HB 26-1244

House Bill 26-1244, which has been signed into law in Colorado, changes how grants from the nursing home penalty fund are distributed. Instead of following specific criteria set by state rules, the Department of Public Health and Environment will now align with guidelines provided by federal health agencies. The bill also updates reporting requirements for grant expenditures, moves up the deadline for submitting these reports, broadens the definition of what benefits residents, and allows more types of entities to apply for grants. This means that nursing homes and related facilities can receive funding based on federal priorities, which could improve care for residents by providing better training and education for staff.

Official Summary

Current law requires the department of public health and environment (CDPHE) to consider certain criteria as a basis for distributing grants from the nursing home penalty cash fund (fund). The act strikes these criteria and instead requires CDPHE to distribute such grants in accordance with priorities and allowable uses identified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services within the federal department of health and human services (centers).     Current law requires the nursing home innovations grant board (board) to make recommendations for the approval of grants from the fund. The act requires such recommendations to be consistent with the processes for grant cycles of, and priorities and allowable uses identified by, the centers.     Current law requires CDPHE and the department of health care policy and financing, with the board's assistance, to jointly submit an annual report to the governor and certain legislative committees of reference regarding the expenditure of money in the fund. The act changes the due date of the report from October 1 to January 1.     In current law, the term 'benefit residents of nursing facilities' is defined to mean that a grant has a direct impact on the residents of nursing facilities or has an indirect impact on the residents through education of nursing facility staff. The act amends this definition to include training, as well as education, of nursing facility staff.     Current law states that a governmental entity may not apply for or receive a grant from the fund unless the entity is a facility that is owned or operated by a governmental agency and licensed as a nursing care facility. The act removes this restriction.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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