Prime Health is launching the Medicaid Participatory Action Incubator (M-PAI). Medicaid PAI is an innovative, multi-phase initiative designed to

The first phase of this work is workshops to convene those who will need to validate data provided by Medicaid Members, such as businesses, volunteer organizations, and job training partners, to collaboratively identify the systems, workflows, and data practices needed to implement federal Medicaid work requirements in ways that reduce administrative burden and protect continuity of coverage for the people they serve.

Upcoming Workshop Details:
Wednesday May 6, 2026; 10am-12pm
Virtual – Zoom sent after registration
Request to Register Here

These 2-hour workshops will specifically focus on the systems and technology needed to do this as efficiently and effectively as possible while ensuring people maintain access. They are a chance to share what is already working (or not working) to track members, and talk honestly about where tracking activities create challenges. These conversations are a chance to share what you already do, and talk honestly about what is realistic for your organization and the people you serve.

Prime Health will host an event for each of the following organization types: 

• Medicaid users
• Counties
• Regional Accountable Entities
• Providers and FQHCs
• Enrollment Specialists
• Validators (volunteer organizations, employers, job training organizations, and education institutions)
• Communicators and advocates
  

We are specifically targeting people who engage with members, participants, volunteers, and/or contractors/employees as well as those who know and understand the technology, data, and systems used to track engagement.

What we’ll talk about:

• Current tracking and reporting practices
• Where new requirements could create problems
• What support or systems would be ideal and what is workable
• How to avoid unintentionally creating barriers for Medicaid members+

Your input will help shape solutions that are practical and aligned with how community organizations actually operate.

Webinar: Tax Credits for Care Workers – What Community Health Workers Need to Know

Presented first in English from 12-12:30 and Spanish from 12:30-1 pm. Spanish Flier: Tax credit Webinar 2026 Español

Colorado has several tax credits that can put money back in people’s pockets, including Colorado’s new Care Worker Tax Credit, which can provide up to $1,200 for eligible care workers, including many child care providers and direct care workers. This new refundable credit recognizes the important role care workers play in supporting children, older adults, and people with disabilities.

Community Health Workers and Patient Navigators can support both family financial well-being and their own by helping more people learn about available tax credits. Join this free webinar to learn how to quickly and simply refer families and care workers to trusted tax information and free, secure tax filing help, as well as common concerns people may have about engaging with the tax system.

After attending the session, participants will be able to:

• Describe how tax credits, including the Care Worker Tax Credit, support financial well-being and improved health outcomes.
• Identify whether they or the people they serve may qualify for these credits.
• Understand how to claim the Care Worker Tax Credit.
• Refer families and care workers to tax credits and free and secure tax filing information simply and quickly.
• Anticipate common concerns people may have in engaging with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax filing systems.
  
  Presented in partnership with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Children, Youth and Families Branch.

Featured resource: Free Tax Assistance

​VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) provide free, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of Federal and State income taxes, for taxpayers who qualify. This service is available for basic returns with income up to about $69,000. All VITA/TCE sites can prepare basic tax returns. The website has a search tool with locations around the state.

Colorado Cancer Screening Program Virtual Convening
🗓️ April 1, 11 am-1:45 pm
Register

Join CCSP and partners for a celebration of colorectal cancer screening strategies being implemented by clinic systems around the state, as well as a discussion of hot topics in cancer screening and early detection. 2026 marks the 20-year anniversary of CCSP, and we are excited to celebrate continued progress in innovative strategies and updates in the state of the science to improve cancer prevention and early detection.

More Upcoming Webinars

• Provider and Patient Perspectives of Colorectal Cancer Screening, Early Detection, and Treatment
  March 13, 12-1 pm MT
  Register
• 2026 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Webcast
  March 18, 12-1 pm MT
  Register
• Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening and Support in Agricultural Worker Communities
  Dates in March-April 2026
  Register

Clinic Success Highlight

Sunrise Community Health, a longtime Colorado Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) partner, continues to show exceptional commitment to colorectal cancer prevention. By implementing evidence‑based interventions, they increased their colorectal cancer screening rate from 36.1% in August 2025 to 40.1% by early 2026—a meaningful improvement driven by strong provider engagement and data‑guided planning.

Since 2024, Sunrise has implemented client reminders, provider reminders, and provider assessment and feedback through strategies such as:

• Text message campaigns promoting colorectal cancer awareness.
• Targeted outreach to patients due for screening or with pending Cologuard orders.
• Multilingual Cologuard education provided at the time of order..
• Encouraging timely completion and return of Cologuard kits.
• Enhanced pre‑visit planning to identify screening gaps and alert providers.
• Monthly reporting of Cologuard return rates to care teams.

