CO SB057

Creates the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHCAE) as a government-owned business within the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, effective July 1, 2017, governed by a 13-member board appointed by the governor with senate confirmation.

Authorizes the enterprise to charge and collect healthcare affordability and sustainability fees on all licensed/certified hospitals to obtain federal matching funds, with revenues used to increase hospital reimbursements, expand public medical assistance eligibility, and provide consulting services to hospitals.

Establishes the Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Fee Cash Fund for fee revenue, which must be used to maximize inpatient/outpatient hospital reimbursements, increase Colorado Indigent Care Program payments, pay quality incentive payments, and expand eligibility for public medical assistance.

Designates the enterprise as exempt from TABOR spending limits so long as it retains authority to issue revenue bonds and receives less than 10% of revenues from government grants, with fee revenue not counting toward state fiscal year spending limits.

Repeals the existing hospital provider fee program and its oversight board, effective July 1, 2017, and does not take effect if the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determine it does not comply with federal law.