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 5 - COLORADO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT - SERVICES AND PROGRAMS (§§ 25.5-5-101 — 25.5-5-804) › Part 2 - OPTIONAL PROVISIONS (§§ 25.5-5-201 — 25.5-5-208) › Section 25.5-5-201 - Optional provisions - optional groups - rules - repeal

(1)
The federal government allows the state to select optional groups to receive medical assistance. Pursuant to federal law, any person who is eligible for medical assistance under the optional groups specified in this section must receive both the mandatory services specified in sections
25.5-5-102
and
25.5-5-103
and the optional services specified in sections
25.5-5-202
and
25.5-5-203
. Subject to the availability of federal financial aid funds, the following are the individuals or groups that Colorado has selected as optional groups to receive medical assistance pursuant to this article 5 and articles
4
and
6
of this title 25.5:
(a)
Individuals who would be eligible for but are not receiving cash assistance;
(b)
Individuals who would be eligible for cash assistance except for their institutionalized status;
(c)
Individuals receiving home- and community-based services as specified in article
6
of this title;
(d) and (e)
Repealed.
(f)
Individuals receiving only optional state supplement;
(g)
Individuals in institutions who are eligible under a special income level. Colorado's program for citizens sixty-five years of age or older or physically disabled or blind, whose gross income does not exceed three hundred percent of the current federal supplemental security income benefit level, qualifies for federal funding under this provision.
(h)
Persons who are eligible for cash assistance under the works program pursuant to section
26-2-706
, C.R.S.;
(i)
Persons who are eligible for the breast and cervical cancer prevention and treatment program pursuant to section
25.5-5-308
;
(j)
Individuals who are qualified aliens and were or would have been eligible for supplemental security income as a result of a disability but are not eligible for such supplemental security income as a result of the passage of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996", Public Law 104-193;
(k)
Other qualified aliens who entered or were present in the United States before August 22, 1996;
(l)
Children for whom subsidized adoption assistance payments are made by the state pursuant to article
7
of title
26
, C.R.S., or foster care maintenance payments are made by the state pursuant to article
5
of title
26
, C.R.S., but who do not meet the requirements of Title IV-E of the "Social Security Act", as amended;
(m)
Parents and caretaker relatives of children who are eligible for the medical assistance program whose family income does not exceed one hundred thirty-three percent of the federal poverty line, adjusted for family size;
(m.5)
Pregnant women, whose family income does not exceed one hundred ninety-five percent of the federal poverty line, adjusted for family size;
(n)
Repealed.
(o)
(I)
Individuals with disabilities who are participating in the medicaid buy-in program established in part 14 of article
6
of this title.
(II)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1)(o)(I) of this section, if the money in the healthcare affordability and sustainability fee cash fund established pursuant to section
25.5-4-402.4
, together with the corresponding federal matching funds, is insufficient to fully fund all of the purposes described in section
25.5-4-402.4 (5)(b)
, after receiving recommendations from the Colorado healthcare affordability and sustainability enterprise established pursuant to section
25.5-4-402.4 (3)
, for individuals with disabilities who are participating in the medicaid buy-in program established in part 14 of article
6
of this title 25.5, the state board by rule adopted pursuant to the provisions of section
25.5-4-402.4 (6)(b)(III)
may reduce the medical benefits offered or the percentage of the federal poverty line to below four hundred fifty percent or may eliminate this eligibility group.
(III)
Repealed.
(p)
Subject to federal approval, adults who are childless or without a dependent child in the home, as described in section 1902 (a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the social security act,
42 U.S.C. sec. 1396a
, who have attained nineteen years of age but have not attained sixty-five years of age, and whose family income does not exceed one hundred thirty-three percent of the federal poverty line, adjusted for family size;
(q)
Children who are continuously eligible for twelve months pursuant to section
25.5-5-204.5
;
(r)
(I)
Persons eligible for a medicaid buy-in program established pursuant to section
25.5-5-206
whose family income does not exceed a specified percentage of the federal poverty line, adjusted for family size and as set by the state board by rule, which percentage shall be not more than four hundred fifty percent.
(II)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1)(r)(I) of this section, if the money in the healthcare affordability and sustainability fee cash fund established pursuant to section
25.5-4-402.4
, together with the corresponding federal matching funds, is insufficient to fully fund all of the purposes described in section
25.5-4-402.4 (5)(b)
, after receiving recommendations from the Colorado healthcare affordability and sustainability enterprise established pursuant to section
25.5-4-402.4 (3)
, for persons eligible for a medicaid buy-in program established pursuant to section
25.5-5-206
, the state board by rule adopted pursuant to the provisions of section
25.5-4-402.4 (6)(b)(III)
may reduce the medical benefits offered, or the percentage of the federal poverty line, or may eliminate this eligibility group.
