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CCHA is committed to continuing to meet the needs of our Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) members, providers, community partners, employees and vendors during the presence of COVID-19 in Colorado. We have included resources below to help you and your practice navigate this unprecedented time.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Extended

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The PHE will now last through October 13, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccine updates

Omicron Vaccine

The FDA authorized and CDC approved updated versions of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. These updated vaccines offer protection from the original COVID-19 virus and the currently circulating omicron variant of COVID-19. Anyone aged 12 years and older can get an omicron dose at least two months after finishing their primary series or receiving their most recent booster dose.

The CDC has approved both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 6 months old. COVID-19 vaccines can be given to children at the same time as any other routine childhood vaccines, like MMR, tetanus, and polio. Parents and guardians are entitled to paid time off from work to take their children to get a COVID-19 vaccine and recover from any potential side effects after vaccination. Read the CDPHE news release.

CDC authorizes COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children 6 mos - 4 years | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Find a vaccine provider near you at covid19.colorado.gov/kids-vaccines

The CDC has approved an additional booster dose for people who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. People over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster four months after their prior dose to increase their protection.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on January 31, 2022. The Moderna vaccine has been available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 18 years of age and older since December 18, 2020.

The COVID-19 Pfizer booster is approved for anyone 12 and older. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment encourages all Coloradans age 12 and up to get a booster dose as soon as possible if it has been at least six months since they got their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or at least two months since they got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

As a reminder, children ages 5-11 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines and boosters are common practice in routine childhood vaccination. Many vaccines require multiple doses at specific intervals to be most effective. Anyone with questions about boosters is encouraged to speak with their health care provider.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and where to find them. Anyone who needs help making a vaccine appointment should call 1-877-268-2926. Health First Colorado members who need help finding a ride to get to a vaccine appointment can use the Non-Emergent Medical Transportation benefit.

CDPHE Text Message Program for Coloradans Aged 50+

Starting, May 26, CDPHE will send text message and email reminders to more than 650,000 Coloradans aged 50 and older whose records in the Colorado Immunization Information System indicate they are due for a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Red Rock Pharmacy Suspended from COVID-19 Vaccination Program

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) suspended Denver-based CD Colorado Pharmacy, LLC (DBA Red Rock Pharmacy) from the COVID-19 Vaccination Program for not meeting the necessary standards required by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine administration. CDPHE determined that all patients who received COVID-19 vaccine during off-site clinics held by Red Rock Pharmacy between January 15, 2021 and April 1, 2022, should be revaccinated. CDPHE is notifying all facilities and patients impacted and will also share revaccination guidance in those communications. View more information on Red Rock Pharmacy’s suspension.

People vaccinated by Red Rock Pharmacy can contact CDPHE with questions at cdphe_covidvax@state.co.us or 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

If patients witness what they believe to be unsafe or unethical vaccination practices, CDPHE encourages them to file a complaint using our online complaint form. Anyone with knowledge or concerns about an enrolled COVID-19 vaccine provider can file a complaint.

Test to Treat

Your members can now get tested for COVID-19 at one of the pharmacy-based clinics, health centers, and long-term care facilities. If they test positive, they can talk with an on-site health care provider to find out if antiviral medicine is right for them. This program makes it easier and faster to get lifesaving COVID-19 treatments if appropriate. To learn more, visit covid19.colorado.gov/treatments.

Test to Stay

On February 1, the Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) launched Test to Stay, an optional program to help students and staff continue in-person learning after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Test to Stay will provide another testing resource to help reduce the burden on students, staff and parents.

Test to Stay is an optional program intended to help students and staff avoid quarantine for those who have school-associated exposures to COVID-19.

For more information, visit the Test to Stay webpage

Vaccine Providers: Expanded Coverage under the Emergency Medical Service (EMS)

COVID-19 Only Benefit Plan

The Colorado interChange has been updated to allow for vaccine codes to be billed.

The EMS COVID-19, Only emergency benefit for uninsured Coloradans, has been updated in compliance with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to include coverage of any service for COVID-related testing, treatments, and vaccines. This update impacts all claim types with dates of service on or after March 11, 2021.

Dates of service prior to March 11, 2021, should be processed according to the policy, which was limited to specific procedure codes. Refer to the newsletter, Provider News & Resources Issue 17 - February 26, 2021.

Claims with dates of service on or after March 11, 2021, under this benefit plan must have one or more of the following diagnosis codes or a COVID-19 vaccine code present to identify the services as COVID-related or the claim will deny.

Only the enumerated diagnosis codes and COVID-19 vaccines are covered under this benefit. The COVID-19 Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Providers and Case Managers web page has been updated accordingly.

