J_HCE_2016A 04/13/2016 07:21:10 AM Committee Summary

07:22 AM -- Call to Order and Opening Remarks



Representative Primavera called the meeting to order.



07:22 AM -- Update on 2015-16 Open Enrollment



Sharon O'Hara, Immediate Past Chair, Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors, made opening remarks and introduced Adela Flores-Brennan, Chair, Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors.



07:24 AM



Kevin Patterson, Chief Executive Officer, Connect for Health Colorado, distributed 2015-2016 Open Enrollment Report By the Numbers to the committee (Attachment A). He told the committee that the exchange enrolled 169,000 individuals into health insurance programs during the 2015-2016 open enrollment period. He discussed the improvement of the call center wait times and calls from the previous open enrollments. Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the number of individuals who are eligible for the tax subsidy. He told the committee that 40 percent of individuals who contacted the exchange during the 2015-2016 open enrollment period were Medicaid eligible compared to 60 percent of individuals in previous years. Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the improvement in real time eligibility determinations and the number of small businesses that obtain coverage for employees through the exchange.



160413 AttachA.pdf



07:35 AM



Mr. Patterson referred to page 7 of the handout and discussed the efforts of Connect for Health Colorado in regard to consumer outreach. He responded to questions about outreach to counties that have large numbers of children who do not have health insurance coverage.





07:39 AM



Steve ErkenBrack, Vice-Chair of Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors, responded to questions about the inadequate options for health insurance coverage in rural areas. Mr. Patterson answered questions about the use of digital media to reach new customers. Committee discussion followed about the mission of the organizations that are part of the exchange's assistance network. Mr. Patterson explained that many of these assistance sites receive grant funding to help offset the cost of providing assistance.



07:48 AM



Mr. Patterson directed the committee's attention to the Appendix on page 10 of the handout. Mr. ErkenBrack responded to questions about the various factors behind the difference in the number of individuals enrolled by age.



Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the number of returning customers choosing a different health insurance company. He explained that 40 percent of the exchange customers were enrolled in a Colorado HealthOp plan in 2015. He stated that 52 percent of Colorado HealthOp customers reenrolled in insurance through the exchange. Mr. Patterson discussed the exchange's efforts in providing better outreach to consumers by helping consumers identify insurance plans that have drug formularies and provider networks that suit the consumers needs.



08:02 AM



Mr. Patterson discussed future budgeting plans, the enrollment of former Colorado HealthOp customers, enrollments by regions, grants for assistance sites, and the high number of individuals that enroll in bronze plans.



08:09 AM -- Update on Strategic Plan and Budgeting Process



Mr. Patterson provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B). He discussed the planning process timeline as shown on page one of the handout and discussed the board retreat that was held during a regular board meeting. He discussed Option 1, Staying the Course, as detailed on page 3 of the handout (Attachment B). He explained that under this option the exchange's financial resources will be depleted by April 2018.



160413 AttachB.pdf



08:20 AM



Mr. Petterson discussed Option 2, Streamlined State Based Marketplace, as detailed on page 4 of the handout (Attachment B). This option continues the full Connect for Health Colorado operations with expenditure reductions to stabilize the budget under current revenue projections. Committee discussion about enrollment assumptions followed.





08:23 AM



Mr. Patterson discussed Option 3, State Based Marketplace with Medicaid Eligibility Platform, as detailed on page 5 of the handout (Attachment B). Under this option the exchange will rely on the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) for eligibility services and will retain control over enrollment and other functions. Discussion about grants for assistance sites and the cost to HCPF of Option 3 followed.





08:31 AM



Mr. Patterson discussed Option 4, State Based Marketplace with Federal Eligibility and Enrollment Platform, as detailed on page 6 of the handout (Attachment B). Under this option, the federally facilitated marketplace provides eligibility and enrollment services for the state exchange while the state maintains eligibility and enrollment for Medicaid and certain other responsibilities.





08:35 AM



Mr. Paterson discussed Option 5, Full Service Federally Facilitated Marketplace, as detailed on page 7 of the handout (Attachment C). Under this option, the federally facilitated marketplace provides all exchange services and the state maintains an eligibility and enrollment system for Medicaid.





08:37 AM



Committee questions and discussion followed about the timeline to make a decision about which option to implement. Mr. Patterson stated that there was currently no timeline to make a final decision, but the exchange is working toward Option 2 by reducing overall cost. Discussion about implementing the provisions of House Bill 16-1148 followed. The committee discussed Option 3 and privatizing the exchange.



08:47 AM



The committee briefly discussed the implications on the exchange if the voters pass Amendment 69 - State Health Care System in November. Referencing page 8 of the handout (Attachment B), the committee discussed the different organizational models of state marketplaces.









08:52 AM -- Discussion of Future Committee Meetings



Representative Primavera told the committee that a June meeting will be scheduled to review Connect for Health Colorado's Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget.





08:55 AM



The meeting adjourned.