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[ download 2010 CCHAP brochure ]
last revised 6/23/10
Mission
CCHAP is a non-profit organization devoted to ensuring that every child enrolled in Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) receives comprehensive health care from a primary care provider – a “medical home” and all pregnant women covered by Medicaid or CHP+ receive comprehensive prenatal services.
Background Information
In 2006, there were approximately 180,000 children in Colorado, either enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid and CHP+, who were unable to find a medical home.
Colorado has a strong public health system, but it does not have the capacity to address this problem. A survey conducted in 2006 by the Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program found that only 20% of private pediatricians and family physicians accepted Medicaid or CHP+. The survey identified the following barriers to private pediatricians and physicians participating in these government-funded health programs:
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poor reimbursement
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difficulties with eligibility and enrollment
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problems with claims processing
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the need for social service support for the families
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poor access to, and coordination of, mental health services
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the need for better case management and care coordination
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trouble getting children in for regular preventive care, including immunizations
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transportation problems in low-income families
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the need to learn more about culturally sensitive and responsive care
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difficulty in obtaining and affording interpreters for healthcare visits
- the need for help in identifing all of the resources for which these children are eligible
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Pilot ProgramGenerously funded by Colorado foundations, a non-profit organization, the Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program (CCHAP) was developed to provide 14 support services to address the barriers physicians cited. After a year of planning, an 18-month pilot program was conducted with 7,000 children in seven pediatric practices in metro Denver. There were two keys to the success of the pilot program. First, CCHAP negotiated an enhanced reimbursement rate for the physicians through a Medicaid managed care organization, which recognized that it would save money through reduced emergency room and hospitalization costs for the children. Second, CCHAP not only provides support services, but also links the private practices to community services for families provided by 30 community-based organizations, for example, mental health counseling, social services, transportation, care coordination, case management, and quality improvement coaching. Pilot Program ResultsThe evaluation of the pilot program showed that private pediatric practices in Colorado are able and willing to provide a medical home for Medicaid and CHP+ children resulting in:
Ongoing ProgramCCHAP works closely with state Medicaid, the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians and has recruited, trained and now supports over 180 primary care practices and over 600 primary care providers, providing a medical home to an estimated 120,000 Medicaid and CHP+ children. In 2010, 95% of all private pediatric practices in Colorado are affiliated with CCHAP. Colorado Medicaid now provides higher reimbursement to practices that meet certain criteria as a medical home for children. Colorado Medicaid and CCHAP assist practices in meeting these criteria. Future PlansCCHAP continues to expand throughout Colorado and also to assess the barriers to care for Medicaid and CHP+ children in rural Colorado. CCHAP now also offers similar support services to private obstetrical and family practices to encourage and enable them to provide comprehensive prenatal services for pregnant women covered by Medicaid and CHP+. And, CCHAP is working with the Colorado Dental Association, several Colorado foundations and many other organizations to develop a program to encourage and enable dentists to serve young children and pregnant women covered by Medicaid.
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[ download CCHAP 2010 brochure ]
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