In The News

CNA Member in the News: Ruby Martinez, PhD, RN

August 30, 2021

Ruby Martinez, PhD, RN has announced her candidacy for Douglas County School Board.

Dr. Martinez has been a longtime volunteer leader with Colorado Nurses Association and the Colorado Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (SIG 31).

For those interested in supporting Dr. Martinez in this work, here is a link to her website.

Families4RubyMartinez

 

Call for Public Recommendations to Transform the Behavioral Health System of Colorado

August 30, 2021

Our state has an historic opportunity to make strategic transformational investments to improve access to care, improve transparency and accountability, and end discrimination. The state has set aside 450 million dollars for one-time investments in behavioral health for use by December 31, 2026.

The Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force and corresponding subpanels ­are conducting a survey to receive feedback on what investments and policy changes need to be made to transform the behavioral health system in Colorado – this includes both mental health and substance use.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Complaints or questions? Now’s the time to make your voice heard. Click here to review the survey and submit your thoughts.

Please submit by Wednesday, September 1 at 5 p.m., or as soon as possible.

 

Colorado Emergency Rules Scheduled to Expire September 4, 2021

August 25, 2021

Please be aware that emergency rules for multiple healthcare professions relating to the expansion of scope of practice during the pandemic have been extended. The Colorado COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Order is now scheduled to expire September 4, 2021, unless further extended by the Governor.
NOTE: While it is likely that the existing Executive Order will remain in place for at least the next few months, it is important that you remain apprised of the existing deadlines to ensure compliance with the Executive Order and other relevant law.  
If the Governor extends the Executive Order we will notify you using this same method of communication.
The Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) wants to keep you informed to ensure all professionals are properly licensed and operating under the rules, laws, and policies set forth by your applicable healthcare board(s) by that time.
Medical surge
Inpatient facilities and hospitals have been able to temporarily use readily available personnel to fill healthcare service gaps during the COVID-19 state of emergency declaration and now the Disaster Recovery Executive Order. The temporary relaxation of these restrictions - in conjunction with the expansion of delegation for certain medical personnel - has afforded these entities the flexibility to connect readily available healthcare staff into non-traditional roles and alleviate workforce shortages.
Facilities should be prepared for any business/staffing implications that may arise as a result of the wind down of the Disaster Recovery Executive Order, though we do expect it will be extended for at least the next few months. For example, in the event that you hired staff based upon their temporary ability to work within these exemptions, you will want to ensure they meet all licensing requirements for their respective profession in order to continue uninterrupted employment. Or, if staff have performed services outside of their normal scope based on guidance included within the Executive Order, you will want to make sure those services cease once the relevant provisions in the Executive Order are terminated.
Affected professions include: Chiropractic, Dental, Medical, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Assistants/Technologists, and Veterinary.
For Nurses:
Professional and practical nursing applicants granted temporary licensure under the Governor’s Executive Orders must cease practice as a practical nurse, professional nurse, or advanced practice nurse if a full license to practice professional nursing in Colorado was not granted on or before June 30, 2021. New graduates of approved nursing programs for these license types who met all qualifications for licensure with the exception of successful completion of the required examination will no longer be issued a temporary license and must now successfully pass the examination prior to licensure as set forth in Section 12-255-109, Colorado Revised Statutes.
CNA graduates currently working on a temporary license based on provisions in previous Executive Orders will want to ensure completion and passage of the required test for full licensure before the Dec. 31, 2021 expiration date.  Skills examinations may be scheduled through Pearson Vue. It is important for employers to ensure their temporarily licensed staff schedule their exam as soon as possible to avoid any staffing gaps once the temporary licenses expire on Dec. 31, 2021.
Those CNA graduates whose temporary license was issued between Dec. 7, 2020 and April 5, 2021, and expired on June 30, 2021, may apply for a second temporary certification. These individuals must submit documentation of passage of the written exam and attest that they will register for the required skills exam within 60 days of availability in their regional area (within 250 miles). Those CNA graduates granted a temporary license who have failed the skills exam are not eligible for a second temporary certification.
The information above is the latest currently available, and is subject to change based on any extensions or changes to the Disaster Recovery Executive Order. Please make sure to check additional communications from DPO prior to the Sept. 4, 2021 Executive Order expiration date, alerting the public to any such revisions.
For Nurse/Nurse Aide Education Programs
The suspension of certain nurse and nurse aide education requirements pursuant to the Disaster Recovery Order was extended on July 8 for a period of 120 days or the expiration of the Disaster Recovery Order, whichever occurs first. This means that nurse and nurse aide education programs should be making arrangements to fully return to meeting the educational requirements set forth in Rules 1.11 and 1.2 pending the expiration of the Disaster Recovery Order and/or the relevant provisions in the Executive Order, though we expect the Order will be extended for at least the next few months.
Please address any questions to [email protected]. Thank you for your attention to these important changes.
 

