| States will have flexibility in designing benchmark coverage to cover most, or all, the benefits covered under traditional Medicaid - or to provide a less comprehensive benefit package, such as a package comparable to certain employer plans. Some States will create single-payer or Universal health care initiatives, like California and Rhode Island. As program funds become available, and HC facilitation is implemented, Colorado may be in a position to assess broader initiatives. The foundation has been created.
In addition to Medicaid matching funds, CO will receive $9.2 million as part of a State Health information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program - connecting Federal and State DHHS systems - monitoring eligibility.
This is not good news for anti-immigrant factions within the GOP. Many illegals are actually legal immigrants placed in limbo - because our State and Federal DHHS systems don't communicate. In administrations past the cost burden would have been placed on the State to initiate system links. Lack of funding sources prevented most from doing so - a catch 22.
As immigration concerns took on politically dogmatic legs of it's own, "illegals" became a target under the GOP's 'fall in line' umbrella. In short, the 15 million national illegals statistic cited by former CNN anchor, Lou Dobbs, and FOX and friends, is total bullshit - something "socialist liberals" already knew. Now we'll have the technology to prove it.
http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal...
The amount of federal funds States will receive for health care services provided to this new group before 2014 will be determined using the state's regular Medicaid matching rate. Full funding will start in 2014. Following is a link to view CO budget appropriations request.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Sat...
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Please contact the Colorado Dept. of Health and Human Services for more information. |