These efforts have boosted overall screening rates and achieved a system‑wide Cologuard return rate above 50%. Sunrise’s commitment to continuous quality improvement, provider engagement, patient education, and data‑driven action makes them a standout partner in advancing colorectal cancer prevention.

Resources

• Fight CRC March Awareness Toolkit
• Colorado Cancer Screening Program CRC Screening Resources
• CRC Screening Educational Video Modules

Source: Colorado Cancer Screening Program

Register for ¡Grita Tu Identidad!

This conference is designed for a diverse and dynamic audience, including:

• Immigrant women.

• Community and faith leaders.

• Mental health advocates and educators.

• Local organizations supporting women and families.

• Professionals and students seeking leadership growth.

• Immigrant women with disabilities or caregivers of individuals with disabilities.

• Women in the agricultural field.

• Recently immigrated young Latinas.

• Monolingual Spanish-speaking refugee women.

Basic Motivational Interviewing Online: Sept 16-Oct. 7

Care Coordination In-Person (Denver, CO): Oct. 7 and 8

Level 1: Health Navigation Fundamentals Online: Oct. 15-Dec. 10

Level 2: Care Coordination Online: Nov. 6-Dec. 11 (updated dates)

Community Health Worker Fundamentals Online: (Oct. 21-Dec. 16)

Don’t see the course you need? Email us at admin@patientnavigatortraining.org to let us know!

Burnout is common, especially for those who strive to help others every day. In times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to prioritize caring for yourself. In this 90-minute virtual workshop, you will learn strategies to embrace resilience, well-being and self-care.

By attending this session, you will:

• Become familiar with the building blocks and other essential elements of well-being.
• Explore the importance of resilience and the role it plays in our lives.
• Learn to recognize burnout-prone traits.
• Embrace being intentional about self-care.
• Discover ways to boost your well-being.

Living Well on Purpose, June 5
🗓️June 5
🕙12-1:30 pm MT
Register for June 5 session

Living Well on Purpose, June 17
*Spanish Interpretation Provided at this Session*
🗓️June 17
🕙1-2:30 pm MT
Register for June 17 session

 
Vivir bien con propósito: Estrategias para el autocuidado

El agotamiento es común, especialmente para quienes se esfuerzan por ayudar a los demás a diario. En tiempos de incertidumbre, es más importante que nunca priorizar nuestro bienestar. En este taller virtual interactivo, aprenderá estrategias para fomentar la resiliencia, el bienestar y el autocuidado. Se ofrece interpretación en español.

Durante esta sesión, aprenderás a:

• Familiarizarte con los pilares y otros elementos esenciales del bienestar.
• Explorar la importancia de la resiliencia y su papel en nuestras vidas.
• Aprender a reconocer los rasgos que predisponen al agotamiento.
• Abordar el autocuidado de forma consciente.
• Descubrir maneras de mejorar tu bienestar.

These sessions are offered at no cost due to support from the Colorado Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) and the Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program (CPED).

When: May 13, 10-11 am MT
Register

Participants will:

• Gain a clear understanding of federal and state Medicaid policies impacting immigrants.
• Separate fact from fiction regarding eligibility and access.
• Learn how to navigate public charge concerns with patients.

Sponsored by Colorado Community Health Alliance.

Telehealth Services in Rural Public Libraries. Welcome to the Wacky World of Libraries
When: 11:30-12:30 pm MT March 13
Register Here

A lack of access to healthcare professionals is a key contributing factor to poor health outcomes in the United States. Telehealth services can potentially improve those outcomes by removing geographic barriers and providing timely care with healthcare providers and specialists. However, gaps in accessing telehealth exist in rural areas: citizens may lack internet access, a private space, or the digital literacy skills necessary to benefit from telehealth.

Public libraries increasingly recognize the importance of facilitating access to telehealth services in their communities. These services can vary widely based on the resources and needs of the library and the community. This webinar will highlight a project in Colorado to fund the development of telehealth services in rural library sites across the state. You will learn more about the project, how participating sites are developing their telehealth services, and resources for networking and training. The project is a partnership between the Colorado State Library and the Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation.

About our speaker: Kieran Hixon, BA
Rural and Small Library Senior Consultant, Colorado State Library

Kieran Hixon is nationally regarded as a rural library expert with broad and varied experience working in small & rural public libraries. Kieran currently serves as the Colorado State Library’s Rural and Small Library Senior Consultant. Based in Wetmore, Colorado, Kieran is former President and long-standing Board Member of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and is a member of the Collaborative Institute for Rural Communities & Librarianship think tank. He is also the co-creator of the Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute. Kieran is an engaging public speaker with a passion for helping individuals strengthen what they do to meet the needs of their communities. Besides a long career in public libraries, Kieran built his own house, walked across the country, worked with the elderly and dying, and learned blacksmithing.

