7D04656E25C8D1F7872584F7005D9349 Hearing Summary

The members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) came to the table. Representative Esgar provided an overview of the Staff Budget Briefing Summary FY 2020-21.  This document may be accessed at: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/fy20-21brfsum-12-23-19.pdf .  She introduced members of the JBC staff and noted that the JBC staff works for all members of the General Assembly.

Senator Rankin discussed the budget request from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).  He discussed CDPHE's request for funding to target and raise the states' measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination rate among kindergarteners.  He also discussed other budget priorities for CDPHE including: alternative funding for various administrative positions currently funded by the Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant; a 0.5 percent provider rate increase for local public health agencies; the elimination of the Waste Grease Program in the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, since the program is duplicative with local municipal programs; and the elimination of funding for two external boards: the Stroke Advisory Board and the Colorado Coroners Standards and Training Board.  

Senator Moreno discussed the budget items related to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) starting on page 32 of the Staff Budget Briefing Summary FY 2020-21.  He spoke about the reduction in the Medicaid caseload and responded to questions about the recent decline in Medicaid enrollment. Committee discussion followed about factors that reduce Medicaid eligibility.

Senator Moreno discussed HCPF's budget requests including the variety of enhancements that HCPF wants to make to its customer service protocols; funding for initiatives to ensure appropriate utilization of drugs and to control pharmacy and physician administered drug expenditures; and administrative costs related to the implementation of bundled payments for episodes of care.  He discussed costs related to the implementation of inpatient treatment for substance use disorders.  Senator Moreno discussed the budget requests related to long-term care utilization and management and funding for coordinating care for people with a high-cost diagnosis of chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.  Committee questions followed about Medicare reimbursement rates and the HCPF rate review committee.

Representative Esgar presented the budget requests from the Department of Human Services (DHS).  She discussed the budget request related to the funding for operating and staffing the Mental Health Institute at Pueblo and funding related to a variety of issues at youth services centers.  She continued to discuss the budget request from DHS.  Committee comments and questions followed about the number of child welfare workers needed to manage the child welfare caseload and the difficulty county departments of human services face retaining caseworkers in a tight labor market.

Committee members discussed decreases in various funding requests and the Governor's objective of cutting state spending.  JBC members reassured the committee that they are reviewing the executive departments' suggested budget cuts to be sure that they are not cutting services. Committee discussion followed about services for veterans, the elderly population, and families.