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PEAK NEWS
Contents
June 2015 Enhancements for Community Partners
Overview
Helpful Links
Training
Additional Support
Enhancements
Employment and Benefits Division
Food Assistance
Medical Assistance
Contacts for Questions about Applying for Benefits
June 2015 Enhancements for Community Partners
Overview
On Sunday, June 28, 2015, numerous enhancements will be made across PEAK and CBMS to reduce application
processing times, reduce errors, and improve the overall user and client experience. The following information is a highlevel overview of the PEAK and CBMS enhancements and the impact they might have on stakeholders.
Helpful Links
PEAK Outreach Initiative – Training & Materials
www.peakoutreach.com
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing – Training and Materials
www.colorado.gov/hcpf/eligibility-partners
Report Technical Issues with PEAK
CBMS.Help@state.co.us
Training
PEAK Outreach Initiative Webinars
These webinars will provide detailed information on the enhancements to PEAK functionality that will go live on June
28.
Wednesday, June 18, 2015 | 2-3:00 p.m.
Register at https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=leo2lke3bp07
Monday, June 22, 2015 | 9-10:00 a.m.
Register at https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=bwrtc28k91lq
Additional Support
Post-Build Call: Summary of System Performance and Known Issues for Community Partners
Thursday, July 2, 2015 | 3-3:45 p.m.
Conference Line: 720-279-0026 (Local) or 1-877-820-7831 (Long Distance) / Passcode: 349141#
Enhancements
Employment and Benefits Division
Colorado Works – Workforce Development Update to Student Detail and Plan
In order to be in compliance with federal law, there will be new information gathered about the highest level of education
completed by TANF recipients.
Transitional Food Assistance for Colorado Works
When a family’s household income increases and they become ineligible for Colorado Works continued basic cash assistance
benefits (TANF), they will continue to be eligible for Food Assistance for up to five months at the prior benefit amount (before their
income increased) to provide them more stability during this transitional period.
Food Assistance
CDHS Updates to Client Correspondence
Food Assistance notices will explain to clients that applications received after the 15th of the month will issue both the partial and
the first full-month benefits at the same time. When Expedited Food Assistance is approved but documentation is still needed,
clients will receive a notice explaining their responsibility to provide additional proof and how their benefits may be impacted.
Farm Bill Disqualification Updates to PEAK and CBMS
With 2014 Farm Bill legislation, Food Assistance is required to add questions to the PEAK online application and recertification. If an
individual in the household declares that he or she is not in compliance with the terms of a conviction, Food Assistance will deny the
individual for benefits while still counting his or her resources and income.
Judgment Claims
Claims generated for overpayment of Adult Financial, Colorado Works, and/or Food Assistance benefits will be improved to prevent
incorrect income tax interception and benefit recoupment.
Medical Assistance
“5-Year Bar” Non-Citizen Update for Legal Permanent Residents
Effective July 1, 2015, the five-year U.S. residency bar will be lifted for legally present immigrants. Pregnant women of any age may
qualify for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Prenatal, and children under the age of 19 may qualify for CHP+ and Medicaid if all other
eligibility criteria are met.
Marital Status Modification
The logic for Medical Assistance (certain Non-MAGI categories) will be modified to not consider the income and/or resources of the
applicant’s spouse based on marital status and whether spouse is in the home or not.
Medical Card File Transfer
Starting July 1, 2015, Medical Cards will be printed on thick card stock and will no longer have a magnetic strip. Cards printed
previously will continue to be valid.
PEAK Call Center Enhancements
The PEAK mobile site will be enhanced so that users can submit questions online and access chat functionality for Medical
Assistance.
PEAK Online Payment Information
PEAK will be updated to enhance how clients pay CHP+ enrollment fees and Buy-In premium payments online. It will also provide a
more detailed payment record for consumers/clients who have made payments.
PEAK Redesign and User Experience Updates
The overall design of the PEAK website will be updated in order to improve and enhance the customer/client experience. The
printable application PDF has been redesigned. This project does not change PEAK functionality. FAQs will be available on the PEAK
website.
PEAKHealth Campaign Messages
To enhance the client experience, the PEAKHealth application will be updated to allow users to rate health tips, mark providers as
favorites, and report inaccurate data in the provider locator feature.
Shared Eligibility System Updates
This project will improve the Shared Eligibility System (SES) by:
 Allowing client correspondence for a Medical Assistance/Advanced Premium Tax Credits household to be sent to an authorized
representative.
 Allowing individuals to report Life Change Events for the loss of Minimum Essential Coverage up to 60 days in advance of the
coverage ending.
 Changing some Medical Assistance/Advanced Premium Tax Credits correspondence and SES changes based on Work Study income
and expenses.
Verification Checklist Updates
To lessen the chances for confusion to the applicant, wording will be added to the Verification Checklist (VCL) that explains in more
detail what type of information is needed. The first page of the VCL will also be made dynamic to display certain information based
on the case programs.
Do You Have a Question about Applying for Benefits or a Health Plan, Need To Get More Information about the
Affordable Care Act, or Want To Report a Technical Issue with PEAK?
