Bill Number/
Sponsor/rating
(click bill number to read bill) |
Short title and
description |
What to watch for/comments |
Status - updated > 6/24/09
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Find Your Colorado
Legislative Representatives
All you need is your 9-digit
postal zip code...
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Click Here to Link to
Project Vote-Smart
Legislative Search Engine
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Federal Issues
2009 |
Click to right for NAHC / HCAC position papers.
Click here for ANA
Statement on Health Care Reform |
Comparison of House / Senate Health Care Reform bills
(updated 1/12/10)
U.S. Senator
Michael Bennet
Signs Kerry Letter to
Help Home Health Agencies -
January 2010
New York Times
Interviews
Coloradans -
January 2010
Home Health Talking
Points (one-pager) -
November 2009
Hospice Talking Points
(one-pager) -
November 2009
Bell
Policy Center on Health Care Reform
"Future of Colorado
Health Care"
by New America Foundation &
Univ of Denver
(posted 11/15/09)
Summary:
"Tri-Committee" Health Care Reform bill
Talking Points:
Ensure Adequate and Appropriate Payment for Medicare Home Health
Services
Supporting Charts (3) with Colorado and
Congressional District Specifics:
% of HHAgencies with Negative Margins by State
% of HHAgencies with Negative Margins by Congressional District
Medicare HH Projected Losses by State
Study Supports Home Health:
New Report Says Home
Health Saves Medicare Billions Each Year
Veterans Affairs Home Based
Primary Care report
(updated 11/01/09)
Read What Elected Officials Have to Say About
Home Health
Senate Letter
House Letter
Additional Talking Points:
Establish Chronic Care Management Benefit Under Medicare
Preserve the Budget Neutrality Adjustment Factor in the Medicare
Hospice Wage Index
Recognize Home Telehealth Interactions
Hospice Gains / Losses by State 2009-2014
Read Other Reports about Home Health (for HCAC members only):
MedPac Report in the News
GAO Report,
February 2009
New York Times Editorial
USA Today Article on Fraud in Home Care
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September 19, 2009:
U.S. Senate Finance Committee "Chairman's Mark" released Sept. 16.
Click here
to read summary.
U.S. House of Representative's American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
In Brief:
The U House of Representatives recently passed its "Tri-Committee" Health Care Reform bill
which calls for about
$57 Billion in cuts over the next 10 years for home health care providers,
nationwide.
w 43.86% of Colorado's home health agencies are expected to experience a
negative margin in 2010; that number increases to 55.26% in 2011.
w Over the next 10 years, projected losses to Colorado's home health care
industry is projected to be <$420 Million>.
w Every region in the state (congressional district) will experience similar
losses. |
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Colorado 2010-2011 Budget |
Governor Presents Balanced Budget Request for FY 2010-11 |
If you have not spoken to your state representative and state
senator recently, now is the time.... See below if you don't
know who your legislators are OR if you don't know how to reach
them....
Click here to read:
Summary of 2010-11 Budget
Request
Schedule 13 (with 30 minute increment
proposal) |
November 6, 2009 -
Governor's Budget calls for:
t Another 1% provider rate reduction beginning July 1, 2010 (total
5.5% since 7/1/09;
t Proposal to begin paying home health skilled
services (Nursing, Therapies) in 30 minute increments; Based on 7/1/10
expected rate, a nursing visit would be paid $18.80 per 30-minutea "spent
rendering service to a client." HCPF states that money will be saved by "not
paying providers for time that is not spent with clients."
Watch here for news on this devastating proposal...
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Colorado 2009-2010 Budget Cuts |
Governor's Budget Cuts |
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October 28, 2009:
Governor's office announces another 1% rate reduction effective Dec. 1,
2009. This brings home care total rate reductions in FY 2009-2010 to 4.5%
Click here to read rate schedule
beginning Dec. 1, 2009.
Click here to
read Gov. Ritter's Oct. 28th Budget Balancing Plan
(updated 11/1/09)
September 19, 2009:
HCAC has obtained the new Medicaid rate schedule from the Dept. of Health
Care Policy & Financing. These reduced rates went into effect on Sept. 1,
2009. Click below for various home care services:
Home Health & PDN
HCBS EBD, MI &
PWLA
HCBS BI
HCBS CWA,
CHILDREN'S & PWA
August 18, 2009:
Gov. Bill Ritter announced new cuts in government spending including
1.5% Medicaid reimbursement rate reductions, effective Sept. 1, 2009. These are
in addition to changes announced below that began on July 1.
1. Reimbursement for all community based
service categories (Home Health, HCBS, PDN, IHSS) will be cut by an additional
1.5%, effective 9/1/09.
2. HCBS personal care / homemaker services* will have a daily cap of $72.05 per day (about 5 hours),
effective 1/1/10. This is
equivalent of 150% of the rate paid for assisted living services.
* This includes the following services:
- PCP/Homemaker
- CDASS combined PCP/Homemaker
- IHSS combined PCP/Homemaker
Click here to read Gov.
Ritter's 2009-2010 Budget Balancing Plan. HCPF details begin on page 23.
June 24, 2009:
HCAC was provided with a preview of the Medicaid
Bulletin that will be distributed to home care providers on July 1.
Following are links to information on the new reimbursement rates that will
go into effect on July 1, 2009. Rates have been reduced by
2%.
