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Child Health Plan Plus Prenatal Waiver

Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Section 1115 waivers allow states to test new approaches to administering Medicaid and CHIP programs beyond what is required by federal statute. These waivers give states flexibility to design and improve their programs to better serve Medicaid and CHIP populations through experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects.

Colorado's Adult Prenatal Coverage in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) demonstration helps provide necessary prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care to low-income pregnant women with incomes above 141% through 195% Federal Poverty Level.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Department) is seeking an extension of the current program. and submitted an updated demonstration extension application to CMS on August 12, 2020. The updated application below includes a summary of public comments received and the Department's responses, which is now posted for a 30-day Federal Comment period.

The State of Colorado submitted an application to extend its Adult Prenatal Coverage in CHP+ section 1115 demonstration for another five years. This Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) demonstration permits the state to use title XXI funds to expand coverage to Medicaid pregnant women with family incomes between 133% and 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The state is not proposing any program changes other than modifications to the evaluation design for the requested extension period. The federal public comment period will be open from August 13, 2020 until September 12, 2020 and may be accessed at:

Submitting Comments

During the public comment period, comments may be submitted via one of the following methods:

  • During one of the Public Hearing Virtual Meetings
  • Email to hcpf_PrenatalDemonstration@state.co.us
  • Fax to (303) 866-2573, Attn:1115 CHP+ Prenatal Waiver Application
  • Mail your comments to:
    Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
    Attn: Public Comment - 1115 CHP+ Prenatal Waiver Application
    1570 Grant Street
    Denver, CO 80203

Additional Information

  • You can request a printed copy of the full application and other documents by:
    • Sending an email to hcpf_PrenatalDemonstration@state.co.us
    • Faxing your request to (303) 866-2573
    • Mailing your request to:
      Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
      Attn: Public Comment - 1115 CHP+ Prenatal Waiver Application
      1570 Grant Street
      Denver, CO 80203
  • Colorado Register Demonstration Notice

5 Year Waiver Demonstration Extension Approved for Colorado's Title XXI 1115 Demonstration - Adult Prenatal Coverage in Child Health Plan Plus (Project Number 21-W-0001 4/8)

Colorado's Title XXI Section 1115 waiver, Adult Prenatal Coverage in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), was most recently renewed to be effective from December 21, 2020 through 2025. The demonstration expanded the income eligibility for uninsured pregnant Medicaid expansion clients who would have been covered under CHP+ if not for the federal poverty level (FPL) expansion of 142% to 195%. The state has targeted this population to achieve three key objectives:

  1. Decrease the uninsured rate for pregnant women,
  2. Increase prenatal and postpartum care for pregnant women enrolled in the demonstration, and,
  3. Increase the number of healthy babies born to pregnant women enrolled in the demonstration.

On June 16, 2021, The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing presented on the demonstration's progress, and future evaluation design at the monthly Accountable Care Collaborative Program Improvement Advisory Committee meeting. The 2020-2025 Evaluation Design is posted below: