These are the legal provisions related to hospital financial assistance/charity care in the state of Colorado. This is intended for educational use and should not be treated as legal advice.
Is there a state charity care law?
Yes, Colorado has its own law.
Qualifications for charity care in Colorado
Does the law specify a minimum Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for charity care?
Colorado law specifies the minimum at 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Does the law specify a minimum deadline for applying for charity care?
Colorado law specifies the minimum at 240 days from the first post-discharge bill.
Does the law specify that having insurance disqualifies a patient for charity care?
Colorado law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance to the insured.
Does the law specify that patients must be residents to be eligible for charity care?
Colorado law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from denying patients charity care because of their residency.
Does the law specify that patients must be US citizens or documented immigrants/lawful permanent residents to be eligible for charity care?
Colorado law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance regardless of immigration status.
Does the law specify that patients must owe a minimum bill amount in order to be eligible for charity care?
Colorado law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law says that non-profit hospitals may not require a minimum bill amount for a patient to qualify for charity care. All emergency and medically necessary care conducted at a non-profit hospital is eligible for charity care.
How the law applies to copays in Colorado
Does the law specify that patients cannot be responsible for a copay if they are eligible for charity care?
If an insured patient is determined eligible for discounted care, the allowable billed amount is the lesser of the remainder of the bill after the insurance adjustment, patient copay and/or deductible, or the rate set by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
If an insured patient is determined eligible for discounted care, the allowable billed amount is the lesser of the remainder of the bill after the insurance adjustment, patient copay and/or deductible, or the rate set by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
Collections laws related to charity care in Colorado
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
Before referring a debt to a collector, under Colorado law a hospital must wait 182 days after the date of service or discharge, whichever is later.
Length of time charity care can be applied to future bills in Colorado
Does the law specify that hospitals must honor a charity care decision for future bills for a specific length of time?
Colorado law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly address this. Nonprofit hospitals are simply required to follow their financial assistance policy.