Medicaid State Services

Contact:
For more info or questions, visit the Medicaid website:
Health First Colorado

or

Colorado Dept of Healthcare Policy and Financing

Access to Care

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide critical health coverage for millions of people. Through these programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports access to care in many ways. Most importantly, people gain access to health care services that may not be affordable without Medicaid or CHIP. Additionally, some programs and benefits include special protections—such as provider network and payment methods—that help ensure services are accessible.

Preventive care and other services help people stay healthy and avoid more costly care. CMS offers materials, toolkits, and other resources for states to help Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries learn about these services and how to access them. CMS also supports many efforts to measure access, share the results, and promote progress.

  • Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.

  • The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health coverage to eligible children, through both Medicaid and separate CHIP programs. CHIP is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.

MEDICAID: Do I qualify?
You may qualify for Health First Colorado if you meet the income guidelines. Approximate Monthly Income to Qualify for Health First Colorado:

You still may qualify if you make more. Apply for more details.

Health First Colorado & Regional Accountable Entity

Medicaid in Colorado is known as Health First Colorado. The name and logo represent Colorado’s member-focused approach to public health care coverage. Member eligibility, benefits, and choice of providers remain the same. The new name and logo better represent Colorado’s member-focused approach to public health care coverage.

Every member of Health First Colorado has a primary care provider and belongs to a regional organization that helps connect you with the health care you need. Your primary care provider is your first contact for your health and wellness services.  Health First Colorado will assign you to a primary care provider. You and your primary care provider belong to a regional organization that helps you make sure you get the health care and services you need.

For mental/behavioral health services, clients can reach out to Whole Connection directly and do not need a referral from a primary care provider. Get Started with Whole Connection Counseling.

How do I Contact my RAE?

Find your County and click for the regional entity and contact info:

  • Region 1
    Rocky Mountain Health Plans

    1-888-282-8801
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Email: customer_service@rmhp.org

    Live chat at: rmhp.org

  • Region 1
    Rocky Mountain Health Plans Prime

    1-888-282-8801
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    RMHP Prime

  • Region 2
    Northeast Health Partners

    1-888-502-4189

    Care Coordination Line:
    1-888-502-4190
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    northeasthealthpartners.org/

  • Region 3
    Colorado Access

    303-368-0037 or 1-855-267-2095 (toll free)
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    coaccess.com

  • (Region 4)
    Health Colorado, Inc

    1-888-502-4185

    Care Coordination Line: 1-888-502-4186
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    healthcoloradorae.com

  • (Region 5)
    Colorado Access

    303-368-0038 (Denver County) or 1-855-384-7926 (toll free) (Denver County)

    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    coaccess.com

    (Region 5 cont.)
    Denver Health Medicaid Choice

    303-602-2116 or 1-855-281-2418

    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Denver Health Medicaid Choice

  • (Region 6)
    Colorado Community Alliance

    303-256-1717 or 1-855-627-4685 (toll free)

    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    cchacares.com

  • (Region 7)
    Colorado Community Health Alliance

    719-598-1540 or 1-855-627-4685 (toll free)
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    cchacares.com

FAQ’s

  • You may qualify for Health First Colorado if you meet the income guidelines. See the guide at the beginning of this page for Approximate Monthly Income to Qualify for Health First Colorado.

  • The Colorado Program Eligibility and Application Kit (PEAK) has everything you need to learn about public assistance programs, complete an application, and manage your benefits online.

  • When you are approved for benefits, you are only approved to receive those benefits for a certain period of time. Prior to the end of your benefits, you will be asked to complete a redetermination. This is also called a renewal. You are asked to do this because we need to see if you and your household members still qualify for benefits. You will receive an official communication when you have a redetermination due.

    As part of a redetermination, you will need to review the current information we have about you and your household members. Then, report any changes or corrections to your information by the due date communicated to you. The process will vary slightly based on which benefits you are receiving. Please refer to your official redetermination notice to understand the steps required of you.

    You can login into your PEAK account, review your original PEAK correspondence, or contact your Regional Accountable Entity (RAE) office.

  • While you may need a referral to see a specialist, like a surgeon, Medicaid covers dental, primary, and mental/behavioral health services without requiring a referral.

  • Under Medicaid, recipients are entitled to unlimited sessions so long as the provider documents that progress is being made in regards to a client’s mental/behavioral health goals.

  • If you don’t have a way to get to and from your covered health care services and appointments, you may be able to get a free ride. This service, called Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT), is not for emergencies. Each Colorado Regional Accountable Entity (RAE) contracts with a transportation provider.

    If you need a ride and live in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, or Weld County:

    Call IntelliRide at 855-489-4999 (toll free) (State Relay 711). Or go to Gointelliride.com/Colorado.

    NEMT also covers personal vehicle mileage reimbursement, air, train or out-of-state travel. Visit Gointelliride.com/Colorado for more information.

  • Medicaid is accepted by a wide variety of providers, you can search for providers that accept Medicaid by visiting healthfirstcolorado.com/find-doctors/ and filter by location, provider type, specialty, and Medicaid plan.

  • Here at Whole Connection we give attention to the many different cultures and identities that we and our clients are bringing into our sessions. We believe in the practice of broaching identity with all of our clients. This practice brings both the visible and invisible into the relationship as an agent for healing and change.

    Our team actively works to explore how both our privileged and marginalized identities may be impacting our work and our clients. Read more about Whole Connection HERE.

    We offer services in English, Spanish, Farsi, & Catalan and have a diverse pool of clinicians regarding identities, education, and other social locations. You can search our providers HERE.

    Any additional questions about us? You can find our contact information HERE.

  • The Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) Preferred Drug List includes clinically effective medications that you can get without needing prior authorization or approval. This list is updated regularly. You may still be able to get drugs not on the Preferred Drug List. To get drugs that are not preferred on the Preferred Drug List, your medical doctor or psychiatric provider will need to get prior authorization from Health First Colorado.

    If you are already taking a drug not on the Preferred Drug List or your drugs gets removed from the Preferred Drug List, you may be able to keep taking the same drug. Talk to your medical doctor or psychiatric provider about staying on your same drug.

  • We care most about making sure that you don't lose access to mental health care. If you lose Medicaid, we will sit down with you and talk about best options, whether staying with us, sliding fees, working with another insurance, or even pro bono for a short period of time.