H_PHC_2020A 03/11/2020 10:17:14 AM Committee Summary

Representative Larson and Representative Duran, bill sponsors, introduced House Bill 20-1331. The bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to create and implement an expedited enrollment process for providers of nonmedical transportation services for Medicaid clients participating in certain home and community based services (HCBS) waivers.  The expedited process must be in effect by July 1, 2021.  The requirement applies to the following seven HCBS waiver programs:

 

•    Elderly, Blind, and Disabled;

•    Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities;

•    Community Mental Health Supports;

•    Brain Injury;

•    Children with Autism;

•    Children's Home and Community Based Services; and

•    Spinal Cord Injury.

 

In addition, HCPF is required to work with stakeholders to develop a report identifying barriers and potential solutions to accessing transportation services within the long-term support and services system.  The report must be submitted to the General Assembly by January 15, 2021. 

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Abigail Negley, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Colin Laughlin, Health Care Policy and Financing, testified about the bill.

Bill sponsors made closing comments on the bill.

Committee members made final comments on the bill.

Representative Young and Representative Saine, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1237. This bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to assign a youth who has had either a dependency and neglect or juvenile delinquency action initiated to the managed care entity (MCE) in which the proceedings were initiated, unless a change is requested by a county department of human services.  HCPF may only change a child's MCE for children who are involved in the child welfare system when a parent requests the change. 

Barbara Kirkmeyer, Weld County and Colorado Counties Inc., testified in favor of the bill.

Jamie Ulrich, Weld County Department of Human Services, testified in favor of the bill.

Korey Elger, Department of Human Services, testified in favor of the bill.

Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, testified about the bill.

Matt Lanphier, HCPF, made himself available for questions.

Becky Miller Updike, Colorado Association of Family Children's Agency, testified in favor of the bill.

The bill sponsors described amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and distributed a memo about the changes to the fiscal note if the amendment was adopted (Attachment B).

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee members.

Bill sponsors made closing comments on the bill.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.

Representative Kipp and Representative Titone, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 20-106. The bill allows homeless youth, ages 14 and up, to consent to receive shelter or shelter services from a licensed homeless youth shelter.  With such consent received from the youth, the homeless youth shelter is not required to notify the youth's parent or legal guardian or to seek additional parental consent.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Jo Feder, League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in favor of the bill.

Trevor Williams, Department of Human Services, testified in favor of the bill.

Kippi Clausen, representing herself, testified in favor of the bill.

Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, testified in favor of the bill.

The previous panel of witnesses responded to committee questions.

Jana Ramchander, Thompson School District, testified about the bill.

Kim Akeley-Charron, Thompson Education Foundation, testified in favor of the bill.

Jeff Feneis, Loveland Housing Authority, testified in favor of the bill.

Moe Keller, Mental Health Colorado, testified in favor of the bill and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).

Representative Kipp and Representative Titone discussed and distributed amendment L.003 (Attachment D).

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee about the amendment.

The bill sponsors made final comments about the bill.

Committee members made final comments about the bill.

Trevor Williams, Department of Human Services, returned to the witness table to respond to questions from the committee.

Committee members made closing comments about the bill.