2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 25.5 - HEALTH CARE POLICY AND FINANCING (§§ 25.5-1-101 — 25.5-11-101) › COLORADO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 25.5-4-101 — 25.5-6-2001) › Article 6 - COLORADO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT - LONG-TERM CARE (§§ 25.5-6-101 — 25.5-6-2001) › Part 6 - HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MAJOR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS (§§ 25.5-6-601 — 25.5-6-607) › Section 25.5-6-606 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Implementation of program for persons with mental health disorders authorized - federal waiver - duties of the department of health care policy and financing and the department of human services - rules

(1)
The state department is authorized to seek any necessary waiver from the federal government to develop and implement a home- and community-based services program for persons with major mental health disorders. The program must be designed to provide home- and community-based services to eligible persons. Eligibility may be limited to persons who meet the level of services provided in a nursing facility, and services for eligible persons may be established in state board rules to the extent such eligibility criteria and services are authorized or required by federal waiver.
(2)
The state department and the department of human services shall provide a system of reimbursement for services provided pursuant to this part 6 that encourages the most cost-effective provision of services.
(3)
The state department and the department of human services shall, subject to appropriation, use available federal, state, local, or private funds, including but not limited to medicaid funds available under Title XIX of the federal "Social Security Act", as amended, to carry out the purposes of this part 6.
(4)
The state department may include in the memorandum of understanding with the department of human services provisions that allow the department of human services to certify agencies as medicaid providers for the purposes of this part 6, to adopt fiscal and administrative procedures, to review plans of care, to recommend reimbursement rates, to make recommendations regarding the scope, duration, and content of programs and the eligibility of persons for specific services provided pursuant to this part 6, and to fulfill any other responsibilities necessary to implement this part 6. However, the provisions shall be consistent with the designation of the state department as the single state agency in section 25.5-4-104.
(5)
The executive director and the state board shall promulgate such rules regarding this part 6 as are necessary to fulfill the obligations of the state department as the single state agency to administer medical assistance programs in accordance with Title XIX of the federal "Social Security Act", as amended.
(6)
The department of human services shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to perform its function pursuant to this part 6. Such rules shall be promulgated in accordance with section
24-4-103
, C.R.S., and shall be consistent with the rules of the executive director and the state board.
(7)
In the event a direct conflict arises between the rules of the state department promulgated pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and the rules of the department of human services promulgated pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, regarding implementation of this part 6, the rules of the state department shall control.
(8)
(a)
No later than January 2024, the state department shall submit a report to the senate health and human services committee, the house of representatives public and behavioral health and human services committee, and the house of representatives health and insurance committee, or any successor committees, as part of its "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" presentation required by section
2-7-203
. At a minimum, the report must identify:
(I)
A reimbursement system with a goal to incentivize and increase transportation provider participation;
(II)
How the state department will ensure compliance with applicable federal laws and waiver requirements;
(III)
A system of common reporting to ensure a Member does not exceed the medicaid benefit in a multi-provider scenario; and
(IV)
Best practices based on what other states have done to allow transportation network companies to provide nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services, including but not limited to, reimbursement rates; driver compensation; and integration with programs that provide nonmedical transportation services.
(b)
In developing the report, the state department shall engage in a stakeholder process that includes individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, individuals with disabilities, and transportation network companies. The report may be developed in conjunction with the reporting requirement in sections 25.5-6-307(6), 25.5-6-409(6), 25.5-6-704(8), and 25.5-6-1303(9).
(c)
(I)
Upon completion of the report described in subsection (8)(a) of this section, the state department shall analyze and review each operational transportation network company, as defined in section
40-10.1-602(3)
. The state department shall verify each transportation network company's viability to ensure the health, safety, welfare, cost effectiveness, and capability in expanding nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services pursuant to this section and comply with all rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (8)(e)(I) of this section.
(II)
No later than July 1, 2024, the state department shall authorize verified transportation network companies to provide nonmedical transportation services if the state department finds the transportation network company viable under federal requirements and within budgetary constraints.
(III)
For the purposes of this subsection (8)(c), "verify" means a transportation network company meets all requirements resulting from the report described in subsection (8)(a) of this section.
(d)
The state department may seek any necessary federal authorization for the implementation of this subsection (8).
(e)
(I)
The state department shall promulgate any necessary rules to ensure transportation network companies comply with federal and state oversight requirements and shall include all relevant stakeholders, including medicaid members, transportation network companies, current providers and drivers for nonmedical transportation services, and other parties interested in developing the requirements.
(II)
Pursuant to section
40-10.1-105(1)(l)
, transportation network companies are not subject to regulation by the public utilities commission when providing nonmedical transportation services pursuant to this section and are instead subject to rules promulgated by the state department pursuant to this subsection (8)(e).
(f)
This subsection (8) does not apply to a provider authorized to provide transportation services pursuant to part 8 of article
1
of title
25.5
prior to August 10, 2022.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 152,§ 87, eff. 8/7/2024.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 270,§ 7, eff. 7/1/2025.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 396, § 4, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2018 Ch. 35, § 31, eff. 8/8/2018.
L. 2006: Entire article added with relocations, p. 1952, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2018: (1) amended, (SB 18-091), ch. 35, p. 389, § 31, effective August 8.
This section is similar to former § 26-4-675 as it existed prior to 2006.
2024 Ch. 152, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
2022 Ch. 396, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.
For the legislative declaration in SB 18-091, see section 1 of chapter 35, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.