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| Colorado Medicaid Expansion |
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Summary:
Current Status of Medicaid Expansion in State:
State will expand Medicaid.
Decision Process:
Expansion legislature approved before end of 2013 session.
Background:
Currently:
· 12% of Colorado’s population is enrolled in Medicaid, 95% of who have managed care. Department of Health Care Policy and Financing runs the state’s Medicaid program. In the past decade, Colorado had already begun to alter and expand its Medicaid program under the Colorado Health Care Affordability Act which expanded Medicaid up to 450% FPL depending on the specific program. This will smooth the eventual transition to meet ACA standards.
Expansion:
· Expansion of Medicaid to 133% FPL would be a 48% increase in enrollment.
Process:
· Governor Hickenlooper has stated that Colorado will continue looking into the expansion while making sure it is fiscally responsible for the state. He expressed uncertainty that Colorado would be willing and able to participate. There has been great focus on creating an implementation strategy that makes the ACA ‘Colorado-specific.’ The Expansion was approved by a Republican vote.
State Action:
- The Colorado HIV/AIDS program is creating a transition plan for current Ryan White and ADAP clients who will be moving to new ACA coverage options, including participation in the Patient Navigator program.
- The state is utilizing expert advisory committee and stakeholder workgroups and has a foundation of bipartisan legislative action for healthcare reform.
- Governor Hickenlooper announced the decision to expand Medicaid at the beginning of th new year, stating that it would save Colorado $280 million in the next ten years.
· Webinars have been available to stakeholders and the community, as well as several stakeholder and community member conferences offered by the Colorado DHCPF throughout the fall of 2012. There does seem to be a lack of public information or forums for feedback in places such as the state’s Medicaid website.
· Essential Health Benefits benchmarks have only been determined for the exchange.
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