Rural Provider Stimulus Grant Program

The act establishes the rural provider access and affordability stimulus grant program (grant program) in the Colorado department of health care policy and financing (state department). As part of the grant program, the state department may award grants for projects that modernize the affordability solutions and the information technology of health-care providers in rural communities (rural providers) and projects that expand access to health care in rural communities. The types of rural providers eligible for grants under the grant program are rural hospitals that have a lower net patient revenue or fund balance than other rural hospitals in the state, as determined by the medical services board (state board) by rule.

On or before December 31, 2022:

• The state department must adopt guidelines for the grant program (guidelines); and
• The state board must adopt rules as necessary for the administration of the grant program (rules).

The act creates the rural provider access and affordability advisory committee (advisory committee) in the state department. The advisory committee is required to advise the state department on the administration of the grant program, the adoption of the guidelines, and the selection of grant recipients. The advisory committee is also required to advise on the rules.

The act also creates the rural provider access and affordability fund (fund) in the state treasury. The act requires the state treasurer to transfer $10,000,000 from the economic recovery and relief cash fund to the fund for awarding grants under the grant program and the administration of the grant program.

The state department is directed to include a report on the progress of the grant program during its presentation to joint legislative committees pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act".

The grant program is repealed on July 1, 2025.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)