Jan 15, 2016

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Legislative Update: Jan. 15, 2016

by | Jan 15, 2016

This year, CCLP will back many bills with bipartisan appeal that could make a significant difference in the lives of low-income Coloradans. We’re also expecting to play “defense” against legislation that could potentially hurt Colorado’s neediest families.

Yesterday, CCLP staff shared our priorities for 2016 both inside and outside the Capitol dome during our annual Legislative and Policy Preview Breakfast.

Our Family Economic Security agenda for 2016 includes legislation that will provide new opportunities to individuals who face barriers to employment because of a criminal record in their past. We are supporting legislation that will expand laws that will prohibit employers from asking about convictions in preliminary job applications. Our other priorities for 2016 are increasing the availability of affordable housing and childcare while parents pursue education or job training. Outside of legislation, we are working on improving consumer information for students of for-profit schools and training programs and efforts to raise the minimum wage in Colorado. Learn more about our Family Economic Security work in this blog posting from CCLPs Chaer Robert.

CCLP’s Health Program will work to ensure that low-income Coloradans don’t lose quality, affordable healthcare as a result of this year’s budget shortfall. We know that the growth in Medicaid enrollment will be in the crosshairs of some legislators as TABOR spending limits force reductions in education funding. We are also working with healthcare stakeholders to address the issue of “surprise billings” when patients are unexpectedly charged extra for out-of-network medical services. Other legislative priorities include improving transparency of formulary benefits for Coloradans with chronic health issues, conducting a cost analysis for continuous Medicaid eligibility for adults, and aligning income and household definitions between Medicaid and Advance Premium Tax Credits to ensure that Medicaid-eligible, low-income individuals and families are not locked into private insurance when their incomes drop. Learn more about our Health Program work in this blog posting from CCLP’s Elisabeth Arenales.

Throughout the session, CCLP will keep you posted on our work through email and social media. If you aren’t already on our mailing list, please notify Bob Mook, our Communications Director, at [email protected]. You could also keep up with our progress through our Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Recent articles

CCLP’s Public Comment on Mental Health Parity for Colorado Medicaid

Earlier this month, Bethany Pray, Interim Executive Director of Colorado Center on Law and Policy, provided the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) with a public comment regarding mental health parity for Colorado Medicaid. Individuals...

A Summary of Pro-Tenant Bills in the 2023 Legislative Session, Part 1

Protections for renters are important for Colorado. Pro-tenant policies lead to greater housing stability, particularly for our lowest income households. They also can help prevent displacement and the process of gentrification – changing the character of a...

Myths & Facts: Ending Colorado’s Unconstitutional Sponsorship Law

In the mid-90s, President Bill Clinton famously promised to “end welfare as we know it,” by capping the number of years for eligibility and imposing restrictions for certain public benefits. Non-citizens were hit particularly hard as part of that misguided goal as...