Agency/Service
Phone/Email/
Website
Hours of Operation
Services Provided
Affordable Care Act
Newsletter
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
ACAResources
Sign Up:
COHealthInfo.com
Connect for Health
Colorado
Marketplace –
General Assistance
or Report a Problem
855-PLANS-4-YOU
855-752-6749
Within US
Customer Service Center
7:00AM – 8:00PM
Monday – Saturday
303-590-9675
Outside US
Customer Service Center
7:00AM – 8:00PM
Monday – Saturday
 Updates on the Affordable Care Act for county
partners, eligibility workers, and stakeholders
published by the Colorado Department of
Health Care Policy and Financing
 Authorization Number look up
 How to sign up for a plan
 Questions about tax credits
 Report a technical issue with the Marketplace
 Report a problem encountered while using
connectforhealth.com via phone or send an
email to help@sc.connectforhealth.com, and
enter “Requesting Enrollment Help” in the
email Subject Line
 Authorization Number look up
 How to sign up for a plan
 Questions about tax credits
 Report a technical issue with the Marketplace
 Report a problem encountered while using
connectforhealth.com via phone or send an
email to help@sc.connectforhealth.com, and
Agency/Service
Phone/Email/
Website
Hours of Operation
Services Provided
enter “Requesting Enrollment Help” in the
email Subject Line
855-346-3432
TYY Line
Customer Service Center
7:00AM – 8:00PM
Monday – Saturday
Colorado.gov/Health
Colorado.gov/Health
24-Hours
County Offices
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
Counties
Colorado.gov/apps/
maps/hcpf.map
Variable
Division of Insurance
303-894-7490
(Denver Metro)
800-930-3745
dora_ins_website@s
tate.co.us
800-536-5298
Food or Cash
Assistance
Applications
Colorado
Department of
Human Services
HealthColorado
Medicaid or CHP+
Medical Assistance
Site Contractor
(MAXIMUS)
Colorado
Department of
Health Care Policy
and Financing
303-839-2120
(Denver Metro)
888-367-6557
888-876-8864 (TDD)
HealthColorado.org
HealthColorado.org/
plan_selection.aspx
800-359-1991
General Assistance for the Hearing Impaired
 Authorization Number look up
 How to sign up for a plan
 Questions about tax credits
 Report a technical issue with the Marketplace
 Report a problem encountered while using
connectforhealth.com via phone or send an
email to help@sc.connectforhealth.com, and
enter “Requesting Enrollment Help” in the
email Subject Line
 FAQs Online and Paper Application for Health
Coverage
 Health Coverage Information
 Wellness Information
 Get Information about a current Food, Cash
Assistance, Medicaid, and/or Child Health Plan
Plus (CHP+) Case
 In-Person Help with completing an Application
for Food, Medical, or Cash Assistance
Questions
 Agents
 Insurance Companies
 Private Insurance
8:00AM – 5:00PM
Monday – Friday
(closed on holidays)
General Assistance
 Request for Cash Assistance
 Request for Food Assistance
8:00AM – 5:00PM
Monday – Friday
(closed on holidays)
General Assistance
 Choosing a Primary Care Provider
 Enroll in a health plan (for current Medicaid or
CHP+ clients)
[Note: Not for applying or getting information
about Medicaid or CHP+ benefits]
8:00AM – 6:00PM
Monday – Friday
(closed on holidays)
Provides Eligibility and Enrollment Information
 Appeal and grievance information for CHP+
and Medicaid
 CHP+ and Medicaid eligibility and
documentation requirements
 Contact information for participating providers
for CHP+ and Medicaid
 Contact information for other CHP+ and
Medicaid eligibility sites
 Description of medical assistance programs
 Details of the enrollment and renewal
processes for CHP+ and Medicaid
 Enrollment fee and premium payments info for
CHP+ and Medicaid-In programs
 Referrals to county offices for other public
benefits
Agency/Service
Phone/Email/
Website
Hours of Operation
Services Provided
Medicaid Customer
Contact Center
Colorado
Department of
Health Care Policy
and Financing
800-221-3943
TDD 800-659-2656
Colorado.gov/HCPF
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
Benefits
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
medicaid-customercontact-center
800-283-3221
7:30AM – 5:15PM
Monday – Friday
(closed on holidays and
every Friday from
10:00AM-11:00AM for
staff meetings)
General Assistance
 Billing
 Help Navigating the PEAK Application
 Managed Care/Special Programs
 Medicaid or CHP+ Benefits
 Pharmacy
24-Hour Line
General Assistance for Medicaid Clients
Colorado.gov/PEAK
[Select Live Chat icon
on home page.]
12:30PM – 4:00PM
Monday - Friday
General Assistance
 Billing
 Help Navigating
 Managed Care/Special Programs
 Medicaid or CHP+ Benefits
Variable
PEAK
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
Counties
Colorado.gov/apps/
maps/hcpf.map
Colorado.gov/PEAK
PEAK Technical
Support
CBMS.Help@state.c
o.us
8:00AM – 5:00PM
Monday – Friday
Training and
Resources
Colorado
Department of
Health Care Policy
and Financing
Colorado.gov/HCPF/
ACAResources
PEAK Outreach
Tinyurl.com/peakout
reach
peakoutreach@boul
dercounty.org
Staff Development
Center
www.TrainColorado.
com
24-Hours
 Get Information about a Medicaid or CHP+
Case
 In-Person Help with completing a Medical
Assistance Application through CBMS
 Add a new person to your case
 Change contact information
 Check the status of a submitted application
 Download and print Medicaid cards
 Look up Authorization Number
 Request a new Medicaid card
 Update income and employment
 Upload verification documents
 View what information you may still need to
provide
 View your correspondence
Technical Assistance
 Error Messages
 Frozen Screens/Cannot Move Forward in the
Application
 Grayed-Out Buttons
 Time Outs
 Consumer Resources
 Health Care Reform Resources
Medicaid Nurse
Advice
Medical Assistance
LIVE CHAT
Colorado
Department of
Health Care Policy
and Financing
Medical Assistance
Sites
24-Hours
24-Hours
 Logo Guidance
 PEAK Website Use Resources
 Use of the PEAK Website Training
24-Hours
 Single Eligibility System User Guide