Code of Colorado Regulations
2505 - Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
2505 - Medical Services Board (Volume 8; Medical Assistance, Children's Health Plan)
10 CCR 2505-10-8.000 - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - SECTION 8.000 Emergency Medical Transportation, Program Integrity
Section 10 CCR 2505-10-8.013 - OUT-OF-STATE MEDICAL CARE

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

An eligible Colorado recipient, temporarily out of the state but still a resident of Colorado, is entitled to receive benefits to the same extent that Medicaid is furnished to residents in the state under any one of the following conditions:

1) Medical services are needed because of a medical emergency.

For these services no prior authorization is needed. Whether an emergent condition exists is determined by the provider rendering service. Documentation of the emergency must be submitted with the claim.

2) Medical services are needed because the recipient's health would be endangered if he/she were required to return to Colorado for medical care and treatment.

For these services no prior authorization is required. The determination as to whether the recipient's health would be endangered is made by the provider rendering service. Documentation of why the recipient's health would be endangered must be submitted with the claim. However, the medical consultant of the Colorado Medicaid Program must be notified prior to the provision of services under this paragraph.

3) The State Medicaid Director determines, on the basis of medical advice, that the needed medical services, or necessary supplemental resources, are more readily available in the state where the recipient is temporarily located.

Prior authorization from the Medicaid Program's medical consultant must be obtained for services provided under this paragraph.

4) It is the general practice for recipients in a particular locality to use medical resources in another state.

No prior authorization is necessary for services provided in accordance with this paragraph when the recipient of an area is obtaining services from a provider in a neighboring out of state locale. Prior authorization from the Medicaid Program's medical consultant is necessary if the recipient is receiving services from any other out of state provider not in a neighboring locale.

In addition, prior authorization from the Medicaid Program's medical consultant is required for all services which are only available out of state for Colorado Medicaid recipient's located in Colorado at the time services are necessary.

The above restrictions on out of state medical care shall not apply to children who reside out of the state for whom Colorado makes adoption assistance payments or foster care maintenance payments.

The county departments of social services shall advise all applicants and recipients of this policy.

8.013.1 ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES

To receive reimbursement, all out of state providers shall be required to enroll in the Colorado Medicaid Program. Out of state providers are subject to the same enrollment and screening rules, policies and procedures as in state providers, as specified in Section 8.125 Provider Screening.

8.013.2 REIMBURSEMENT PRINCIPLES

All claims except out of state nursing home claims must be submitted to the fiscal agent for the state with documentation showing that the above requirements have been met. (Out of state nursing home claims shall be paid in accordance with the Payment For Out Of State Nursing Home Care section of the Volume 8 staff manual.) All claims submitted to the fiscal agent must include:

1) A copy of the provider's current Medicaid provider agreement with its state (if applicable);

2) Its Colorado provider number; and

3) Complete address, including zip code.

In addition, providers must sign a provider agreement in order to receive reimbursement. The claim form and the information contained in it shall constitute provider agreement. Except as provided elsewhere in the Volume 8 staff manual, reimbursement for out of state care shall be as follows:

Reimbursement for inpatient hospital services shall be 90% of the Colorado urban or rural DRG payment rate. Out-of-state urban hospitals are those hospitals located within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Reimbursement for physician services shall be the lower of the following:

A. HCFA Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCs) fee;

B. Provider's Actual Charge.

Exceptions to the above reimbursement method are payments for outpatient clinical diagnostic laboratory tests performed by a physician or independent laboratory. These tests will be reimbursed at the lower of the provider's actual charge or a rate of reimbursement equal to the rate paid by Medicare.The foregoing procedures shall be in effect for all out-of-state providers, except as provided for elsewhere in the staff manual Volume 8 regulations. Individual cases which are adversely affected by these procedures shall be presented to the Bureau of Medical Services, Director, Program Operations Division, Colorado Department of Social Services. Individual consideration shall be given to such cases.

The Department may negotiate a higher reimbursement rate for out-of-state hospital services that are prior authorized.

A. These are cases which require procedures not available in Colorado and which must be prior authorized.

B. The patient's physician may suggest where the patient should be sent, but the medical consultant for the Department is responsible for making the final determination based on the most cost effective institution consistent with quality of care.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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