more efficient resource management
Accomplishments frogm Leislative Session 2009:
- Presumptive Eligibility (HB09-1103) — allows a person who needs Medicaid services to begin receiving them at the time he/she documents his/her need
- Clinical Trials (HB09-1059) — assures that a person will not lose private insurance benefits from clinical trial participation
- Hospital provider fee bill — boost Medicaid revenues with an increase in federal matching dollars, which will increase Medicaid eligibility standards and increase provider reimbursement rates
Issues for Legislative Session 2010:
- Preventative and education program cuts — Fiscal year 2009 budget cuts affected those with chronic disease who use state-funded programs especially those for prevention testing/screening services, smoking cessation programs, disease education programs, and care referral programs. In future budget cuts, chronic disease support programs should be supported for their valuable contribution to the health of the population.
- Long-term care — The less costly and preferred alternative is to encourage clients to stay at home for as long as they can before being admitted into a long-term care facility (i.e. assisted living facility or nursing home). Because home health services require personnel to enter a client’s home, we encourage state regulation measures to ensure maximum consumer safety.
- Limited insurance coverage — Mandate-free or mandate-light plans may reduce the numbers of uninsured in the state due to more affordable premiums, however, for the chronically ill, it may serve as a false sense of security. The chronically ill need continual medications, physician visits, and routine examinations to sustain their health. All of these services extend beyond the benefit cap which could cause the chronically ill to fall into serious medical debt in trying to maintain their health.
- Open access to psychiatric medications — Those who have a chronic disease tend to develop depression due to the diagnosis, required lifestyle changes, and additional personal limitations. Psychiatric medications are needed in some forms of successful treatment, and patients have different physiological response to medications, so it is important that any access restrictions to helpful medications are not imposed. Medicaid preferred drug lists (PDLs) do not help with the access issue, and that limitation causes the reduction of potential treatment success.
A seat at the table:
- The Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE)’s Committee on Home Health Care Agencies — resulted in early regulation efforts of employees and contractors in the home health care field.
- The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)’s Long-term Care Advisory Committee — recommends research and discusses long-term care policies to the department, especially for increased sustainable, individual-centered, and coordinated care.
- The Governor’s Center to Improve the Value of Health Care(CIVHC) — gathers information to recommend how to reduce hospital readmissions for more efficient resource management.
Colorado’s Chronic Care Collaborative
With a united voice we are heard!