s_hhs_2017a_2017-02-16t13:30:40z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/16/2017

Location: SCR 354

01:31 PM -- SB 17-121



Senators Lundberg and Crowder, co-prime sponsors, presented the bill. This bill, recommended by the Interim Study Committee on Communication between the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and Medicaid Clients, 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 must be listed, 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 a denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits, the following must be included:



• 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 to General Assembly



01:34 PM -- Zach Lynkiewicz, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in a neutral position on the bill. He discussed amendments L.001 and L.003 (Attachments A and B).



170216 AttachA.pdf170216 AttachB.pdf



01:38 PM -- Joel McClurg, Hunger Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



01:42 PM -- Jeanette Hensley, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.



01:43 PM -- Aubrey Hasvoid, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, testified in support of the bill.



01:47 PM -- Jack Regenbogen, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill. He provided two handouts to the committee (Attachments C and D).



170216 AttachC.pdf170216 AttachD.pdf



01:52 PM -- Ellen Alires-Trujillo, Colorado Legal Services, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



01:54 PM -- Julie Reiskin, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill and distributed four handouts to the committee(Attachments E, F, G, and H).



170216 AttachE.pdf170216 AttachF.pdf170216 AttachG.pdf170216 AttachH.pdf



01:58 PM -- Francesca Maes, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.



02:01 PM -- Jerry McElroy, Gerontological Society, testified in support of bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment I).



170216 AttachI.pdf





02:02 PM -- Mr. Lynkiewicz return to the table to respond to questions.