Health Equity Strategic Plan | Health Care Policy & Financing
Visit the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing website, call 303-866-2993, or contact HCPF for more information or assistance with direct services.
Priority:
Problem statement
Studies show that marginalized communities, including communities of color, are less likely to have health insurance, less likely to see a doctor because of cost, less likely to have a relationship with a health care provider and a usual source of care, less likely to have had a routine visit within the past year, and more likely to have a higher number of chronic medical comorbidities.
Therefore, HCPF has created a robust and comprehensive Healthy Colorado For All Plan that partners with, and works towards, eliminating health differences and improving health outcomes for all members who are enrolled in Health First Colorado and Child Health Plus (CHP+) programs.
Community engagement
Meeting Health First Colorado and CHP+ members where they are is a fundamental principle and best practice. That is why we have gone into the communities we serve and bring access and opportunities to our members. The directive is clear: working alongside our dedicated and mission-driven providers and advocates will help remove barriers to quality care and close health gaps for all Coloradans.
Ongoing conversations and partnership with members and community stakeholders is part of the fabric of health equity. Following Healthy People 2030 and Meaningful Community Engagement frameworks, it will require that we understand community preferences on how, when, and to what degree they want to be engaged (National Academy of Medicine, 2022). Taking the key observations, ideas and opportunities highlighted above, the Department has taken swift action by incorporating the interests, concerns, challenges and opportunities in the first-of-its-kind for the Department's Healthy Colorado For All Plan.
Since January 2022, HCPF has hosted over 20 public town halls with over 3,500 members, providers, and other key stakeholders. Each town hall focused on target populations representative of many values-based identities across Colorado.
Communities prioritized by this strategy:
- Low-income communities
- Communities of color
- LGBT+ communities
- People living with disabilities
- Housing cost-burdened communities
- Rural communities
- Tribal communities through state collaboration with federally-recognized Tribes and urban Indian organizations
Areas of impact
This strategy will impact Coloradans statewide.
2024 milestones
- Require Regional Accountable Entities and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) to have formal health equity plans. [Complete]
- Launch Spanish Speaking Maternity Advisory Committee (MAC). [Complete]
- Launch Spanish Speaking Member Experience Advisory Council. [Complete]
- Use Statewide Health Equity Task Force Recommendations to address health disparities and improve patient health outcomes. [Complete]
- External feedback from stakeholders and recommendations were included as part of the Equity Study for People with Disabilities: Complete Case Management Agency (CMA) outreach plan to increase access for BIPOC members with disabilities. [Complete]
- Execute recommendations from 2023 Tribal Relations and Health Study to support American Indians and Alaska Natives. [Complete]
- In partnership with the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), develop and offer 26 new Disability Cultural Competency trainings via OwnPath Learning Hub (free and open to the public). [Complete]
- Effectively address Health Related Social Needs Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) by removing barriers to care and expanding access to services that promote members’ health and well-being. [Complete]
2025 milestones
- Implement optional questions across all Medicaid applications, including shared application with Colorado Department of Human Services.
- Connect financial rewards to performance measures of Value Based Payment: that achieve shared goals, like improving patient health, closing health disparities and/or improving health care affordability.
- Continue to help Coloradans save money on prescription drugs by leveraging the Prescriber Tool.
2026 milestones
- Leverage social determinants of health through the work of Comprehensive and Essential Safety Net Providers.
- Reduce racial/ethnic disparities between populations with the highest and lowest utilization/rates for childhood immunizations, dental care and well-child visits.
- Identify ways to implement culturally relevant components into benefit/treatment options accessible to our American Indian Alaska Native members.
- Consider implementation of a State Plan Amendment (SPA) that is focused on Substance Use Disorder cost-based reimbursement.
By December 2024:
- Successful launch of Spanish Speaking Member Experience Advisory Committee. [Complete]
- Successful launch of Spanish Speaking Maternity Advisor Committee. [Complete]
By December 2025:
- Have 50% of Medicaid payments tied to a value-based arrangement.
- Increase the number of prescribers using the Prescriber Tool: Prescriber Tool Prescription Benefit Modules from 48% to 60% by July 2025.