Affected claims with dates of service on or after March 11, 2021, where the member is eligible for the EMS COVID-19 benefit, will be reprocessed. Providers may submit claims with these diagnosis codes or COVID-19 vaccine codes that were previously not covered for this benefit on or after March 11, 2021, but are now included in the new coverage criteria.

Note: Affected claims were reprocessed on 5/13/22.

State of Colorado plans to transition COVID-19 vaccine administration to traditional health care settings

Mobile vaccine clinics to continue operations through at least June 30

By March 31, the state of Colorado will transition from offering COVID-19 vaccines through state-run community vaccination sites to traditional health care settings. This step is part of the state’s Roadmap to Moving Forward. The transition from community vaccination sites will be phased, and equity will continue to be prioritized through the mobile vaccine buses. Final operations for community vaccination sites will be listed on the state’s website.

Nearly 2,000 provider locations across Colorado have answered the call and become enrolled in the COVID vaccination program, including pharmacies and doctor’s offices. More information about COVID vaccines, as well as assistance with scheduling an appointment, is available at https://covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.

For the last 24 months, the state, in partnership with 54 local public health agencies, multiple community and health care partners, has created systems outside of the traditional health care system to administer testing, therapeutic treatments, and vaccines in the emergency. If necessary, the state is prepared to reestablish these systems, including community vaccination sites, within a four-to-five-week timeline.

The state’s mobile vaccine clinics will continue operations through at least June 30 to help get the doctor-approved vaccine to hard-to-reach communities. In addition to mobile vaccine clinics, there are numerous equity-focused, vaccine-related resources and programs that will continue as part of our strategies to address health disparities, including community-based pop-up vaccination clinics, regional equity coordinators and resource specialists, the Champions for Vaccine Equity program, a forthcoming equity-focused grant program, and CDPHE’s partnership with 9Health:365 to offer free and low-cost vaccinations and health screenings.

The most important thing Coloradans can do to protect themselves from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated as soon as possible and stay up to date on their vaccination. Vaccination protects against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

Health First Colorado & CHP+ Coverage of At-Home COVID Tests

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) began paying for at-home COVID-19 tests for members in January. Each enrolled Health First Colorado member can get up to 15 free at-home tests per month from pharmacies that serve Health First Colorado. There are no out-of-pocket costs or co-pays for Health First Colorado or CHP+ members. Health First Colorado and CHP+ will reimburse the pharmacies after members receive the free tests.

Due to the high demand, at-home tests have been in short supply, and pharmacies are having difficulty getting them from their suppliers. Members are encouraged to call the pharmacy ahead of time to see if they have at-home tests in stock.

The federal government recently launched an online program allowing each household address to receive a maximum of four tests. This program is limited to a one-time order of four tests per household arriving by US mail, usually within seven to 10 days.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) also has an online program where Coloradans can order two tests per week. If members are interested in receiving multiple tests, they will need to reorder tests. Tests do not automatically ship on a recurring basis, and because of high demand, tests will usually arrive in two weeks. Health First Colorado does not manage the federal program or the CDPHE program.

Please visit the Health First Colorado webpage for more information on at-home test coverage, a list of enrolled pharmacies and FAQs.

Free Testing for the Public

It’s easy to get a free, fast and safe COVID-19 test. There are more than 150 free community testing sites across Colorado making an appointment is easy and your patients don’t need insurance or ID to get tested.

Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and environment (CDPHE) testing webpage for a list of testing sites by city, information on who should get tested, information on what to do if you test positive, types of test and more.

General Vaccine Information

Outreach and Education Resources

Patient Handouts

Information for Providers

  • COVID-19 public health emergency declaration extended.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on January 31, 2022. The Moderna vaccine has been available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 18 years of age and older since December 18, 2020.
  • The COVID-19 Pfizer booster is approved for anyone 12 and older. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) encourages all Coloradans age 12 and up to get a booster dose as soon as possible if it has been at least six months since they got their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or at least two months since they got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
  • As a reminder, children ages 5-11 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines and boosters are common practice in routine childhood vaccination, and many vaccines require multiple doses at specific intervals to be most effective. Those with questions about boosters are encouraged to speak with their health care provider.

Get the most current list of billing codes, payment allowances and effective dates for COVID-19 vaccines.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and where to find them. Anyone who needs help making a vaccine appointment should call 1-877-268-2926. Health First Colorado members who need help finding a ride to get to a vaccine appointment can use the Non-Emergent Medical Transportation benefit.

If you need the information on this page in another format, please contact CCHA Member Support Services.

The information will be provided in paper form free of charge within 5 business days.

We can connect you to language services or help you find a provider with ADA accommodations.

If you are having a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital-based ER.

If you are having a mental health or substance use crisis, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255.