Definitions

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Cohort" means a group of counties that are required to work together to administer public assistance benefits through shared work and pooled resources. A cohort's work is informed by the transition plan, report, and recommendations required by this part 8. (2) "Cross-departmental policy alignment team" or "team" means the cross-departmental policy alignment team created in section 26-1-808. (3) "Implementation work group" means the implementation work group created in section 26-1-806. (4) "Public assistance programs" means the medical assistance program established in articles 4 to 6 of title 25.5; the children's basic health plan established pursuant to article 8 of title 25.5; the supplemental nutrition assistance program established in part 3 of article 2 of this title 26; the Colorado child care assistance program established in part 1 of article 4 of title 26.5; the temporary assistance for needy families program described in part 7 of article 2 of this title 26; the old age pension program established in article XXIV of the state constitution; and the adult financial programs described in part 1 of article 2 of this title 26, which include the old age pension, aid to the needy disabled, and home care allowance. (5) "Public benefits delivery model" means a system in which the administration, processing, and delivery of public assistance benefits and services are consolidated into a single centralized and uniform delivery model. (6) "Shared services" means an administrative or operational function performed by a county department on behalf of county departments in a cohort and developed in consultation and collaboration with the state departments and all county departments. Shared services include the following: (a) A call center to handle all calls related to program eligibility on behalf of all county departments; (b) Quality assurance to handle all responsibilities related to the quality of eligibility determination for the public assistance programs; and (c) Security administration services to manage the provision and revocation of access by county personnel to state-provided technology products and systems. (7) "State departments" means the department of human services, the department of health care policy and financing, and the department of early childhood. (8) "Third-party contractor" means the entity contracted by the state departments to assist the implementation work group pursuant to section 26-1-805. (9) "Transition plan" means the transition plan described in section 26-1-807.