Cover All Coloradans: Health Benefits for Children and Pregnant Persons

HB22-1289, known as Health Benefits for Children and Pregnant Persons or the Cover All Coloradans bill, expands health coverage to children and pregnant persons regardless of immigration status. The legislation is to improve health equity for pregnant persons and children in Colorado by making coverage more affordable, more broadly available, and investing in perinatal and postpartum care. The legislation also makes improvements to existing Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) benefits for children and pregnant persons.

The following benefits went into effect on July 1, 2022:

• An enhanced lactation benefit that provides electric breast pumps and related supplies. Lactation support services are under development at the Department. 
• Postpartum coverage is available for a full 12 months after a pregnancy ends as long as members tell Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) they are pregnant. 
• There is no longer a CHP+ enrollment fee for families participating in the program. This gets rid of financial barriers to enrollment and retention in CHP+ after the public health emergency ends. (Enrollment fees have been suspended during the public health emergency. The end date of the public health emergency is still unknown and will be decided by the federal government.)

Coverage expansions for children and pregnant persons eligible for Health First Colorado and CHP+ regardless of their immigration status begins January 1, 2025.

Meeting Archives

May 15, 2023

• Recording: English I Spanish
• Follow-up Email

March 6, 2023

• Presentation
• Recording: English I Spanish
• Follow-up Email
• Health Service Initiative Workgroup's Miro Board

November 29, 2022

• Presentation: English I Spanish
• Recording: English I Spanish
• Meeting Notes: English I Spanish

Lactation Benefit

This benefit includes lactation equipment, supplies and comprehensive lactation support services. The lactation equipment is provided to current Health First Colorado and CHP+ members as early as the 28th week of pregnancy. Per EPSDT policy, deliveries prior to 28 weeks qualify for a breast pump immediately following the birth. The Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit expanded access to single-user electric breast pumps beginning in early June 2022  and access to multi-user breast pumps became effective January 1, 2023.

This breast pump benefit is in addition to the services still offered to the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program members. Members may continue to get lactation equipment and support services from Health First Colorado and/or WIC. The comprehensive lactation support benefit, which is still under development at HCPF, will allow Health First Colorado and CHP+ to reimburse lactation consultants.

This lactation benefit will extend to pregnant and postpartum people regardless of their immigration status beginning January 1, 2025. This is a part of the coverage expansion benefit, which is explained below.

Federal Funding

HB22-1289 requires the Department to maximize federal funding opportunities, and to work with stakeholders in creating a prioritized list of how funding should be used to advance perinatal and postpartum care support. Stakeholder engagement on the use of the Federal Health Services Initiative funding will begin in early 2023. Early 2024 is the deadline for presenting the prioritized list of ideas to the legislature.

Coverage Expansions

HB22-1289 expands Health First Colorado and CHP+ benefits to children and pregnant persons regardless of their immigration status. Stakeholder engagement on coverage expansions will be ongoing in 2023 through 2024.

Community Outreach

HB22-1289 requires the Department to work with stakeholders and community members to develop an outreach strategy to educate and help enroll children and pregnant persons when the new coverage opportunities become available. Stakeholder engagement on outreach strategies will begin in early 2024.

Resources and More Information

• Expanded Maternity and Family Planning Benefits
  • Family planning benefits are available to people regardless of immigration status.

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Ask a question or make a suggestion: hcpf_coverallco@state.co.us