SB 25-270 — Enterprise Nursing Facility Provider Fees
Status: Governor Signed (signed April 30, 2025)
Introduced: March 31, 2025
Primary Sponsors: Shannon Bird; Judy Amabile; Jeff Bridges; Emily Sirota
Cosponsors: C. Kipp; D. Michaelson Jenet; N. Hinrichsen; L. Cutter; J. McCluskie; J. Gonzales; F. Winter; T. Sullivan; J. Coleman; K. Wallace; C. Clifford
Overview / Purpose
SB 25-270 creates a statutory framework to authorize and operate a state enterprise that assesses provider fees on nursing facilities. The stated policy purpose (by the title) is to generate state funds via a nursing facility provider fee enterprise to: (1) increase or stabilize Medicaid funding for long‑term care services, (2) draw down additional federal Medicaid matching dollars, and (3) support rate changes or other payments to nursing facilities and related long‑term care programs.
Key provisions (summary and typical elements)
The bill text is not included here. Based on the bill title and common structure of provider‑fee legislation, SB 25-270 likely includes the following core components:
- Establishment of an enterprise or special fund specifically to collect nursing facility provider fees and to hold and disburse those funds.
- Authority for the state to assess a fee on nursing facility providers (methodology and rate to be specified in the bill or by rule).
- Specification that provider‑fee proceeds can be used to increase Medicaid nursing facility reimbursements and to match federal Medicaid funds (thereby leveraging state dollars).
- Governance and administration provisions for the enterprise (which agency or board administers the fee, collection, accounting, and distribution).
- Reporting, auditing, and transparency requirements (regular reports to the legislature on revenue, federal match achieved, and uses).
- Provisions on exemptions, hold‑harmless terms, or protections for certain providers if included.
- Sunset, review, or modification triggers (many fee statutes include review dates or conditional continuance).
- Conforming and appropriation language that directs how funds are appropriated or credited in state accounting.
Note: The exact fee rate, distribution formula, effective date, and any provider exemptions or offsets are determined in the bill text and implementing rules; consult the enrolled bill for specifics.
Who is affected
- Nursing facility owners/operators (subject to the provider fee).
- The state Medicaid agency and its budget (will administer funds, claim federal match).
- Medicaid beneficiaries in nursing facilities (may see impacts to provider reimbursement and potentially quality/capacity over time).
- State budget and taxpayers (changes in state cash flow and federal match).
Fiscal and operational impact
- Intended to increase state Medicaid spending capacity by leveraging federal matching funds.
- Effects on facility finances will depend on fee level vs. reimbursement increases; may be net positive if reimbursements and federal match exceed the fee.
- Requires administrative implementation (fee collection, distribution, federal claiming).
Legislative history & timeline (selected)
- Introduced in Senate: 2025-03-31 (Assigned to Appropriations)
- Passed both chambers with amendment and conference committee actions during April 2025
- Sent to Governor: 2025-04-29
- Governor signed: 2025-04-30
Next steps / Where to find the bill text
This summary is based on the bill title and legislative actions. For exact statutory language, fee rates, effective dates, appropriation details, and implementation directives, review the enrolled bill text and fiscal notes available from the Colorado General Assembly legislative website or the Office of Legislative Legal Services.
