Final
Department's Presentation
HIFA WAIVER COMMITTEE
Votes:
Action Taken:
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09:34 AM
The committee reconvened in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.
09:35 AM
Mr. Tool and Ms. Ladon continued their presentation on the HIFA waiver. Mr. Tool stated that the program will provide a Medical home for children and stop children from bouncing back and forth between Medicaid and CHP+ as their family's income changes. He discussed the per member/per month costs of Medicaid and CHP+ clients and demonstrated how the per member/per month costs and provider rates were determined for the Colorado Family Cares Program. Mr. Tool responded to questions from the committee regarding whether or not providers would participate in the Colorado Family Cares Program. Ms. Ladon responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the Colorado Family Cares Program accounts for the growing caseload of Medicaid and CHP+., stating that the program does not cap enrollment. Mr. Tool and Ms. Ladon responded to questions from the committee regarding whether some current Medicaid and CHP+ clients would lose coverage under the program and other elements of the program which may produce savings.
09:53 AM
Mr. Tool continued his presentation by discussing federal budget neutrality requirements. He stated that the federal spending cap is only on the per member/per month costs and that it is a cap on costs over the course of five years. Ms. Ladon responded to questions from the committee regarding how savings would be redistributed throughout the program. Mr. Tool responded to questions from the committee regarding federal budget neutrality requirements. He reiterated that the 8.4% federal cap is on the per member/ per month costs, not enrollment. Senator Shaffer asked why the Department felt it was important to pursue a waiver and not implement the program through state plan amendments. Mr. Tool responded that it was easier to incorporate all of the program elements under one waiver and that, in order to implement the program without using a HIFA waiver, a number of individual waivers would have to be submitted to the federal government. He further stated that he is confident that managed care organizations will bid on the Colorado Family Cares program as implemented through a HIFA waiver, but he is unsure whether the program would receive a bid if it is implemented in pieces.