public benefits Archives

Barriers, Errors & Due Process Denied: A Review of Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Administrative Hearing Process

by Lyz Riley Sanders, Bethany Pray, Esq. and Julia Char Gilbert | Mar 3, 2022 | Publications, Study reports

From October 2020 to February 2022, Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP) conducted research on SNAP disputes and the processes and outcomes of the administrative hearing process in Colorado. CCLP staff combed through over two thousand pages of 2019 hearing decisions, analyzed state and federal data, and heard directly from Coloradans who experienced challenges with their SNAP benefits and the administrative hearing process firsthand. CCLP found that many SNAP beneficiaries encounter problems but do not successfully access hearings, and when they do, lose their hearings at rates that are much higher than national averages. Beneficiaries reported difficulty navigating the appeal process, a finding that was unsurprising given the technical and dense information provided to beneficiaries in notices and on websites. Vanishingly few beneficiaries have legal representation, and some who had limited English proficiency appeared without the benefit of trained interpreters.

Case Study: Experiences battling debt drive reform of hospital financial assistance laws in Colorado

by Allison Neswood, Esq. | Jan 14, 2022 | Case studies, Publications

This brief, co-published with Community Catalyst, tells the story of HB-1198 from conception through passage and the beginning of implementation. It is a story that begins with the experiences of the people in our communities who search in vain for hospital services they can afford, the people who are drowning in hospital bills after a sudden illness or injury, and the people who are suffering long-term financial distress because they were denied access to coverage or financial assistance.

Cómo tramitar una apelación de Medicaid – Servicios médicos domiciliarios y de enfermería privada

by Anthony Lux, Christina Yebuah and Bethany Pray, Esq. | Nov 16, 2021 | Guides

En esta guía, aprenderá qué hace que un aviso sea "suficiente legalmente", cómo solicitar una apelación y qué información se debe proporcionar, dónde y cuándo presentar su apelación, y quién puede estar disponible para ayudarlo con su presentación.

How to file a Medicaid appeal for pediatric home health and PDN services

by Anthony Lux, Christina Yebuah and Bethany Pray, Esq. | Nov 16, 2021 | Guides

In this guide you'll learn what makes a notice “legally sufficient,” how to request an appeal and what information must be provided, where and when to file your appeal, and who may be available to assist you with your filing.

A Critical Opportunity to Mitigate Childhood Poverty

by Sara Lipowitz, Esq. | Jul 19, 2021 | Video, Webinars

In this webinar from June 23, 2021, CCLP's Sara Lipowitz joined Dr. Sandy Stenmark of the American Academy of Pediatrics-Colorado Chapter, and Christy Blakely, Executive Director of Family Voices Colorado. Discussion centered on what steps might be taken to mitigate childhood poverty across Colorado.

Amicus Brief, May 2021 – CCLP and NHeLP

by Ellen K. Giarratana, Esq., Bethany Pray, Esq. and Sara Lipowitz, Esq. | May 17, 2021 | Amicus briefs, Publications

This amicus brief was submitted by CCLP to the Colorado Supreme Court in May of 2021. This version has been redacted to protect the personal information of the defendant. Summary of the argument Respectfully, the Court overlooked crucial legal issues surrounding...

Issue Brief: Congress Must Extend Unemployment Insurance Benefits

by Charles Brennan | Jul 28, 2020 | Issue briefs, Publications

Roughly 240,000 unemployed Coloradans face a significant reduction in income when the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (or PUC) elapses in late July. The federally funded benefit -- which provides a $600 weekly benefit to supplement unemployment insurance -- helped...

Public Charge: Facts and Fiction

by Allison Neswood, Esq. | May 26, 2020 | CLE credits, Webinars

CCLP’s Allison Neswood, Esq., explains the new federal public charge rules and how they affect Colorado’s immigrant families in this 58-minute webinar. We have applied for one CLE credit for this session.

Issue Brief: What’s Causing Colorado’s Decline in Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment?

by Bethany Pray, Esq. | Nov 5, 2019 | Issue briefs, Publications

Over 1.2 million Coloradans rely on Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for comprehensive health services that foster child development, help adults maintain employment, deliver needed mental health and substance use treatments and keep people with disabilities...

Background Brief: HB06-1023: Verification of Lawful Presence

by Allison Neswood, Esq. | Nov 3, 2017 | Issue briefs, Publications

Advocates across Colorado are interested in improving access to health coverage and care for Colorado’s immigrant populations. One barrier to improving access is state legislation referred to as House Bill 06-1023 (HB 1023). HB 1023 requires state and local government...

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