Colorado is the first in the nation to provide a cohesive Prescriber Tool that supports patients and health care providers in both Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and commercial health plans. This shared tool is provided by the Department of Healthcare Policy & Financing (HCPF) to make prescription therapy more affordable.

The Prescriber Tool is a multifunctional platform accessible to prescribers through most electronic health record (EHR) systems. It provides patient-specific benefit and cost information to prescribers at the point of care.

Medication Bottle

In fact, 1 in 3 Coloradans either cannot fill a prescription, cut pills in half, or skip doses because of the cost.

The Prescriber Tool helps employers and Coloradans save money on healthcare by empowering providers with information on prescription drug costs and affordable alternatives.

Opioid Risk Module

Implemented January 2021, HCPF has contracted with OpiSafe to administer an opioid risk module that helps prescribers prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids and benzodiazepines. The module provides the following:

  • Easy access to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data,
  • Identification of risks related to opioid misuse,
  • Access to clinical guidelines, and
  • Tools for overdose prevention.

Please note: In order to access the opioid risk module, each prescriber - or user - must have an individual license, meaning clinics or systems will need multiple licenses. HCFP is providing a limited number of one-year licenses at no cost to Medicaid providers. The license enables prescribers to use the opioid risk module for ALL patients – such as those covered by commercial plans, Medicare, Medicaid and those who are uninsured.

To inquire if no-cost licenses are still available, please contact hcpf_Colorado.SMAC@state.co.us

If you have any questions, please visit https://opisafe.com/contact-us

Prescription Benefit Module

In June 2021, the HCPF implemented a real-time prescription benefit check for providers that makes prescription writing easier, helps Medicaid members get the medications they need to stay healthy, and saves Colorado and Coloradans money on prescription drugs.

The module is in approximately 100 EHRs and will provide the following:

Real-Time E-Prescribing

Real-Time E-Prescribing:

Prescribers can now send prescriptions electronically to pharmacies for Medicaid patients, increasing convenience and saving time for patients, prescribers and pharmacies.

Real-Time Benefits Inquiry

Real-Time Benefits Inquiry:

Prescribers now have rapid insight into preferred medications from the preferred drug list, empowering them with drug affordability and cost options.

Real-Time Prior Authorization

Real-Time Prior Authorization:

Prescribers can now get rapid prior authorizations, reducing workload and avoiding manual entry, forms, faxes and lists.

Your Next Steps

Please contact your IT Support Staff, EHR Training Team or EHR vendor to access the “Real-Time Prescription Benefit” or “Real-Time Benefit Check” and get training and education materials.

For more information:

For additional support with the Prescriber Tool, contact your CCHA Practice Transformation Coach.

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.