2021 American Academy of Nursing Colorado Fellows Announced

August 9, 2021

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) announced the 2021 Class of Fellows. From the Academy President Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, "I am thrilled to welcome another exceptional class of Fellows to the American Academy of Nursing during a momentous time of change and progress in our collective efforts to fulfill the organization's vision for healthy lives for all people". 

The Colorado newest Fellows to the Academy include:

       Kathleen Flarity, DNP, PhD, CEN, CFRN, FAEN (UC Health/Center for Combat Research)

       Ingrid Johnson, DNP, MPP, RN (Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence)

      Caren Misky, MSN, RN, FNP-BC (Dispatch Health)

On behalf of Colorado Nurses Association congratulations on this honor and thank you for your leadership.

 

Updates from Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Finance

August 9, 2021

Affordability Powers Recovery  
 
Through Medicaid and CHP+, HCPF is now providing coverage and services to more than 1.5 million Coloradans, a 21% increase since March 2020. Thank you for your partnership in providing critical services to Coloradans in need. 
Covering one in four Coloradans during a fiscal downturn necessitates innovations that prudently control costs and improve health, enabling us to better protect provider reimbursements and member benefits. HCPF administration remains less than 5% of our budget, which is significantly lower than the average commercial carrier administration of more than 13%. Our efficiency enables us to allocate more than 95 cents on every dollar to care.  
 
Our priority innovation opportunities are in the areas of long-term services and supports (LTSS) as well as hospital and prescription drugs. Relative to LTSS, we received partial approval from CMS on our Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) 10% enhanced FMAP proposed spending plan, which was crafted collaboratively with more than 800 stakeholders. We are working with CMS to address their questions before the next round of stakeholder engagement.  
 
In addition to the Hospital Transformation Program that launched in April 2021, we are also releasing hospital reports this month that analyze urban hospital costs, prices and profits as well as the impact of COVID and related federal stimulus on Colorado hospitals.  
 
To lower prescription drug costs, we released the Affordability Module of our new Prescriber Tool in June to empower prescribers with cost insights into drug therapy options. Since one in three Coloradans either cannot fill a prescription, cut pills in half, or skip doses due to cost, this tool helps advance Gov. Polis’ quest to save people money on health care while also controlling Medicaid spend. Colorado is the first state in the nation to provide a shared Prescriber Tool that supports affordability for patients, employers and Medicaid. Via electronic health records (EHRs), 85% of Medicaid prescribers can access this tool to earn value-based payments and be part of the prescription drug affordability solution. The tool also reduces administrative burden and rework for providers and improves service to Medicaid and commercial members through e-prescribing and e-prior authorizations. In that spirit, it is critical that providers collaborate with HCPF to enable and use this new tool. Contact your EHR vendor today to make sure Colorado Medicaid Real-Time Benefit Check transactions are routing. More information on the Prescriber Tool is available on our website. 
 
Register online to join our August 19 virtual Health Cabinet Summit to learn more about the findings in the hospital costs, prices & profits report, updates on our state and federal prescription drug affordability strategy since the release of our January 2021 Reducing Prescription Drug Costs in Colorado Report, the Behavioral Health Administration work, and health equity opportunities. Looking forward to seeing you then!  
New Prescriber Tool for Health First Colorado: 
Prescription drugs are the leading contributor to rising health care costs, but that challenge impacts more than just the financials. One in three Coloradans either cannot fill a prescription, cut pills in half, or skip doses because of the cost. 
Colorado is the first state in the nation to provide a cohesive Prescriber Tool that achieves this goal for both Medicaid and commercial prescribers. This will save Coloradans money on health care, reduce health care costs for employers and Health First Colorado, while also improving patient health by making prescription drug therapy more affordable and accessible. The Prescriber Tool also reduces administrative burden for providers by making prescription writing easier and reducing rework. Eight-five percent of Health First Colorado's 24,459 prescribers have the real-time benefit check in their electronic health record. 
 
For more information, please visit our website, read our January 2021 Reducing Prescription Drug Costs in Colorado Report, and join our August 19 virtual Health Cabinet Summit, from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., which will include a refresher on affordability strategies outlined in this report as well as progress and opportunities. Please register online and join us
 
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