C.R.S. Section 25.5-5-335
Continuous medical coverage for children and adults feasibility study

  • federal authorization
  • rules
  • report
  • definition

(1)

The state department shall study the feasibility of extending continuous medical coverage for additional children and adults and how to better meet the health-related social needs of medical assistance program recipients.

(2)

At a minimum, the feasibility study must consider the costs; implementation factors, including county workload, training, and administrative burdens on the counties, information technology systems, upgrades, and associated costs; potential health benefits for individuals and communities, including disadvantaged and marginalized groups; impacts of increased use of preventive and high-value health services; administrative savings, including, but not limited to, reducing or eliminating eligibility processing for populations during the continuous eligibility period; reductions in administrative turnover and coverage loss; and, to the extent practicable, social and economic impacts with respect to the following:

(a)

Allowing an eligible child, as defined in this article 5 and articles 2, 3, 6, and 8 of this title 25.5, including children eligible under sections 25.5-2-104 and 25.5-2-105, to remain continuously eligible for medical assistance and the children’s basic health plan for twenty-four months after the last day of the month in which the child was enrolled;

(b)

Allowing an eligible child, as defined in this article 5 and articles 2, 3, 6, and 8 of this title 25.5, including children eligible under sections 25.5-2-104 and 25.5-2-105 who are less than six years of age, to remain continuously eligible for medical assistance or the children’s basic health plan without regard to a change in household income until the child reaches six years of age;

(c)

Allowing an eligible adult to remain continuously eligible for medical assistance without regard to income for twelve months and twenty-four months after the last day of the month in which the adult was enrolled. For purposes of this subsection (2)(c), an “eligible adult” includes a person eighteen years of age or older who:

(I)

Has an income under thirty-three percent of the federal poverty line;

(II)

Is experiencing homelessness; or

(III)

Has been in community corrections, is on parole, or has been released from another carceral setting, including jail or federal prison. For purposes of this subsection (2)(c)(III), continuous eligibility starts on the individual’s medicaid approval date.

(d)

Allowing an adult who is eligible for medical assistance at the time of enrollment to remain continuously eligible for medical assistance without regard to income for twelve months after the last day of the month in which the adult was enrolled.

(3)

In addition to the study topics detailed in subsection (2) of this section, the feasibility study must study how to best meet the health-related social needs of medical assistance program recipients who are historically disadvantaged and underserved and must give consideration to concerns related to housing and food security.

(4)

In conducting the feasibility study pursuant to this section, the state department shall take into consideration the efforts of other states to improve the health-related social needs of medical assistance program recipients, including, but not limited to, housing and nutritional needs, initiatives to pay for rental housing assistance for up to six months, the needs of perinatal recipients, youth in or transitioning out of foster care, former foster care youth, people with substance use disorders, high-risk infants and children, and the needs of low-income individuals impacted by natural disasters, and the state department shall seek input from relevant stakeholders. In conducting the stakeholder process, the state department shall:

(a)

Engage directly with:

(I)

Impacted individuals who are enrolled in medical assistance or the children’s basic health plan and whose coverage, or whose children’s coverage, would be extended if legislation were passed to extend continuous medical coverage for individuals pursuant to subsections (2)(a) to (2)(d) of this section;

(II)

Service providers, particularly those whose patients are predominantly medical assistance program recipients or are uninsured;

(III)

Advocacy organizations;

(IV)

Counties;

(V)

Organizations that assist with enrollment into the medical assistance programs and the Colorado health exchange; and

(VI)

Individuals working in or representing communities that are diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or geographic region of the state and are affected by higher rates of health disparities and inequities;

(b)

Publicly conduct stakeholder meetings, report on the outcomes of the meetings, and publicize the reports in English as well as two other commonly spoken languages in Colorado;

(c)

Include opportunities for participation in the stakeholder process outside of regular work hours; and

(d)

Hold at least three stakeholder meetings.

(5)

On or before January 1, 2026, the state department shall submit a report detailing the findings and recommendations from the feasibility study to the joint budget committee of the senate and the house of representatives, or its successor committee, the governor, and to the house of representatives public and behavioral health and human services committee and the senate health and human services committee, or any successor committees. The state department shall also make the report available to the public on the state department’s website.

(6)

Nothing in this section prohibits or limits the state department’s ability to amend any approved federal authorization or to seek other federal permissions necessary to expand continuous eligibility coverage to additional populations prior to the completion of the feasibility study described in this section.

(7)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

No later than April 1, 2024, the state department shall seek federal authorization from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services to provide continuous medical coverage for eligible children and eligible adults described in subsections (7)(b) and (7)(c) of this section, and to continue enrollment for individuals with no income, as described in subsection (7)(d) of this section.

