Budget Cuts To Increase Medicaid Provider Rates

The bill requires the general assembly to separately appropriate money to a state agency in the executive branch for lobbying expenses and for costs associated with memberships to professional, subject matter, trade, or other organizations. For fiscal year 2016-17, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount the general assembly appropriates to a state agency for:

• Lobbying expenses shall not exceed an amount equal to 50% of the amount that the state agency spent on lobbying expenses for the 2015-16 fiscal year; and
• Membership costs shall not exceed an amount equal to 50% of the amount that the state agency spent on membership costs for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The general assembly is required to appropriate an amount equal to the savings from the cuts to the executive agencies for lobbying expenses and membership costs to the department of health care policy and financing to increase the provider rates paid under the 'Colorado Medical Assistance Act'.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)