Colorado Alternative Payment Model (APM) Alignment Initiative
In the Fall/Winter of 2021-22, Colorado embarked on a process to develop a multi-payer statewide alternative payment model (APM), with the goal of aligning payers' efforts to shift away from fee-for-service payments to value-based payments. An aligned statewide health care APM has the capacity to reduce administrative burden for providers, increase health care value, and improve quality and health equity for consumers.
In order to achieve these goals, the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care in the Lieutenant Governor's Office collaborated with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the Division of Insurance (DOI), and the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) to convene a variety of stakeholders, including health insurance companies, health care providers, and consumers. Workgroups were established - including an overarching APM Alignment Advisory Group, and two Sub-Groups focused on primary care and maternity care - to develop recommendations on Colorado-specific, consensus-based APMs that could be used to advance alignment of payment approaches within the public and commercial markets.
* * * Final Recommendations Report * * *
- Colorado Alternative Payment Model (APM) Alignment Final Report
- Attachment A - Primary Care Quality Measures Inventory
- Attachment B - Primary Care Quality Measures Technical Specifications
- Attachment C - Maternity Care Quality Measures Inventory
- Attachment D - Maternity Care Quality Measures Technical Specifications
APM Alignment Advisory Group
APM Alignment Advisory Group
The APM Alignment Advisory Group informed Colorado’s efforts to align APMs for primary care and maternity care within Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program, administered by HCPF); individual, small group, and large group plans regulated by the DOI; ERISA plans administered by commercial carriers; and the Colorado state employee self-funded health plan (administered by DPA). The APM Alignment Advisory Group met approximately every two months, starting on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. All meetings were virtual and open to the public, with dedicated time for public comments.
Please contact Tara Smith (tara.smith@state.co.us) to request copies of APM Alignment Advisory Group meeting materials.
Primary Care Sub-Group
Primary Care Sub-Group
The Primary Care Sub-Group helped improve the value of primary care in Colorado by making consensus-based recommendations to the state on an APM for primary care. The Primary Care Sub-Group met approximately every month, starting on Monday, August 30, 2021. All meetings were virtual and open to the public, with dedicated time for public comments.
Please contact Tara Smith (tara.smith@state.co.us) to request copies of Primary Care Sub-Group meeting materials.
Maternity Care Sub-Group
Maternity Care Sub-Group Meetings
The Maternity Care Sub-Group helped improve the value of maternal and infant health in Colorado by making consensus-based recommendations to the state on an APM for maternal and infant health. The Maternity Care Sub-Group will met approximately every month, starting on Thursday, September 2, 2021. All meetings were virtual and open to the public, with dedicated time for public comments.
Please contact Tara Smith (tara.smith@state.co.us) to request copies of Maternity Care Sub-Group meeting materials.
- Report of Colorado Primary Care Spending and Alternative Payment Model Use, 2017-2019 - CIVHC, November 2020
- Effects of Health Care Payment Models on Physician Practice in the United States: Follow-Up Study - RAND Corporation, 2018
- Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) Final Report - Colorado SIM Office, July 31, 2019 (revised 9/4/19)
- Colorado State Innovation Model Evaluation, Process Evaluation Report - TriWest, July 31, 2019 (revised 10/9/19)
- Colorado State Innovation Model Evaluation, Outcomes Evaluation Report - TriWest, July 31, 2019 (revised 10/9/19)
For information about the Colorado APM Alignment Initiative, and/or the Advisory Group or Sub-Groups for Primary Care and Maternity Care, please contact Tara Smith, Primary Care and Affordability Director, at tara.smith@state.co.us; cell: 720-701-0081.