Background on Stakeholder Engagement
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) is often required to promulgate rules as part of the foregoing regulatory activities. HCPF's process of reviewing and adopting rules is public and stakeholder comments are taken into consideration throughout the entire process. Stakeholder engagement opportunities in the rulemaking process visual diagram.
Pursuant to Colo. Rev. Stat. 24-4-103(2), HCPF divisions with rulemaking authority must also establish a representative group of participants with an interest in the subject of rulemaking to submit views or participate informally in discussions on the proposals under consideration or to participate in the public rulemaking proceedings on the proposed rules.
In an effort to ensure early stakeholder engagement when promulgating permanent rules, HCPF divisions with rulemaking authority also utilize these groups to solicit input prior to filing Notices of Proposed Rulemaking with the Secretary of State. The type of early stakeholder engagement performed by HCPF ultimately depends on the unique circumstances of each potential rule-making, but typically includes one or more of the following:
- E-mail blast notifications with working drafts of rules, including questions for consideration,
- Open Forums to discuss preliminary concepts/ideas,
- Specific and targeted outreach campaigns,
- Webinars for stakeholders,
- Formal and informal meetings/roundtables, and
- The opportunity to identify problematic rules and to help us improve efficiency.
The overarching goal is to assure interested parties have easy and early notification and opportunity to submit comments or questions for meaningful consideration and discussion on rules and regulations.
How to Become a Department Stakeholder
As stated above, citizens can be involved in both the drafting of proposed rules and the revision of such rules after they have been formally noticed for potential promulgation. To participate as a stakeholder, visit the Committees, Boards and Collaborations page.
Other Resources
The rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by HCPF are available in multiple places, including the Department's website. They are public facing intentionally, so that interested parties can learn about the process and can provide comments, particularly if the rule or regulation affects a stakeholder, individual, or business. Citizens can access extensive information regarding HCPF's rule-making activities online, including the following:
Notices of Proposed Rulemaking: You may sign up to receive notices from the Colorado Secretary of State. This service alerts you via e-mail whenever notices of rulemaking, permanent rules, or emergency rules have been published by the Secretary of State in the Colorado Register. This email notification contains a link to the Colorado Register to view the logistics of the hearing, the full text of notices, proposed rules, adopted rules (permanent or emergency), and the associated Attorney General opinions. You may also sign up to receive regulatory notices from the Department of Regulatory Agencies. This service will alert you via e-mail when permanent rules are being proposed according to specific subject areas, such as water, environment, education and public safety or by specific state agencies. These notices include the logistics of the rulemaking hearing as well as a redline/strikethrough version (if applicable) of the proposed rules so that stakeholders can easily see what is being changed and why. Through these notices, you can easily request that a cost-benefit analysis of any new or amended rule.
Final Rules: The Secretary of State compiles and publishes the administrative rules adopted and promulgated by HCPF (as well as all of Colorado's Executive Agencies) in the Code of Colorado Regulations. Notices of rulemaking, proposed rules, new and amended rules, and Attorney General rules opinions are published twice monthly in the companion publication, the Colorado Register. The official Code and Register are also published on the Secretary of State website.