Senators Kirkmeyer and Fields, primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1038, which creates and expands programs for youth who are in, or are at risk of being placed in, out-of-home care, as described below. First, the bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the Behavioral Health Administration, and the Department of Human Services (CDHS) to create a system of care for the youth populations that they deem appropriate, including youth covered by Medicaid. At a minimum, the system must:

·        implement tool that assesses treatment needs;
·        provide intensive care coordination;
·        expand access to treatment foster care (an alternative to residential treatment facilities), including by increasing access under the state Medicaid program; and
·        expand access to supportive services under the Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP - described below in more detail).

The BHA must promulgate rules for implementation by October 1, 2024. HCPF may promulgate rules and must implement the expanded access to treatment foster care under Medicaid by January 1, 2025.The bill requires HCPF to apply for federal approval to update the eligibility requirements for the Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP), a program for youth who are at risk of out-of-home placement. Currently, the program is limited to youth with developmental disabilities. By January 1, 2025, HCPF must apply for the program to include youth with serious emotional disturbances. HCPF must evaluate its reimbursement rate for psychiatric residential treatment facilities using an actuarial analysis from a third-party vendor. Residential child care provider training academy. By July 1, 2026, the CDHS must help staff, monitor, and improve residential child care facilities by:

·        creating an academy to train residential child care providers;
·        developing minimum standards and a monitoring system;
·        developing an incentive system to improve performance; and
·        reporting required information outlined in the bill.

Emergency Residential Treatment Program. Finally, the bill continues and expands theEmergency Residential Treatment Program, created as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, subject to available appropriations. The program is expanded by:

·        increasing the number of beds available;
·        increasing the reimbursement rates;
·        reimbursing for the cost of room and board for any child eligible for Medicaid but not in the custody of a county;
·        creating a pilot program within the program for non-detained, justice-involved youth;
·        contracting with additional providers; and
·        increasing reporting requirements.

Ms. Mollie Bradlee, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. Ellen Stern, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tiffany Pelham Webb, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Additional written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

The primary bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.