By December 2026:
- Successfully implement changes to Medicaid application to include optional race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, housing and language.
- Reduce health differences between populations with the highest and lowest utilization/rates for childhood immunizations, dental care and well-child visits by 30% and to improve Diabetes HbA1c Control.
- Healthy Colorado For All Plan: Increase the overall state performance for Child and Adolescent Well Care Visits from 40.8% to 49% by December 31, 2026.
- Increase the overall state performance for 15 vaccination, maternity and perinatal health, behavioral health and prevention core measures by 10%.
Public Facing Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard
The Public Facing Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard will be used to identify data trends, differences, and health needs to increase HCPF’s capabilities to drive healthy outcomes for all members. The data presented in the dashboard filters health measures by all available population identifiers and compares to national benchmarks (when available), HCPF goals, and statewide performance data.
Communities prioritized by this strategy:
- Low-income communities
- Communities of color
- LGBT+ communities
- People living with disabilities
- Housing cost-burdened communities
- Rural communities
- Tribal communities through state collaboration with federally-recognized Tribes and urban Indian organizations
Areas of impact
This strategy will impact Coloradans statewide.
CY 2024 milestones
- Launch internal facing (HCPF-only) Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard. [Complete]
- Providing live demonstrations of our Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard and data tracking/monitoring of progress for HCPF leadership, Regional Accountable Entities and Child Health Plan Plus leadership, Maternity Advisory Committee and Member Experience Advisory Council members, statewide task force ambassadors, and other stakeholders since July 2023.
CY 2025 milestones
- Publish external facing Dashboard on HCPF website.
CY 2026 milestones
- Continue to monitor, maintain and mature Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard capabilities and provide transparent data for public viewing.
By December 2024
- Conduct up to 4 live demonstrations of the Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard and data tracking/monitoring of progress for HCPF leadership, Regional Accountable Entities and Child Health Plan Plus leadership, Maternity Advisory Committee and Member Experience Advisory Council members, and statewide task force ambassadors. [Complete]
By December 2025
- Go from 0 to 1 Public Facing Healthy Colorado For All Dashboards on HCPF website.
- Add Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Managed Care Organization Dashboards to the public facing page.
By December 2026
- Update the public facing dashboard quarterly, offer up to 2 public town halls for ongoing feedback and engagement, and maintain and mature Healthy Colorado For All Dashboard capabilities and provide transparent data for public viewing.
Fully Informed Birthing Choice
Informed choice is central to the birthing experience for members. To date, 40% of all Colorado births are covered by Health First Colorado, and access to equitable, relevant, informative, and culturally responsive care plays an integral role in birthing outcomes. Increasing the care and delivery options for birthing people on Medicaid will help address provider shortfalls, improve representation across the workforce so that it is more reflective of the Medicaid population, and improve health outcomes.
Communities prioritized by this strategy:
- Low-income communities
- Communities of color
- LGBT+ communities
- People living with disabilities
- Housing cost-burdened communities
- Rural communities
- Tribal communities through state collaboration with federally-recognized Tribes and urban Indian organizations
Areas of impact
This strategy will impact Coloradans statewide.
2024 milestones
- Implement SB23-288 to promote the expansion and utilization of doula services for pregnant and postpartum members. [Complete]
- Implement Non-legislative initiative: Adding Certified Professional Midwives. [Complete]
2025 milestones
- Implement of HB22-1289 Cover All Coloradans, pending federal and state approvals and funding.
- Implementation of SB23-002 Community Health Workers as a covered benefit for members (July 2025).
2026 milestones
- Increase timely utilization of prenatal care in the Medicaid program from 62.7% to 70.0% by June 30, 2027.
By December 2024
- Doula services are a covered benefit for members. [Complete]
- Certified Professional Midwives are a covered benefit for members. [Complete]
By December 2025
- Provide full health insurance coverage for low-income pregnant and postpartum people and children regardless of immigration status.
- Obtain approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide medical reimbursement for Community Health Workers.
By December 2026
- Increase informed birthing choices in Colorado for in home, birthing centers and hospitals by leveraging midwifery, doulas and community health workers.
- Increase timely utilization of prenatal care in the Medicaid program from 62.7% to 70.0% by June 30, 2027.