Bill Summary for Bill Number HB10-1146

Date: 03/01/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1146

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachmen Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.003 (Attachmen Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.004 (Attachmen Moved to refer House Bill 10-1146, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

02:39 PM -- House Bill 10-1146

William Browning, Office of Information Technology, Governor's Office, described the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A). Mr. Browning explained the complexity of CBMS. He stated that there have been approximately 44 functional releases of the system. He explained why the changes to CBMS that House Bill 10-1146 requires will cost the state approximately $490,000. He explained that several different system components have to be developed and tested, some of which include changes to how caseworkers use the system. He explained that changes to the database, rule engines, decision tables, and batch correspondence also have to be modified. He explained that these necessary changes are billed by the hour. He stated that the development costs will be about $340,000 or 3,400 hours. He referred to his handout that provides a breakdown of costs.

02:51 PM

Mr. Browning responded to Representative Gagliardi's question regarding the Program Eligibility and Application Kit or PEAK program. Mr. Browning explained that the PEAK program allows individuals to apply for food assistance programs on-line. He stated that the program was to be deployed March 2010 and that individuals are already using the on-line application. He stated that the department has not deployed the Medicaid eligibility piece, but the department has rescheduled the deployment to May 2010. He explained that the department is waiting for the educational awareness program to get going in full force and that the department does not want to release a program that is not fully functional as that would put too much pressure on county departments.

02:56 PM

Representative Hullinghorst presented House Bill 10-1146 which responds to a Legislative Audit committee report. She described the Home Care Allowance (HCA) and the Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs. She stated that the bill streamlines and focuses the state-funded HCA program to serve seniors and disabled populations who are not receiving assistance under the Medicaid-funded HCBS waiver programs. She stated that the legislation addresses overlap and redundancy of services in the HCA and the HCBS programs raised in the January 2009 legislative audit. Representative Hullinghorst stated that the bill expands HCA benefits to Social Security Income (SSI) eligible populations who meet the program's functional needs criteria; and maximizes taxpayer dollars for in-home care. She provided a fact sheet on the bill to the committee (Attachment B).

03:03 PM -- Jeanette Hensley, Director, Aging and Adult Services, Department of Human Services, responded to Representative Gerou's question regarding the bill. She stated that there are approximately 1,400 individuals who will be transferred from the HCA program to the HCBS waiver programs. She stated that an additional 1,400 individuals could be served under the HCA program. Ms. Hensley stated that participants of the HCA program receive between $150 to $400 to purchase in-home care. She clarified that participants of the HCA cannot purchase skilled nursing assistance with HCA funding. She stated that individuals on the HCBS waiver program can purchase both skilled and non-skilled services. Representative Hullinghorst commented that the the reason why the HCA program can be expanded is because as individuals move from the HCA program, which is a state-funded program, to the HCBS waiver program, the federal government matches state funds. Ms. Hensely responded that many of the individuals who are eligible for the HCA program do not need the full spectrum of skilled nursing services, but rather help around their house. She stated that by providing these services, it can often reduce the numbers of individuals who require skilled nursing and therefore it is less expensive for the state.

03:16 PM -- Cheryl Duncan, Financial Director, Aging and Adult Services, Department of Human Services, came to the table and responded to committee questions. Specifically, Representative Roberts asked how the department determines who will be eligible for the HCA program when spots become available. She stated that the program is available statewide and it depends upon whether an individual meets the criteria of the program and how long they have been on the waiting list for funding.


BILL:	HB10-1146
TIME:	03:21:54 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree	Excused
	Apuan
	Gerou
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Primavera	Excused
	Roberts
	Swalm
	Tyler
	Gagliardi	Excused
	Riesberg

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1146
TIME:	03:22:50 PM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree	Excused
	Apuan
	Gerou
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Primavera	Excused
	Roberts
	Swalm
	Tyler
	Gagliardi	Excused
	Riesberg

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1146
TIME:	03:24:18 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree	Excused
	Apuan
	Gerou
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Primavera	Excused
	Roberts
	Swalm
	Tyler
	Gagliardi	Excused
	Riesberg

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:27 PM

Committee members and Representative Hullinghorst discussed how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars interact with this bill. Ms. Hensley returned to the table to clarify that the bill does not allow additional individuals to be served on the HCA program, but that it provides additional services, such as personal care or homemaker services.


BILL:	HB10-1146
TIME:	03:34:38 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1146, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 6-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree	Excused
	Apuan	Yes
	Gerou	No
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Primavera	Excused
	Roberts	No
	Swalm	No
	Tyler	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS