Date: 02/02/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1103

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachmen
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1103 to the Committee		Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:22 PM -- House Bill 09-1103

Representative Riesberg presented House Bill 09-1103 which authorizes the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (DHCPF) to seek federal approval to allow people who are in need of long-term care to be presumptively eligible for Medicaid, including home- and community-based programs. Representative Riesberg explained the circumstances in which an individual might need to be eligible for long-term care immediately. He stated that the state would have paid their respective amounts if an individual is rejected on Medicaid. He stated that the bill will help Colorado provide a higher quality of life and save the state money. Two handouts, one from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Colorado Chapter, and one from the Chronic Care Collaborative, were provided to the committee (Attachments D and E respectively).

03:31 PM -- Julie Reiskin, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She responded to a committee question regarding why this had not been implemented sooner. Ms. Reiskin provided a handout in support of the bill to the committee (Attachment F).

03:38 PM -- Vennita Jenkins, Administrator, Colorado Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (CAHSA), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jenkins stated that prior bills (House Bill 08-1374) have directed some group to study presumptive eligibility. She stated that one of the recommendations was presumptive eligibility for long-term care.

03:40 PM -- Susan Langley, Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, testified in support of the bill. She stated that she helps her clients fill out the necessary paperwork to be approved under Medicaid. She spoke to the 90 day time frame that Medicaid requires for approval saying that sometimes it is too long, as the person may have expired by that time. She encouraged the committee to pass the bill.

03:42 PM -- Donna Roberts, Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, testified in support of the bill. She explained the process of how a person may be approved under Medicaid. She pointed out the cost savings to the state by implementing the bill.

03:46 PM -- Barbara Prehmus, Long-term Benefits Division Director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (DHCPF), and Chris Underwood, Division Director, State Programs and Federal Financing, DHCPF, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Prehmus spoke to the length of time it takes to become approved for Medicaid. She stated that at times the length it takes to get approved, the person may become more ill than if they had been presumptively eligible, which ends up costing the state more money.
BILL:HB09-1103
TIME: 03:57:20 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Nikkel
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1103
TIME: 03:58:23 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1103 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Excused
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS