(1) Beginning as soon as practicable, but no later than January 1, 2009, no later than one hundred twenty days prior to release, commitment facility personnel or state personnel shall assist the parent or legal guardian of the following juveniles in applying for medical assistance pursuant to part 1 or 2 of article 5 of title 25.5, C.R.S., or in applying to the children's basic health plan pursuant to section 25.5-8-109, C.R.S.:

(a) A juvenile who was receiving medical assistance pursuant to section 25.5-5-101 (1)(f) or 25.5-5-201 (1)(j), C.R.S., or pursuant to the children's basic health plan pursuant to section 25.5-8-109, C.R.S., immediately prior to entering the juvenile commitment facility and is likely to be terminated from receiving medical assistance while committed or is reasonably expected to meet the eligibility criteria specified in section 25.5-5-101 (1)(f), 25.5-5-201 (1)(j), or 25.5-8-109, C.R.S., upon release; and

(b) A juvenile who is committed to a juvenile commitment facility.

(1.5) If a juvenile is committed or placed for less than one hundred twenty days, commitment facility personnel or state personnel shall make a reasonable effort to assist the parent or legal guardian of the juvenile in applying for medical assistance as soon as practicable.

(2) The department of health care policy and financing shall provide information and training on medical assistance eligibility requirements and assistance to the personnel at each commitment facility to assist in and expedite the application process for medical assistance for a juvenile held in custody who meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) (a) For purposes of determining eligibility pursuant to section 25.5-4-205, C.R.S., the county of residence of a juvenile shall be the county specified by the juvenile as his or her county of residence upon release.

(b) The executive director of the department of health care policy and financing shall promulgate rules to simplify the processing of applications for medical assistance pursuant to subsection (1) of this section and to allow a juvenile determined to be eligible for such medical assistance to access the medical assistance upon release and thereafter. If a county department of human or social services determines that a juvenile is eligible for medical assistance, the county shall enroll the juvenile in medical assistance or the children's basic health plan effective upon release of the juvenile. At the time of the juvenile's release, the commitment facility shall give the juvenile or the juvenile's parent or legal guardian information and paperwork necessary for the juvenile to access medical assistance. The applicable county department of human or social services shall provide the commitment facility with the necessary information.

(c) Each juvenile commitment facility administrator shall attempt to enter into prerelease agreements, if appropriate, with the county department of human or social services, the state department of human services, or the department of health care policy and financing in order to:

(I) Simplify the processing of applications for medical assistance or for the children's basic health plan benefits pursuant to section 25.5-8-109, C.R.S., to enroll, effective upon release, a juvenile who is eligible for medical assistance pursuant to section 25.5-5-101 (1)(f) or 25.5-5-201 (1)(j), C.R.S., or the children's basic health plan pursuant to section 25.5-8-109, C.R.S.; and

(II) Provide the juvenile or the juvenile's parent or legal guardian with the information and paperwork necessary to access medical assistance immediately upon release.