When families have the resources they need, parents and children thrive. Colorado’s new Family Affordability Tax Credit will deliver up to $3,200 per child to eligible low-income families in 2025. Community Health Workers and Patient Navigations can support family financial well-being and improved health outcomes by helping more families know about tax credits and where to find free and secure tax help. Join this session to learn how to quickly and simply refer families to tax information, as well as common concerns families have about engaging with the tax system.

Spanish interpretation provided.

After attending the session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the impact of tax credits and Colorado’s Family Affordability Tax Credit on financial well-being and mental and physical health.
• Refer families to tax credits and free and secure tax filing information simply and quickly.
• Anticipate common concerns families may have in engaging with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Seminario web: Crédito fiscal para la asequibilidad familiar: lo que los trabajadores de salud comunitarios deben saber

Cuando las familias tienen los recursos que necesitan, los padres y los niños prosperan. El nuevo crédito fiscal para la asequibilidad familiar de Colorado entregará hasta $3200 por niño a familias de bajos ingresos elegibles en el año 2025. Los trabajadores de salud comunitarios y los servicios de Navegadores de pacientes pueden respaldar el bienestar financiero familiar y mejorar los resultados de salud al ayudar a más familias a conocer los créditos fiscales y dónde encontrar ayuda fiscal gratuita y segura. Únase a esta sesión para aprender cómo derivar de manera rápida y sencilla a las familias para adquirir mas información fiscal, así como las inquietudes comunes que tienen las familias sobre la interacción con el sistema de impuestos.

Se proporciona interpretación al español.

Después de asistir a la sesión, los participantes podrán:

• Describir el impacto de los créditos fiscales y el Crédito fiscal para la asequibilidad familiar de Colorado en el bienestar financiero y la salud mental y física.
• Poder referir a las familias a los créditos fiscales y a la información de presentación de impuestos gratuita y segura de manera simple y rápida.
• Anticipar las inquietudes comunes que pueden tener las familias al interactuar con el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS).

Implementation of reimbursement mechanisms and sustainability support for the CHW/PN workforce in Colorado: Latest Perspectives and Technical Assistance

The Colorado Alliance for Community Health Workers (CHWs), Patient Navigators (PNs), and Promotores de Salud (PdS) is hosting a 4 part series during Fall 2024 dedicated to discussing the payment and sustainability strategies of community health work and patient navigation in Colorado. The Alliance and several partners have advocated for fair and equitable wages and workforce support for CHWs/PNs/PdS within the community and clinical settings, now questions remain regarding how to implement these available payment mechanisms to the fullest extent and also advocate for continued support?

This series will provide the latest information, guidance, and technical assistance for implementation in Colorado. Each session will feature perspective on the CHW/PN reimbursement mechanisms and workforce support from a key opinion leader, followed by time for discussion and providing input and feedback to help plan for future technical assistance sessions!

Session 1
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Principal Illness Navigation Codes and Community Health Integration Codes – How Do The New Codes Work? What to Know…What Are Your Questions?
September 30, 1-2:15 pm MT
Presenter: Katie Garfield, JD, Clinical Instructor; Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School
Register

________________________________________________________

Session 2
Colorado SB 23-002: Medicaid Reimbursement for Community Health Workers- What to know to prepare for reimbursement implementation in 2025
October 9, 11:30 am-12:45 pm MT
Presenter: Alaina Kelley, MPH, Community Health Worker and Prevention Services Policy & Benefit Specialist; Policy Office, Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing
Register

_______________________________________

Session 3
Community Health Worker and Patient Navigator Workforce and Training Development Opportunities: Impact and resources of the HRSA CHW training program and linkages between training and CHW reimbursement
October 23^rd | 12-1 PM MT
Hosted by Trailhead Institute, Patient Navigator and Community Health Worker Training Program, and The Alliance
Register

________________________________________

Session 4
Performance-Based and Quality-Based Payment Approaches to Support Sustainability of Patient Navigation and Community Health Work in Colorado: Examples in the field and your experience
November 6, 1-2:15 Pm MT
Presenters: Mary Kay Knode, Specialty Clinic Director; Melissa Memorial Hospital
Linda Overholser, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine; University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Register

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment would like to introduce a Community of Practice for Community Health Workers in Colorado. If you are a CHW, Health Navigator, Patient Navigator, Promotora de salud or similar role, you are invited to join a network of CHWs from all over the state, to share best practices and identify training opportunities that fit your needs. The Community of Practice will meet on a quarterly basis.
Next Meeting May 23, 12-1 pm
Register for CHW Community of Practice

