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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.

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.

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.

COVID-19 vaccine Updates

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

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.