Posted March 9, 2023
| New SNAP Interactive Voice Response Call Center is live |
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| The new SNAP IVR (Interactive Voice Response) call center is live, and clients can call in to gather information about their benefits, get their case status and receive general SNAP updates. This automated system will retrieve live information from the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and relay it back to the caller after identification authentication has been completed. The smart bot is only accessible in English, but Spanish-speakers will be connected to agents for live assistance or to receive a callback. Full functionality in Spanish will be available mid-April 2023. Callers can use this system toll-free at 800-816-4451. This new tool will be useful for SNAP participants and will also help to mitigate call volume for basic inquiries at county offices. |
SNAP benefits change this month
| Coloradans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see a reduction in their monthly benefit in March 2023. The temporary additional benefit amounts, called Emergency Allotment (EA), were approved by Congress as part of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the PHE is extended to May 11, 2023, the Omnibus Bill (Consolidated Appropriations Act) is now decoupling EA from the PHE. Therefore, these additional benefits will no longer be given to SNAP recipients as of March 2023. This is a change enacted by Congress and is not appealable. Final max allotment payment and benefits moving forward Final EA payments began issuance on Feb. 19, 2023, but will continue through the end of February 2023. If a client does not receive the EA benefits by the end of the month, then they are welcome to reach out to their local county. Payments may take some time to be delivered to accounts. Those that receive SNAP benefits will be able to see what their benefits will be moving forward by checking their basic benefit amount, which was sent out between Feb. 1-10, 2023. Benefit amounts are calculated based on the individual household circumstances. View the Operation Memo from the Department of Human Services or the recent Special Edition Community Digest to stay informed and find resources throughout this change. Community Digest subscribers will receive future special edition newsletters. |
Public Health Emergency end date announced Status: 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 and then end the PHE on that date. This wind-down would align with the Administration’s previous commitments to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to the end of the PHE. How does the PHE effect benefits? When the the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency (PHE). This allowed for continuous coverage for both SNAP and health care, even if a member’s eligibility changed. Although the end of the PHE has been extended, these benefits have become uncoupled or no longer covered by the PHE due to recent legislation passed by Congress. This means the renewal process (sometimes called redetermination or RRR) will restart and allow for reverification of members’ eligibility. COVID-19 continuous coverage unwind update The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will be starting the return to normal medical assistance eligibility renewal processes, with renewals due in May and noticing beginning in March. This COVID-19 Continuous Coverage Unwind update is based on the recent federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included language that ends the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement, and federal guidance issued on Jan. 5, 2023. The HCPF will take 12 months (14 months including noticing) to renew each of the approximately 1.75 million members based on their annual renewal date, beginning with those whose annual renewal is due in May 2023. This includes approximately 810,000 members on Continuous Coverage (locked-in). For new applications, States have 4 months to process all backlog applications to resume timely processing of new applications. It’s essential that members update their contact information so we can reach them and respond to renewal packets to make sure they keep their Health First Colorado and CHP+ coverage if they are still eligible. Members can find out their renewal dates and access more information at hfcgo.com/renewals. How to help Help ensure eligible members keep their health coverage and inform those who no longer qualify, where they can go for affordable coverage resources by sharing the updated toolkit and resources within in DHS’ recent Special Edition Community Digest. |
As normal operations return after the end of the Public Health Emergency, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is estimating that more than 325,000 Coloradans (about 20% of current members) may no longer qualify for safety net coverage programs, and will therefore be disenrolled beginning in May and over the 12 months that follow. With continuity of coverage a primary goal, handoffs to Connect for Health Colorado is a critical strategy to ensure those eligible for marketplace health plans are made aware of their coverage options, as well as the availability of financial subsidies that make coverage more affordable. The HCPF will send case information of members that are no longer eligible for Medicaid to Connect for Health Colorado, the Marketplace. During a 60-day special enrollment period, members will be able to complete an application, apply for financial help, and enroll in a health insurance plan.
Connect for Health Colorado will outreach to members via email and via outbound phone calls to notify them of their Special Enrollment Period. Connect for Health’s network of certified assisters can help.
Available resource materials:
| Universal Preschool Colorado updates |
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| Since launching the application for Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado in January, more than 30,000 families have signed up to participate in the state-funded high-quality, voluntary mixed delivery preschool program. This program is available to every child in the year before they are eligible to enter kindergarten. The process of matching those families with participating providers has begun and families who applied in the first round will find out which provider they matched with at the end of the month. Learn more about the matching process by watching the following video in English or Spanish. Families seeking to participate in UPK Colorado that have not yet applied are able to sign up and make provider rankings for their child. Enrollment is on a rolling basis and families can log in to UPK.Colorado.Gov to find a provider in their area. There is no deadline to sign up. |