i_comedicaidcl_2016a_2016-09-29t09:06:44z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 09/29/2016

10:17 AM -- Bill 4 - Improve Medicaid Client Communications



Brita Darling, OLLS, presented Bill 4, Improve Medicaid Client Communications (Attachment G). The bill requires HCPF to engage in an ongoing process to create, test, and improve Medicaid client communications. HCPF must ensure that communications with clients are accurate, readable, understandable, and consistent. Contact information for client questions, and, to the extent practicable, legal, privacy, and educational information must be provided separately from the main content of the correspondence. In all communications regarding denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits, the following must be included:



160929 AttachG.pdf

• an understandable explanation of denial, reduction, suspension, or termination;
• detailed information on the client’s household composition and income sources; and
• a specific description of any information or documents needed from the client.

When modifying Medicaid communications, HCPF is required to test the changes and solicit feedback from clients and stakeholders. HCPF is also required to appropriately prioritize communications that only affect a small number of clients or vulnerable populations. HCPF is encouraged to promote client communications electronically and through mobile applications. As a part of HCPF’s annual presentation made to General Assembly, it must present information on its ongoing process to improve client communications.



10:21 AM



Bill Zepernick, LCS, presented the fiscal note prepared for Bill 4 (Attachment H). Mr. Zepernick responded to committee questions about the assumptions made in the fiscal note. Committee discussion continued about the cost of implementing the provisions of the bill. Mr. Zepernick continued to respond to committee questions.



160929 AttachH.pdf



10:37 AM



Committee discussion continued about the cost to implement the provisions of Bill 4.





10:42 AM



Ms. Darling discussed amendment 1 and 2 (Attachments I and J). Amendment 1 made a technical change to the bill's reporting requirement and amendment 2 clarified that the focus of the bill is HCPF communications addressing eligibility, denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of Medicaid benefits.



160929 AttachI.pdf160929 AttachJ.pdf





10:44 AM -- Zach Lynkiewicz and Marivel Klueckman, HCPF, came to the table. Mr. Lynkiewicz provided a handout to the committee and discussed the provisions of the bill that HCPF has specific concerns about (Attachment K). Ms. Kluekman discussed HCPF's limitations in creating clear communications and explained that HCPF plans to utilize the services of a communication consultants to help craft these letters.



160929 AttachK.pdf



10:54 AM



Committee discussion continued about the provisions of the bill. The committee discussed the readability of the notifications sent by HCPF to Medicaid clients addressing eligibility, denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. Committee discussion followed about whether HCPF needs consultants to assist in developing clear correspondence. Committee members expressed frustration that HCPF could not make more progress on the letters without hiring a consultant.





11:05 AM -- Elisabeth Arenales, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, discuss the problems around the noticing of clients who receive several types of state assistance and the difficulties surrounding the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS). She discuss the challenges that state departments face when making technical changes to CBMS. She affirmed that there is a certain amount of expertise that is needed to identify the appropriate language and formatting for letters and other types of communication.





11:11 AM -- Julie Reiskin, CCDC, told the committee that the bill was important and that she appreciates the work put into this issue. She discussed community resources that are available to HCPF for focus groups.



11:14 AM



Representative Primavera discussed amendments 1 and 2 (Attachment I and J).

11:17 AM



Representatives Landgraf and Danielson, and Senators Crowder and Lundberg will be the co-prime sponsors of the bill.