Date: 04/30/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-228

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 15-228 to the Committee on ApproPASS



01:33 PM -- SB 15-228

Representative Rankin presented Senate Bill 15-228. The bill establishes a process for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to uniformly review Medicaid provider rates. It requires the department to set up a review cycle so that each provider rate is reviewed at least once every five years. More frequent reviews may be conducted at the request of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) or the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee (advisory committee) established under the bill. The review schedule must be in place by September 1, 2015.

Beginning November 1, 2016, and on or before November 1 of each year thereafter, the department is required to provide a report to the JBC, advisory committee, and other stakeholders comparing Medicaid rates to available benchmarks, including Medicare rates and usual and customary rates paid by private parties. Beginning May 1, 2016, and on or before each May 1 thereafter, the department must also report on whether payments are sufficient to allow for provider retention and client access. Following the report, a period of review and public meetings are required in order to solicit feedback and comments on the report. The department and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting are required to examine the report and develop budget recommendations, which the department must submit to the JBC and advisory committee by November 1 of each year.

01:38 PM -- Eric Kurtz, JBC Staff, answered questions about Medicaid rates.

01:40 PM

Representative Rankin answered questions about the bill and the bill's fiscal note. The committee discussed the advisory task force established by the bill with Representative Rankin and Mr. Kurtz. Committee discussion with Representative Rankin about the bill ensued.

01:53 PM

Mr. Kurtz responded to a question about whether other states have a similar process as the one outlined in the bill. In response to a question, Mr. Kurtz discussed federal requirements for establishing Medicaid rates. Representative Rankin responded to questions from the committee about the bill.

02:02 PM

Mr. Kurtz answered questions about how the Medicaid provider rate increases will be financed.

02:04 PM -- Charlie Sheffield, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed how inadequate Medicaid provider rates impact EMS agencies.

02:07 PM

Representative Rankin made closing remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.
BILL:SB15-228
TIME: 02:11:03 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-228 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:Lontine
VOTE
Brown
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Humphrey
No
Joshi
Yes
Klingenschmitt
No
Landgraf
Yes
Lontine
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Ransom
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Ginal
Yes
McCann
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:12 PM

The committee recessed.