Hello everyone,
We are almost three weeks into the 2026 legislative session and bills are starting to move; however, it was still a slow week for our issues. Some of the biggest news this week concerned the Stateโs overpayments for Medicaid services. About five years ago, based on guidance from the State, transportation providers started billing the State as if they were specialty ambulances when picking up and transporting a Medicaid recipient using a large wheelchair. The amount these providers billed increased from $232 to over $600 per trip during that period. The JBC learned this week that those providers should have only been billing $65. The State remedied the error last fall and while itโs not yet known how much the error cost the Stateโs Medicaid Program, the JBC was told that fixing the error would save $60.5 million in FY 2026-27. Itโs important to note that this is a mixture of both state and federal dollars. Since the providers were following guidance from the State it is not believed that the State can get back the money from the providers; however, there is concern that the federal government might try to recover the money from Colorado for the overpayments.
On Monday afternoon, PERA appeared before the Joint House & Senate Finance Committee. Andrew Roth (PERA CEO & Executive Director) went through an overview of PERA, Amy McGarrity (PERA COO & Chief Investment Officer) talked about the PERA investment program, and Michael Steppat (PERA Director of Public & Government Affairs) discussed PERAโs 2026 legislative agenda. The Committee members asked PERA questions about: the Governorโs budget proposal to reduce the AED/SAED contribution rate for the state division by one percent; PERAโs private equity investments; the expense ratios of PERAโs different investment portfolios; Pinnacolโs potential disaffiliation and the impact on PERA; working after retirement limitations; and PERA retireesโ cost of living adjustments.
So far, there have been 149 bills introduced โ 71 in the House and 78 in the Senate. Only 100 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist