Senate Bill 17-121 Summary

• Requires the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to improve Medicaid client correspondence created or revised after January 1, 2018 by using plain language, including dates and client greetings, maintaining consistent terminology, and providing clear purpose and required client actions.

• Mandates accurate translation of correspondence into the second most commonly spoken language when requested and inclusion of translation assistance information in the top 15 languages most commonly spoken by Colorado residents with limited English proficiency.

• Requires correspondence to include specific descriptions of requested information or documents, contact information for client questions, and plain language explanations of the basis for any benefit denials, reductions, suspensions, or terminations.

• Directs the state department to make electronic information available to clients concerning household composition, assets, income sources, and amounts relevant to their eligibility determination, subject to sufficient appropriations and federal financial participation.

• Appropriates $141,890 from the general fund and hospital provider fee cash fund for the 2017-18 fiscal year, plus $141,891 anticipated in federal funds, and $8,100 for administrative court operating expenses.