(1) To improve the health of residents within its jurisdiction, prevent illness and injury, or reduce the incidence of 911 calls and hospital emergency department visits made for the purpose of obtaining nonemergency, nonurgent medical care or services, an authorized entity may establish a community assistance referral and education services program to provide community outreach and health education to residents within the authorized entity's jurisdiction.
(2) (a) On or after July 1, 2018, an authorized entity that operates or plans to operate a CARES program in Colorado shall notify the department of its CARES program in the form and manner required by the department.
The department shall maintain a list of all authorized entities that operate a CARESprogram and make the list accessible to the public.
An authorized entity operating a CARES program shall not assert that it is licensedor certified by the department.
(3) Subject to medical direction, an authorized entity operating a program may, within the scope of practice of its practitioners:
(a) Provide the following services:
Health education and information available on relevant services; and
Referrals for and information concerning low-cost medication programs and alternative resources to the 911 system;
(b) To provide services in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) and to ensure nonduplication of the services, collaborate with appropriate community resources, including:
Health care facilities licensed or issued a certificate of compliance pursuant to section25-1.5-103 or subject to regulation by the department pursuant to article 1 or 3 of this title;
Primary care providers;
Other health care professionals; or(IV) Social services agencies.
(4) (a) An authorized entity operating a CARES program shall not provide services that would require a license or certification pursuant to part 13 of this article or article 3 or 3.5 of this title.
(b) In the form and manner prescribed by the department and before referring a service or provider to a recipient of a CARES program service, an authorized entity operating a CARES program shall disclose, at a minimum, in writing, the following information to the recipient:
Any relationship that the CARES program has with an individual or entity to which itrefers a recipient of CARES program service; and
Whether the authorized entity directs, controls, schedules, or trains any provider towhich it refers a recipient of CARES program services.
(5) The department may investigate an authorized entity as it deems necessary to ensure:
The protection of the health, safety, and welfare of a recipient of CARES programservices; and
That the authorized entity is not providing services through its CARES program thatrequire a license or certification pursuant to part 13 of this article or article 3 or 3.5 of this title.
A person working directly or indirectly for a CARES program, whether as an employee or a contractor, may only provide services consistent with the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; except that nothing in this section prohibits a licensed, certified, or registered health care or mental health provider or certified or licensed emergency medical service provider from acting or providing services within the provider's scope of practice if necessary to respond to an emergent situation.
(a) If an entity offered community outreach and health education before January 1, 2015, the entity may continue and need not comply with the requirements of this part 12. The entity may voluntarily provide reports consistent with the requirements of section 25-3.5-1204. (b) This subsection (7) is repealed, effective July 1, 2021.
Source: L. 2016: Entire part added, (SB 16-069), ch. 260, p. 1064, § 4, effective June 8. L. 2019: (6) amended, (SB 19-242), ch. 396, p. 3531, § 23, effective May 31.