Medicaid “kids blitz”
Lawmakers and children’s health advocates Monday announced a plan to try to sign up 115,000 youngsters who qualify for Medicaid but aren’t currently enrolled, a move that could cost the state up to $100 million.
Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, acknowledged Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to pay for such a big increase, but he said the law entitles these children to be covered by Medicaid, the joint state-federal health care service for the poor.
“I may be part of the establishment, but I am willing to challenge the establishment, particularly when it comes to the health care of Colorado’s children,” he said.
Under the “kids blitz” campaign, 2,000 volunteers would be trained to find children who aren’t enrolled in Medicaid and sign them up for coverage, Hagedorn said.
In addition to signing up children who are already eligible, Hagedorn said he would introduce a bill that would raise the income limits for both Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus, a low-cost insurance program, to the maximum levels allowed under state law – $23,000 for a family of four under Medicaid and up to $60,000 under the state plan. He said that would leave 5,000 to 7,000 children without insurance.
It’s not known yet how much the expansion would cost the state.
The bill and campaign are part of a plan to make sure all Colorado’s children have health insurance by 2010. They came out of a coalition of health care and policy groups organized by the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved.
Malpractice lump sums
A proposal to speed malpractice- suit payments was sent to the governor Monday on a 61-4 House vote.
Senate Bill 66, by Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, and House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, requires that those who are disabled by damaging medical treatment have the right to collect a lump sum of their awards.
“People whose lives are changed for the worse can be turned around with SB 66,” said Madden. “They’ve lost so much and were compensated for that loss – but that’s no help if they can’t control the flow of money or even get the money.”
Under current law, families receive the awarded money in monthly or yearly payments.
“Rainy day fund” boost
The House on Monday passed a bill to bolster the state’s “rainy day fund.”
House Bill 1302 by Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, passed 64-1, with only Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, opposing.
The bill doubles the state’s emergency reserve fund from 4 percent of the total general fund to 8 percent.
“The rainy day fund increase is necessary to put the state on firmer financial footing and to help us prepare for any economic downturns,” said Buescher.
