SB 25-308

Senate Bill 25-308, which has been signed into law, allows Colorado’s Medicaid program to cover health-related social needs and provide reentry services for individuals involved in the justice system. The bill creates two new funds that will receive federal money saved by these expansions, one for each type of service. This means more resources can be allocated to support people's health through social programs and help those transitioning back into society after involvement with the justice system. The law also requires the state to develop a workforce capable of providing peer support services as part of these initiatives.

Official Summary

The department of health care policy and financing (department) received federal authorization to provide coverage for health-related social needs and to provide reentry services to justice-involved individuals through the medicaid program. The act creates 2 cash funds, one for health-related social needs and one for reentry services for justice-involved individuals. The act requires the state treasurer to transfer the savings of state money realized from each federal authorization to the respective cash fund. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the department may expend money from the funds to provide health-related social needs or reentry services to justice-involved individuals. The department is required to develop a workforce to provide peer support services in order to comply with the terms of the federal authorization for health-related social needs. The department is authorized, subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, to spend money from the affordable housing support fund for services authorized by the federal authorization to provide coverage for health-related social needs. The act makes and reduces appropriations from the general fund, and from reappropriated funds, to the department, the department of corrections, the department of human services, and the department of local affairs. The act appropriates money from the affordable housing support fund to the department for medical and long-term care services for medicaid-eligible individuals and reduces the appropriation from the affordable housing support fund to the department of local affairs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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