Colorado Access Medical Assistance Site Volunteers for Pilot Project to Reduce Waste and Increase Efficiency
AURORA, Colo – Colorado Access, a local nonprofit health care company, volunteered to participate in the statewide Business Process Reengineering project. Specifically, the Colorado Access medical assistance site volunteered and was the only site chosen from the Denver metropolitan region to participate in the project, sponsored by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
“The fact that we are one of only five model sites in the state taking part in this speaks to the longevity and expertise of our organization as a whole,” says Debra Fitzsimmons, manager of operations at Colorado Access. “Colorado Access is a strong health care leader, and this is just another way in which we showcase this.”
The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has chosen Kone Consulting to implement this project across all five model sites. The four other model sites are from the counties of Costilla, Logan, Saguache and Summit. Kone Consulting meets with model sites to evaluate current processes, discuss changes, and develop plans for implementation.
“Innovation is one of our core values,” says Ward Peterson, director of enrollment & long-term services at Colorado Access. “Our participation in this project will help pave the way for more efficient and innovative processes that will have both an internal and external impact.”
The Colorado Access medical assistance site helps process applications to determine eligibility for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus. Utilizing lean principles to optimize a workflow and reduce waste, the goal of the Business Process Reengineering project is to help eligibility sites, such as county sites and medical assistance sites, develop standardized, efficient and effective work processes, ideally improving work quality through innovative business process methods.
All participants in the project commit to three site visits and four learning sessions over the span of the project. Model sites are small or medium county sites or medical assistance sites that volunteer to work with the vendor for the duration of the project. Project progress is monitored through these site visits and learning sessions, which are customized to the particular model site. The project began in 2019 and will conclude in June 2020.
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About Colorado Access
Founded in 1994, Colorado Access is a local, nonprofit health plan that serves members throughout Colorado. The company’s members receive health care under Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) behavioral and physical health, and long-term services and supports programs. The company also provides care coordination services and administers behavioral health and physical health benefits for two regions as part of the Accountable Care Collaborative Program through Health First Colorado. Colorado Access is the state’s largest single entry point agency, coordinating long-term service and supports for Health First Colorado recipients in five Denver metro area counties. To learn more about Colorado Access, visit coaccess.com.