(1) (a) The general assembly authorizes the state department to implement a pilot program that would allow an eligible person with a disability to receive complementary or alternative medicine to the extent authorized by federal waiver. The pilot program may begin no later than January 1, 2012. The state department shall design and implement the pilot program with input from an advisory committee that must include, but need not be limited to, persons with spinal cord injuries who are receiving complementary or alternative medicine. The state department shall continue to utilize a volunteer outreach coordinator throughout the duration of the pilot program whose duties include, but are not limited to, facilitating participant and provider enrollment and acting as an informal liaison between the state department, pilot program participants, and other stakeholders. The state department may seek any federal waivers that may be necessary to implement this part 13.
(b) Subject to available funds, it is the intent of the general assembly that the state department enroll every eligible person that applies for the waiver and that an eligible person is not placed on a waiting list for services.
(a) The purpose of the pilot program is to expand the choice of therapies available to eligible persons with disabilities, to study the success of complementary and alternative medicine, and to produce an overall cost savings for the state compared to the estimated expenditures that would have otherwise been spent for the same persons with spinal cord injuries absent the pilot program.
(b) In order to qualify and to remain eligible for the pilot program authorized by this section, a person shall:
Be diagnosed with a spinal cord injury;
Be willing to participate in the pilot program;
Demonstrate a current need, as further defined in rule by the state board, for complementary or alternative medicine; and
Be eligible for medicaid, including but not limited to persons whose gross incomedoes not exceed three hundred percent of the current federal supplemental security income benefit level and who are eligible for a home- and community-based program authorized pursuant to this title or the consumer-directed attendant support pilot program authorized pursuant to part 10 of article 6 of this title.
The state department shall develop the accountability requirements for the pilot program necessary to safeguard the use of public moneys and to promote effective and efficient service delivery.
The state board shall adopt rules as necessary for the implementation and administration of the pilot program.
The state department shall cause to be conducted an independent evaluation of thepilot program to be completed no later than January 1, 2025. The state department shall provide a report of the evaluation to the health and human services committee of the senate and the public health care and human services committee of the house of representatives, or any successor committees. The report on the evaluation must include the following:
The number of eligible persons with disabilities participating in the pilot program;
The cost-effectiveness of the pilot program;
Feedback from consumers and the state department concerning the progress and success of the pilot program;
Any changes to the health status or health outcomes of the persons participating inthe pilot program;
Other information relevant to the success and problems of the pilot program; and
Recommendations concerning the feasibility of continuing the pilot program beyondthe pilot stage and changes, if any, that are needed.
Repealed.
Unless the state department receives sufficient appropriations, the state department isnot required to seek federal approval or implement the pilot program.
Source: L. 2009: Entire part added, (HB 09-1047), ch. 395, p. 2129, § 1, effective August 5. L. 2015: (1), (2)(a), (2)(b)(III), (5), and (7) amended and (6) repealed, (SB 15-011), ch. 333, p. 1355, § 3, effective June 5. L. 2019: IP(5) amended, (SB 19-197), ch. 335, p. 3089, § 1, effective May 29.