May 8, 10-11:30 am: Complex Reflections
Reflections are a core Motivational Interviewing (MI) skill. Simple reflections are repeating back what the person said, while complex reflections take things a bit deeper. These reflections build on what you sense are the client’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Learn more about complex reflections with time for discussion and guided practice.
Prerequisite: Basic MI course/familiar with Basic MI skills (open ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summaries)
(Course complete)

May 22, 10-11:30 am: Rolling with Resistance and Discord
Resistance is likely to arise when a client is pushed too hard or too fast to change. Motivational Interviewing describes two types of resistance talk: sustain talk and discord. Learn more about how to put MI skills to use during challenging conversations.
Prerequisite: Basic MI course/familiar with Basic MI skills (open ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summaries)
Register

June 14, 10-11:30 am: Exploring Values
Values are our principles—like being there for family, or wanting to be healthy. You can help your clients think about the values that guide their lives. If this exploration is done in a respectful and genuine way, it can lead to the motivation the client needs to move forward in creating change. But how do you do this? In this workshop, you will examine your own values as well as learn techniques for using values in your discussions with clients.
Basic Motivational Interviewing knowledge helpful but not required.
Spanish interpretation provided for the June 14 session.
Register

These trainings are presented by the Patient Navigation and CHW Training Program in partnership with Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program (CPED) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Spring 2024 Dates

• May 17 (in-person)
• May 18 (virtually)
• June 4 (in-person)
• June 6 (virtually)
• June 11 (in-person)
• June 14 (virtually)

To register for the assessment, individuals must have completed verified coursework from a state-recognized training program (Otero College, Patient Navigation and Community Health Worker Training program, Metro State University at Denver or the CU Multidisciplinary Center on Aging). Please complete the Colorado Health Navigator Registry Application to verify training prior to registration for the assessment. After completed training is verified, you will receive a link to register for the assessment. Registration must be completed 30 days prior to the date of the assessment.

As a reminder, the required coursework to qualify for the assessment under under PNCT is:

• Level 1 Health Navigation Fundamentals
• Basic Motivational Interviewing (if Level 1 taken online)
• Level 2 Care Coordination

PNCT will schedule a free review session prior to these spring assessments – details to come.

This webinar will help explain the CY2024 CMS physician fee schedule (aka “CMS rule”) as it pertains to Principal Illness Navigation, Community Health Integration, and Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessment codes. We will discuss what we know, what we don’t know, and how to comment on real-world implementation of these new codes. We will also discuss training and resources to position cancer patient navigators for success and provide examples from two states and their CHW trainings and certification processes.

Date & Time:
The webinar will take place 1-2 pm MT/3 – 4 pm ET on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024.

Explore a diverse range of subjects in this extensive ‘Level 1’ training, covering the history and role of patient navigation, effective patient communication, health promotion, and professional conduct. Seize the chance to connect with fellow navigation professionals and broaden your network!

When 🗓️ 1/17/2024 – 3/13/2024
Join us for Live Learning Sessions 🕙 6 pm- 7 pm MT:

📆 January 17th – LLS 1 (Course Orientation)
📆 January 24th – LLS 2
📆 January 31st – LLS 3
📆 February 7th – LLS 4
📆 February 14th – No Class
📆 February 21st – LLS 5
📆 February 28th – LLS 6
📆 March 6th – LLS 7
📆 March 13th – LLS 8

Click Here to Register and Find out More

Discover Motivational Interviewing (MI): A patient-centered approach for fostering behavior change. Join our interactive online course to learn essential MI techniques—open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing. No prior MI experience needed!

When 🗓️ 1/16/2024 – 2/6/2024
Join us for Live Learning Sessions 🕙 10 am-11 am MT:

📅 January 16: LLS 1
📅 January 23: LLS 2
📅 January 30: LLS 3
📅 February 6: LLS 4

Click Here to Register and Find out More

These trainings will be offered at no cost thanks to funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Health Equity Branch. These workshops will be offered through summer of 2024, with the first one happening Dec. 5 in Denver. Locations outside the metro area will be announced as they are scheduled.

Motivational Interviewing Skills for Vaccine Hesitancy
Date/time: Dec 5, 2023, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Location: Daniels Fund, 101 Monroe Street, Denver, CO 80206

Click Here to Register and Find Out More

No prior MI knowledge is necessary. The training includes a free skills assessment and an opportunity to sign up for a one-on-one coaching session, delivered by an MI expert trainer.