(b)

For purposes of seeking federal authorization pursuant to subsection (7)(a) of this section, an eligible child is as defined in this article 5 and articles 2, 3, 6, and 8 of this title 25.5, including a child eligible pursuant to sections 25.5-2-104 and 25.5-2-105, and must be under three years of age. An eligible child shall remain continuously eligible without regard to household income until the eligible child reaches three years of age; except that a child is no longer eligible and must be disenrolled from a medical assistance program if the state department becomes aware that the child has moved out of the state, the state department or county possesses facts indicating that the family has requested the child’s voluntary disenrollment, the state department determines eligibility was erroneously granted, or the child is deceased.

(c)

For purposes of seeking federal authorization pursuant to subsection (7)(a) of this section, an eligible adult is limited to an adult who has been released from a Colorado department of corrections facility after serving a sentence. An eligible adult shall remain continuously eligible for medical assistance without regard to income for a period of twelve months beginning on the date of the eligible adult’s release; except that an adult is no longer eligible and must be disenrolled from the medical assistance program if the state department becomes aware that the adult has moved out of the state, the state department or county possesses facts indicating that the adult has requested voluntary disenrollment, the state department determines eligibility was erroneously granted, or the adult is deceased.

(d)

To facilitate the renewal process for the medical assistance program for individuals with no income, including those who are experiencing homelessness, the state department shall seek federal authorization, to the extent allowable by the centers for medicare and medicaid services, to complete the income determination for ex parte renewals without requesting additional income information or documentation, if:

(I)

An attestation of zero-dollar income was verified within the last twelve months at the initial application or the previous renewal; and

(II)

The state department has checked financial data sources in accordance with its eligibility verification plan as required by the centers for medicare and medicaid services and no information is received.

(e)

Upon approval of the federal authorization sought pursuant to this subsection (7), the state department shall implement the continuous eligibility coverage requirements pursuant to this subsection (7) by January 1, 2026. In implementing the continuous eligibility requirement of this section, the state department shall take all necessary steps to relieve the obligation of the state department and counties to promptly evaluate information that does not affect eligibility for continuous coverage cases under this section, unless required for program administration or as approved by the federal authorization.

(f)

The continuous eligibility sought pursuant to this subsection (7) is dependent on the receipt of federal financial participation, to the maximum extent allowed under federal law, through federal authorization, state plan amendment, or otherwise, by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services.

(g)

The state board may promulgate rules as necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

Source: Section 25.5-5-335 — Continuous medical coverage for children and adults feasibility study - federal authorization - rules - report - definition, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-25.­5.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

