Representative Kennedy, bill sponsor, introduced SB21-038. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) administers the Complimentary or Alternative Medicine Pilot Program, which allows Medicaid clients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) to receive additional medical services not otherwise available to Medicaid clients. These services include acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy. The bill modifies eligibility for the program in two ways:

• geography-based eligibility is expanded from the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson, as currently listed in department rule, to include eligible individuals residing anywhere in the state.

diagnosis-based eligibility is expanded from individuals with a SCI, which is further defined in department rule, to also include individuals with a primary condition of multiple sclerosis, a brain injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy, with the total inability for independent ambulation directly resulting from one of these diagnoses.

Representative Van Winkle, bill sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

John Morris, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Chanda Hinton, representing Chanda Center for Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Michael Neil, representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Maxwell, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Benjamin Waters, representing Craig Hospital, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members gave final remarks on the bill.