(III)
Repealed.
(2)
(a)
A qualified alien, who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, shall not be eligible for benefits under this article and articles
4
and
6
of this title, except as provided in section
25.5-5-103 (3)
, for five years after the date of entry into the United States unless he or she meets the exceptions described in the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996", Public Law 104-193, as amended. After five years, such qualified alien shall be eligible for benefits under this article and articles
4
and
6
of this title but shall have sponsor income and resources deemed to the individual or family under rules established by the state board of human services pursuant to section
26-2-137
, C.R.S.
(b)
Notwithstanding the five-year waiting period established in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), but subject to the availability of sufficient appropriations and the receipt of federal financial participation, the state department may provide benefits under this article and articles
4
and
6
of this title to a pregnant woman who is a qualified alien and a child under nineteen years of age who is a qualified alien so long as such woman or child meets eligibility criteria other than citizenship.
(3)
A lawfully residing person who is receiving medicaid nursing facility care or home- and community-based services on July 1, 1997, must continue to receive such services as long as the person meets the eligibility requirements other than citizen status. State general funds may be used to reimburse such care in the event that federal financial participation is not available.
(4)
A pregnant person who is lawfully residing is eligible to receive medical assistance as long as the individual meets eligibility requirements other than those related to citizen or immigration status. State general funds may be used to reimburse such care in the event that federal financial participation is not available.
(4.5)
(a)
Subject to the receipt of federal financial participation, to the maximum extent allowed under federal law, a person who was eligible for the medical assistance program for the sixty days following the pregnancy remains continuously eligible for all services under the medical assistance program for the twelve-month postpartum period.
(b)
The state department shall seek any plan amendment necessary to implement a twelve-month postpartum benefit pursuant to this subsection (4.5) and shall implement the benefit only upon receipt of federal authorization and financial participation, and no later than July 1, 2022.
(c)
If permissible under federal law, an eligible individual within the postpartum period may resume coverage under the medical assistance program upon implementation of this section.
(5)
An asset test shall not be applied as a condition of eligibility for individuals or families described in paragraphs (a), (h), and (m.5) of subsection (1) of this section.
(6)
(a)
Beginning no later than January 1, 2025, a pregnant person who is not a citizen and who is not eligible for medical assistance pursuant to subsection (4) of this section is eligible to receive medical assistance pursuant to this subsection (6)(a) if the individual meets the eligibility requirements other than those related to citizenship and immigration status.
(b)
A pregnant person who is eligible for medical assistance pursuant to this subsection (6) remains continuously eligible for all medical services pursuant to the medical assistance program for the twelve-month postpartum period, so long as eligibility remains in effect pursuant to subsection (4.5)(a) of this section.
(c)
The state department shall seek any necessary federal approvals to maximize any available federal financial participation in implementing this subsection (6). Benefits for services obtained pursuant to this subsection (6) must be provided with only state funds if federal financial participation is unavailable for such services.
(d)
(I)
During its 2024 presentation to the joint budget committee of the general assembly and in its presentation to the health and human services committee of the senate and the health and insurance committee of the house of representatives, or any successor committees, at the hearing held pursuant to section
2-7-203 (2)(a)
of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", the state department shall report on its plans and progress in implementing the coverage expansion created pursuant to this subsection (6).
(II)
Beginning January 1, 2026, and continuing every January thereafter, the state department, in its presentation to the joint budget committee of the general assembly and in its presentation to the health and human services committee of the senate and the health and insurance committee of the house of representatives, or any successor committees, at the hearing held pursuant to section
2-7-203 (2)(a)
of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", shall report on the cost savings and health improvements associated with the coverage expansion created pursuant to this subsection (6).
(7)
(a)
To ensure that the state department maintains access to state and federal funding provided by the federal "Families First Coronavirus Response Act", Pub.L. 116-127, and the federal "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023", the following subsections of this section are suspended until January 1, 2025:
(I)
Subsection (1)(p) of this section requiring the state department to disenroll an individual enrolled in the medical assistance program who reaches sixty-five years of age; and
(II)
Any other provision of this section that requires the state department to disenroll an individual receiving medical assistance prior to the state department processing the individual's next annual renewal for eligibility following the end of the continuous enrollment requirements implemented pursuant to the federal "Families First Coronavirus Response Act", Pub.L. 116-127, and the federal "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023".
(b)
The state board may adopt rules to implement this subsection (7) to ensure that the state department can resume routine operations that follow guidance issued by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services, including terminations of eligibility, the processing of eligibility renewals, and the transition between medical assistance and children's basic health plan eligibility categories.
