HB 22-1114

House Bill 22-1114, also known as "Transportation Services For Medicaid Waiver Recipients," aims to improve transportation options for people receiving certain Medicaid services in Colorado. The bill requires the state’s health care department to create a report by January 2024 that outlines ways to increase transportation provider participation and ensure compliance with federal rules. It also calls for analyzing existing transportation network companies (like ride-sharing apps) to verify their ability to safely and cost-effectively provide nonmedical transportation services to Medicaid waiver recipients. Once verified, these companies can be authorized to offer such services starting July 1, 2024. The bill has been signed into law, meaning the process of implementing its provisions is now underway.

Official Summary

No later than January 2024, the act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly identifying: A reimbursement system with a goal to incentivize and increase transportation provider participation; How the state department will ensure compliance with applicable federal laws and waiver requirements; A system of common reporting to ensure a recipient does not exceed the medicaid benefit in a multi-provider scenario; and Best practices based on what other states have done to allow transportation network companies (TNC) to provide nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services. Upon completion of the report, the act requires the state department to analyze and review each operational TNC and no later than July 1, 2024, verify each TNC's viability to ensure the health, safety, welfare, cost effectiveness, and capability in expanding nonmedical transportation services for individuals receiving services under the home- and community-based services for the elderly, blind, and disabled waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with major mental health disorders waiver; the home- and community-based services for persons with brain injury waiver; the home- and community-based supported living services waiver; or the complementary and alternative medicine for a person with a spinal cord injury waiver. By 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 and shall promulgate any necessary rules. The act appropriates $110,811 to the department of health care policy and financing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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