First Regular Session
              Sixty-fifth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 05-0138.01 Michele Hanigsberg   HOUSE BILL 05-1025
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Stafford,  Marshall, and Green
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Hagedorn,  Anderson, Shaffer, and Dyer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Health and Human Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning eligibility under the "Colorado Medical
            Assistance Act".
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Allows a pregnant woman to be presumptively eligible for
       specified services under the state's medicaid program.  Authorizes the
       department of health care policy and financing to designate additional
       medical assistance sites, as necessary, to accept medical assistance
       applications, to determine medical assistance eligibility, and to determine
       presumptive eligibility.
            Makes conforming changes.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  Part 3 of article 4 of title 26, Colorado Revised
       Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to
       read:
            26-4-304.  Presumptive eligibility - pregnant women - state
       plan.  (1)  A pregnant woman shall be presumptively eligible for
       the medical assistance program and shall receive services
       specified by federal law if:
            (a)  The woman is pregnant; and
            (b)  The woman meets the financial criteria established in
       rule by the state board.
            (2)  The state department shall make any necessary
       changes to the state plan to comply with this section.
            SECTION 2.  26-4-106 (1) (a) and (6), Colorado Revised Statutes,
       are amended to read:
            26-4-106.  Application - verification of eligibility - repeal. 
       (1) (a)  Determination of eligibility for medical benefits shall be made by
       the county department in which the applicant resides, except as otherwise
       specified in this section.  Local social security offices also determine
       eligibility for medicaid benefits at the same time they determine
       eligibility for supplemental security income.  The state department may
       accept medical assistance applications and determine medical assistance
       eligibility and may designate the private service contractor that
       administers the children's basic health plan, Denver health and hospitals,
       and a hospital that is designated as a regional pediatric trauma center, as
       defined in section 25-3.5-703 (4) (f), C.R.S., and other medical
       assistance sites determined necessary by the state department
       to accept medical assistance applications, and to determine medical
       assistance eligibility, and to determine presumptive eligibility.  Any
       person who is determined to be eligible pursuant to the requirements of
       this article shall be eligible for benefits until such person is determined to
       be ineligible.  Upon determination that any person is ineligible for
       medical benefits, the county department, the state department, or other
       entity designated by the state department shall notify the applicant in
       writing of its decision and the reason therefor.  Separate determination of
       eligibility and formal application for benefits under this article for persons
       eligible as provided in sections 26-4-201 and 26-4-301 shall be made in
       accordance with the rules of the state department.
            (6)  On or before December 1, 2005, the state department shall
       report to the health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees of
       the house of representatives and the senate the progress of the private
       service contractor that administers the children's basic health plan, and
       Denver health and hospitals, and any other medical assistance site
       in accepting medical assistance applications, and determining medical
       assistance eligibility, and determining presumptive eligibility
       pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.  The state department shall
       include in the report recommendations regarding the advisability of
       additional medical assistance sites.
            SECTION 3.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.