Colorado Legislature Advances Bill to Increase Funding for Nutrition and Housing Support on Medicaid
- Author: Bobby Kub
- Posted: 2024-03-06
On April 9, the Colorado House Health and Human Services Committee passed a bill that aims to direct Medicaid funds to help Colorado families access nutritious food options and secure housing.
An 8-4 vote moved HB24-1322 on to the appropriations committee for further consideration.
In this article, we examine the significance of this bill and how it could support Coloradans in need.
Path to Medicaid Funding for Housing and Nutrition Services
The HB24-1322 legislation proposes to redirect federal Medicaid funds to support nutrition and housing services for those on Medicaid.
The bill would require the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to conduct a feasibility study and pursue a 1115 waiver to determine how to use Medicaid funds for specific nutrition and housing services.
By redirecting existing Medicaid funds, Colorado would receive a federal match and a flexible way of designing and improving Medicaid programs to meet the needs of Coloradans.
Empowering Coloradans in Need
The bill, if enacted, would provide cost-neutral ways to use Medicaid funds to afford housing and nutritious meals. It could help provide temporary housing, rental assistance, pantry stocking, utility assistance, eviction prevention, and tenant support.
Furthermore, the state could use Medicaid funds to pay for nutrition-based services such as medically tailored meals.
By addressing health-related social needs, this bill aims to uplift families and support communities, especially vulnerable populations such as older adults seeking nutrition assistance or youth transitioning out of foster care.
Following the Lead of Other States
Cost-neutral models for redirecting Medicaid funds to housing and nutrition support services are already being used in over 15 states nationwide.
Some of these states include Arkansas, California, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
Colorado's HB24-1322 proposal follows this trend of using federal Medicaid funds to support housing and nutrition services as part of Medicaid’s broader mandate of addressing social determinants that contribute to poor health outcomes.
Conclusion
The HB24-1322 proposal to increase funding for nutrition and housing support on Medicaid highlights the need for states to address the broader social determinants of health that contribute to poor health outcomes.
By providing funding for affordable housing and nutrition, the bill makes progress in supporting Colorado's most vulnerable populations.
Follow-up by the appropriations committee and enactment of the bill would ultimately provide Coloradans with more resources to achieve affordable access to nutritious meals and affordable housing.