25.5‑5‑101
Mandatory provisions - eligible groups - rules - repeal
25.5‑5‑102
Basic services for the categorically needy - mandated services
25.5‑5‑103
Mandated programs with special state provisions - rules
25.5‑5‑104
Qualified medicare beneficiaries
25.5‑5‑105
Qualified disabled and working individuals
25.5‑5‑201
Optional provisions - optional groups - rules - repeal
25.5‑5‑202
Basic services for the categorically needy - optional services
25.5‑5‑203
Optional programs with special state provisions - repeal
25.5‑5‑204
Presumptive eligibility - pregnant person - children - long-term care - state plan
25.5‑5‑204.5
Continuous eligibility - children
25.5‑5‑206
Medicaid buy-in program - disabled children - disabled adults - federal authorization - rules
25.5‑5‑207
Adult dental benefit - adult dental fund - creation - legislative declaration
25.5‑5‑208
Additional services - training - grants - screening, brief intervention, and referral
25.5‑5‑301
Clinic services
25.5‑5‑302
Clinic services - children and pregnant women - utilization of certain providers
25.5‑5‑303
Private-duty nursing
25.5‑5‑304
Hospice care
25.5‑5‑305
Pediatric hospice care - legislative declaration - federal authorization - rules - fund
25.5‑5‑307
Child mental health treatment and family support program
25.5‑5‑308
Breast and cervical cancer prevention and treatment program - creation - legislative declaration - definitions - funds - repeal
25.5‑5‑309
Pregnant women - needs assessment - referral to treatment program - definition
25.5‑5‑310
Treatment program for high-risk pregnant and parenting women - cooperation with private entities - definition
25.5‑5‑311
Treatment program for high-risk pregnant and parenting women - data collection
25.5‑5‑312
Treatment program for high-risk pregnant and parenting women - extended coverage - federal approval
25.5‑5‑314
Substance use disorder treatment for Native Americans - federal approval
25.5‑5‑315
Acceptance of gifts, grants, and donations - Native American substance abuse treatment cash fund
25.5‑5‑316
Legislative declaration - state department - disease management programs authorization - report
25.5‑5‑318
Health services - provision by school districts - repeal
25.5‑5‑319
Family planning pilot program - rules - federal waiver - repeal
25.5‑5‑320
Telemedicine - reimbursement - disclosure statement - rules - definition
25.5‑5‑321
Telemedicine - home health care - home health telemedicine cash fund - rules - repeal
25.5‑5‑321.5
Telehealth - interim therapeutic restorations - reimbursement - definitions
25.5‑5‑322
Over-the-counter medications - rules
25.5‑5‑323
Complex rehabilitation technology - no prior authorization - metrics - report - rules - legislative declaration - definitions
25.5‑5‑324
Nonemergency medical transportation - urgent and secure transportation need - report - repeal
25.5‑5‑325
Residential and inpatient substance use disorder treatment - medical detoxification services - federal approval - performance review report
25.5‑5‑326
Access to clinical trials - definitions
25.5‑5‑327
Eligible peer support services - reimbursement - definitions
25.5‑5‑328
Secure transportation for behavioral health crises - benefit - funding
25.5‑5‑329
Family planning services - federal authorization - rules - definitions
25.5‑5‑330
Screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder
25.5‑5‑331
Federally qualified health center - clinical pharmacy services - reimbursement - rules
25.5‑5‑332
Therapy using equine movement - federal authorization - definition
25.5‑5‑333
Primary care and behavioral health statewide integration grant program - creation - report - definition - repeal
25.5‑5‑334
Community health worker services - federal authorization - reporting - rules - definition
25.5‑5‑335
Continuous medical coverage for children and adults feasibility study - federal authorization - rules - report - definition
25.5‑5‑336
Prohibition on using the body mass index or ideal body weight - medical necessity criteria
25.5‑5‑401
Short title
25.5‑5‑402
Statewide managed care system - rules - definitions - repeal
25.5‑5‑403
Definitions
25.5‑5‑406.1
Required features of statewide managed care system
25.5‑5‑408
Capitation payments - availability of base data - adjustments - rate calculation - capitation payment proposal - preference - assignment of medicaid recipients - definition
25.5‑5‑410
Data collection for managed care programs
25.5‑5‑412
Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly - services - eligibility - legislative declaration - rules - definitions
25.5‑5‑414
Telemedicine - legislative intent
25.5‑5‑415
Medicaid payment reform and innovation pilot program - legislative declaration - creation - selection of payment projects - report - rules
25.5‑5‑418
Primary care provider sustainability fund - creation - use of fund
25.5‑5‑419
Accountable care collaborative - reporting - rules
25.5‑5‑420
Advancing care for exceptional kids
25.5‑5‑421
Parity reporting - state department - public input
25.5‑5‑422
Medication-assisted treatment - limitations on MCEs - definition
25.5‑5‑423
Independent review organization - review denial of residential and inpatient substance use disorder treatment claims - contract
25.5‑5‑424
Residential and inpatient substance use disorder treatment - MCE standardized utilization management process - medical necessity - report
25.5‑5‑425
Audit of MCE denials for residential and inpatient substance use disorder treatment authorization - report
25.5‑5‑500.3
Authorization to bill third party
25.5‑5‑501
Providers - drug reimbursement
25.5‑5‑502
Unused medications - reuse - rules - definition
25.5‑5‑503
Prescription drug benefits - authorization - dual-eligible participation
25.5‑5‑504
Providers of pharmaceutical services
25.5‑5‑505
Prescribed drugs - mail order - rules
25.5‑5‑506
Prescribed drugs - utilization review
25.5‑5‑507
Prescription drug information and technical assistance program - rules
25.5‑5‑509
Substance use disorder - prescription drugs - opiate antagonist
25.5‑5‑510
Pharmacy reimbursement - substance use disorder - injections
25.5‑5‑511
Reimbursement for pharmacists’ services - legislative declaration
25.5‑5‑512
Pharmacy benefit - mental health and substance use disorders - legislative declaration
25.5‑5‑513
Pharmacy benefits - prescription drugs - rebates - analysis
25.5‑5‑514
Prescription drugs used for treatment or prevention of HIV - prohibition on utilization management - definition
25.5‑5‑515
Pharmacy reimbursement - vaccine administration to children - legislative declaration
25.5‑5‑516
Serious mental illness - prescribed drugs
25.5‑5‑801
Legislative declaration
25.5‑5‑802
Definitions
25.5‑5‑803
High-fidelity wraparound services for children and youth - federal approval - reporting
25.5‑5‑804
Integrated funding pilot
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 25.5-5-335’s source at colorado​.gov