Colorado

Status of reform effort: On April 21, 2009, Governor Ritter signed legislation that expands Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for children, pregnant women, and parents, and newly offers Medicaid coverage to childless adults.

On June 2, 2006, Governor Bill Ritter (D) signed SB 06-208, creating the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform.  The Commission was charged with studying and establishing health care reform models to expand health care coverage and decrease health care costs.  The Commission presented their final recommendations to the General Assembly on January 31, 2008.  On February 13, 2008, Governor Ritter announced his “Building Blocks For Health Care Reform” package, which builds on some of the Commission’s recommendations.  A component of the Governor's proposal was achieved in April 2008 when he signed legislation that expanded Medicaid eligibility for children to 133% FPL and expanded CHP+ eligibility from 205% to 225% FPL. 

In one of the largest coverage expansions in recent state history, on April 21, 2009 the Governor signed HB 09-1293, which expands public coverage to a greater number of low-income children, parents, and childless adults.  This expansion is expected to provide coverage to approximately 100,000 people if it is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The legislation includes the following components:

• Expands CHP+ (CHIP) eligibility for children and pregnant women to 250% FPL;
• Expands Medicaid eligibility for parents to 100% FPL;
• Expands Medicaid eligibility for childless adults to 100% FPL, subject to federal authorization;
• Expands Medicaid buy-in program eligibility for the disabled to 450% FPL;
• Provides for 12-month continuous eligibility for children in Medicaid.

The expansion is financed through hospital provider fees that will be matched with federal funds.  The hospital fee will also be used to increase reimbursement to hospitals for providing care to the publicly insured.  The fee goes into effect on July 1, 2009.*