Medicaid
Bulletin language
Home Health-PDN Rates
HCBS-EBD, MI and PLWA Rates
HCBS-BI Rates
HCBS CWA Rates
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SB09-259
Sen. Mo Keller
Rep. Jack Pommer |
2009-2010 Long Appropriations Bill |
Bill provides payment for all departments and agencies of the
Colorado State Government for July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010,
including Medicaid services. History:
Bill introduced on April 6; called for home health and private duty nursing to be cut by 2.5%
and hcbs by 1.5% from April 1 to June 30, 2009. This amounts to
approx. $2 million over three months. HCPF may not implement
these cuts equally to all home health services. (Further
provider rate reductions are expected beginning July 1)
Passed Senate with 1.5% rate cut for home
health, HCBS and private duty nursing beginning April 1, 2010.
In an attempt to
balance the state budget, Medicaid provider rate cuts have been proposed.
When Pinnacol Assurance deal fell through in the House, the House agreed to 4.33% cuts for acute care providers such as
hospitals, physicians and therapists and 2.17% cuts for long
term care providers including home health, HCBS and private duty
nursing. No rate cuts and no increase scheduled for
nursing facilities.
On 4/20/09, the Senate proposed a 4.33% cut for all providers except nursing
homes beginning July 1, 2009.
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Click here for bill as signed by the Governor.
Read History to left;
Final Action:
On morning of 4/21/09, a compromise was reached calling for a 2% cut for all
providers except nursing homes beginning on July 1 2009.
Signed by Governor with partial veto on 5/1/09.
Since May 1st, HCAC
members have been involved in numerous stakeholders meetings to discuss how
to reach a $7.5 Million reduction in state spending for home health, Private
Duty Nursing & HCBS services.
On June 24th, HCAC was provided with a preview of the Medicaid
Bulletin that will be distributed to home care providers on July 1.
Following are links to information on the new reimbursement rates that will
go into effect on July 1, 2009.
Medicaid
Bulletin language
Home Health-PDN Rates
HCBS-EBD, MI and PLWA Rates
HCBS-BI Rates
HCBS CWA Rates
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SB09-263
Sen. Al White
Rep. Jack Pommer
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Concerning payments to Medicaid nursing facility providers
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Bill provides methodology for payments to nursing homes from the
nursing facility provider fees; |
Click Here for Bill as Introduced Click here
for Home Health Care Amendment L.006
Click here for details
on Amendment HCAC lobbied amendment in
Senate; Withdrew lobbying effort in House due to threats from nursing homes
to stop referrals to HCAC member home care agencies;
Amendment failed in both houses. Bill passed House and Senate with technical amendments.
Signed by Governor.
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Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
Medicaid
2008-09 Supplementals
SB09-187
Sen. Moe Keller
Rep. Jack Pommer
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Cutting Medicaid expenditures and provider rates in order to balance the
current fiscal year budget.
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Bill called for home health and private duty nursing to be cut by 2.5%
and hcbs by 1.5% from April 1 to June 30, 2009. This amounts to
approx. $2 million over three months. HCPF may not implement
these cuts equally to all home health services. (Further
provider rate reductions are expected beginning July 1)
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Click Here for Bill as signed by Governor
Home Care cuts were amended out in Senate; Bill has now passed House
Appropriations without cuts;
passed 2nd reading on Feb. 24; passed 3rd reading;
Signed by Governor. |
HB09-1061 -
Health Insurance Transparency
Rep. Anne McGihon
Sen. Lois Tochtrop
See
related bill below:
SB09-103
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Concerning required health care disclosures involving insurance
carrier business relationships with intermediary entities. |
This bill was researched and written
by APTA / Colorado Chapter and introduced in the first house by Rep. Anne McGihon (D-Denver).
The bill applies to all health care providers.
Bill was amended to reduce fiscal impact; a new fiscal note is being prepared to
reflect bill as amended. |
Click Here for Bill as introduced
Click Here for Bill as Amended (strike-below)
Assigned to House Business Affairs & Labor;
on 2/11/09 passed committee on party-line vote of 5-4;
referred to House Finance Committee; on 2/18/09 passed
9-2 on bipartisan vote; referred to Committee of Whole; Passed 2nd reading
on Tues, Feb. 24; Passed 3rd reading on Weds, Feb. 25, bipartisan vote of
42-23;
Click here for 2/25/09 House Journal
page 553 for recorded
votes.
Passed Senate; Signed by Governor.
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HB09-1084
Review of Medicaid Providers
Rep. Sara Gagliardi
Sen. Lois Tochtrop |
Concerning procedures for the review of providers under the State Medical
Assistance Program |
Limits scope and breadth of HCPF reviews or audits of Medicaid
Providers |
Click Here for Bill as Introduced Assigned to
House Health & Human Services
Postponed Indefinitely (killed) |
HB09-1103
Presumptive Eligibility
Rep. Jim Riesberg
Sen. Linda Newell |
Concerning presumptive eligibility under Medical Assistance
Program for persons in need of long term care
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Authorizes the department of health care policy and
financing to seek federal approval so that a person in need of long-term
care who declares all of the information necessary to determine eligibility
under the medical assistance program (program) shall be presumptively
eligible for benefits under the program based upon the declaration.
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Click Here for Bill as Passed House Passed
House; Passed Senate; Signed by Governor.
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SB09-103
Deceptive Insurance Practices
Sen Morgan Carroll
Rep. Jack Pommer |
Concerning designation of the practice of providing financial
incentives to persons handling insurance claims for making
determinations that adversely affect insureds as a deceptive act
in the business of insurance. |
This bill is related to HB09-1061 above. |
Click Here for Bill as Introduced
Click Here for Amendments
Passed Senate;
House HHS Committee Postponed Indefinitely (Killed) on 3/30/09.
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