(c)
This subsection (7) is repealed, effective January 1, 2025.
(8)
(a)
The state department may continue to provide coverage for the testing and treatment for COVID-19 for uninsured individuals pursuant to section 1902 (a)(10)(A)(ii)(XXIII) of the federal "Social Security Act" through May 31, 2023, without federal financial participation.
(b)
The state board may adopt rules to implement this subsection (8) to ensure that the state department can resume routine operations in an orderly process that follows guidance provided by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services, including terminations of eligibility, the processing of eligibility renewals, and the transition between medicaid and children's basic health plan eligibility categories.
(c)
This subsection (8) is repealed, effective May 31, 2023.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 77,§ 2, eff. 4/18/2024.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 118,§ 2, eff. 4/27/2023.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 399, § 16, eff. 6/7/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 43, § 3, eff. 3/24/2022.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 434, § 7, eff. 9/7/2021.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 267, § 19, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 12, § 5, eff. 2/27/2014.
Amended by 2013 Ch. 216, § 2, eff. 5/13/2013.
L. 2006: Entire article added with relocations, p. 1858, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2007: (1)(n) added, p. 897, § 1, effective May 15. L. 2008: (1)(l) and (1)(n) amended and (1)(o) added, pp. 1532, 2200, §§ 1, 2, effective July 1. L. 2009: (1)(m)(I) and (1)(o) amended and (1)(p), (1)(q), and (1)(r) added, (HB 09-1293, ch. 152, p. 645, § 5, effective July 1; (2) amended, (HB 09-1353), ch. 1869, p. 1869, § 2, effective 7/1/2010. L. 2010: (5)(c) added, (HB 10 -1043), ch. 312, p. 312, § 2, effective April 15; (1)(m)(I), (1)(o)(II), (1)(p)(I), (1)(p)(II), (1)(r)(I), and (1)(r)(II) amended, (HB 10-1422), ch. 2111, p. 2111, § 144, effective August 11. L. 2013: (1)(m) and (1)(p) amended, (SB 13-200), ch. 898, p. 898, § 2, effective May 13. L. 2014: (1)(d), (1)(e), and (1)(n) repealed, (1)(m.5) added, and (5) amended, (SB 14 -067), ch. 113, p. 113, § 5, effective February 27. L. 2017: IP(1), (1)(o)(II), and (1)(r)(II) amended, (SB 17-267), ch. 1465, p. 1465, § 19, effective July 1. L. 2021: (4.5) added, (SB 21-194), ch. 2871, p. 2871, § 7, effective September 7.
(1) This section is similar to former § 26-4-301 as it existed prior to 2006.
(2) Prior to the amendment of subsection (1)(m) in 2013, subsection (1)(m)(II)(B) provided for the repeal of subsection (1)(m)(II), effective January 1, 2007. (See L. 2006, p. 1858.)
(3) Prior to the amendment of subsection (5) in 2014, subsection (5)(b)(II) provided for the repeal of subsection (5)(b), effective July 1, 2007. (See L. 2006, p. 1858.)
(4) Subsection (1)(o)(III)(C) provided for the repeal of subsection (1)(o)(III), effective the July 1 following the revisor of statutes' receipt of the notice required pursuant to subsection (1)(o)(III)(B). (See L. 2009, p. 645.) The revisor of statutes received said notice dated March 23, 2012.
(5) Prior to the amendment of subsection (1)(p) in 2013, subsection (1)(p)(III)(C) provided for the repeal of subsection (1)(p)(III), effective the July 1 following the revisor of statutes' receipt of the notice required pursuant to subsection (1)(p)(III)(B). (See L. 2009, p. 645.) The revisor of statutes received said notice dated April 2, 2012.
(6) Subsection (1)(r)(III)(C) provided for the repeal of subsection (1)(r)(III), effective the July 1 following the revisor of statutes' receipt of the notice required pursuant to subsection (1)(r)(III)(B). (See L. 2009, p. 645.) The revisor of statutes received said notice dated February 17, 2017.
(7) Section 34 of chapter 267 (SB 17-267), Session Laws of Colorado 2017, provides that the section of the act changing this section does not take effect if the centers for medicare and medicaid services determine that the amendments do not comply with federal law. For more information, see SB 17-267. ( L. 2017, p. 1478.) The executive director of the department of health care policy and financing did not notify the revisor of statutes by June 1, 2017, of such determination; therefore, the changes to this section took effect July 1, 2017.
2021 Ch. 434, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
For the legislative declaration in SB 17-267, see section 1 of chapter 267, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.