Colorado Payment Resources



Summary of payment program


Billing

  1. The hospital will bill the Division of Criminal Justice directly for the evidence collection portion of a medical forensic exam if the victim elects not to participate with law enforcement at that time. For other related costs, hospitals will bill the survivor’s insurance first, unless they request that their insurance not be billed or they do not have insurance. If the victim makes an anonymous or medical report, the SAVE program will pay for deductibles and co-pays. 
  2. After the SAVE program has paid the hospital for eligible medical expenses (up to the cap), the patient is responsible for paying any further outstanding balances.  
  3. If the patient reports the sexual assault to law enforcement; the law enforcement agency will pay the cost of the evidence collection portion of the medical exam.
  4. A law enforcement reporting victim may be able to request Victim Compensation to cover additional costs associated with the assault.

Payment

The type of report and whether evidence is collected determines what payment programs are available to assist victims with medical bills. Victims are never responsible for payment of evidence collection; however, there may be other medical expenses.

Evidence Collected

  • In a Law Enforcement Report, law enforcement pays the cost of evidence collection and the victim may be eligible to receive Victim Compensation for other medical expenses.
  • In a Medical Report or an Anonymous Report, the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) pays the cost of evidence collection and the victim is eligible for the Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Payment  (SAVE) program to cover other expenses up to a pre-determined financial cap.

No Evidence Collected (Medical Care Only)

  • In a Law Enforcement report, medical bills are eligible for coverage through Victim Compensation.
  • In a Medical Report or an Anonymous Report, medical bills are the victim’s responsibility. An advocate may be able to help find low-cost options for receiving medical care.

Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Payment Program (SAVE)

The Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Payment Program (SAVE) provides financial assistance to medical and anonymous reporting victims of sexual assault. The program helps pay for costs associated with obtaining a medical forensic exam (MFE).

The SAVE Program will pay for routine costs associated with obtaining a medical forensic exam. Hospitals may download the Medical Forensic Exam Payment Request Form  (PDF) and email it to jill.nore@state.co.us for payment.

Eligibility

Only medical and anonymous reporting victims are eligible for the SAVE program. This program provides payment assistance to medical and anonymous reporting victims for (in priority order ):

  1. Routine costs associated with accessing an MFE.
  2. Some medical expenses related to injuries sustained from the sexual assault.
  3. The cost of the evidence collection portion of the medical forensic exam. Survivors never pay this cost.

The cap is subject to change based on the availability of funds.

If the patient chooses not to make a report to law enforcement, they still can do so at a later time. Any medical bills they have after reporting to law enforcement may be covered through Victim Compensation  rather than the SAVE program. 

Colorado Victim Compensation Application

Eligibility to receive crime victim compensation:

  • You or your family are the victim of a violent crime in Colorado, OR
  • You or your family are residents of Colorado who have been victimized in a state or country that does not have a victim compensation program, or will not cover your loss.

Additionally, in order to be eligible for victim compensation in Colorado, you must meet this criteria from the Crime Victim Compensation Statute:

  • The victim sustains mental or bodily injury, dies, or suffers property damage to locks, windows or doors to residential property as a result of the crime.
  • The victim cooperates with law enforcement officials.
  • The police were notified within 72 hours after the crime occurred.
  • The injury or death of the victim was not the result of the victim’s own wrongdoing or substantial provocation.
  • The victimization occurred on or after July 1, 1982.
  • The application for compensation must be submitted within one year from the date of the crime, or six months for property damage claims.

The local victim compensation board may waive some of these requirements for good cause or in the interest of justice. This includes application deadlines.

Victims are required to apply for victim compensation in the Judicial District  where the crime occurred.

  1. Contact theVictim Compensation Administrator in the district where the crime occurred for an application. You can also download and fill out this  Victim Compensation Application and send it to the appropriate administrator. 

    Call (303) 239-4493 or email     Kate.Horn-Murphy@state.co.us  for help locating the appropriate victim compensation administrator for your application.
     
  2. Submit the application and itemized bills directly related to the crime in the district where the crime occurred. Districts may require additional information from applicants.
  3. The processing time is different for each district; however, it generally takes 30-45 days to be notified of the program’s decision.
  4. If a victim compensation claim is denied or the award reduced, the victim has a right to ask the board to reconsider its decision. The victim should be notified of the right to request reconsideration of the board’s decision in writing.

Most judicial districts have a system in place to assist non-English speaking victims of crime. 

Please contact the Victim Compensation Administrator in the judicial district where the crime occurred for further assistance. 

Coordination with healthcare

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs have medical professionals trained in sexual assault response and care. These programs provide medical care and evidence collection, if desired, for sexual assault victims (evidence collection is not required to obtain sexual assault specific medical care).

Most healthcare facilities (e.g., primary care, public health clinics, Planned Parenthood, urgent care clinics, hospitals) should be able to provide sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, as well as pregnancy prevention and treatment. If these medical facilities will not provide those services, contact an advocate or your nearest SANE Program (PDF) for assistance. For a list of support services, including SANE programs, visit You Have The Right Campaign’s interactive resource Map.

In Colorado, victims receiving medical care can choose which type of report occurs. In some cases, where the victim is a minor or an at-risk elder, a medical professional may be required to report the abuse. Adult victims between the ages of 18 and 69 can choose whether or not they wish to report to law enforcement and have a medical forensic exam (MFE) completed.


There are three different types of reporting options to victims:

  • Law Enforcement Report: A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam and chooses to work with law enforcement.
  • Medical Report: A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but chooses not to participate with law enforcement at the time of the exam. Any evidence collected is given to law enforcement with the individual’s contact information. Victims can also choose whether or not the evidence is tested. If they choose not to have the evidence tested, law enforcement must store the evidence for at least two years. Victims can call the law enforcement agency at a later date should they decide to pursue criminal justice options. 
  • Anonymous Report: A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam but, at that time of the exam, chooses not to participate with law enforcement. Any evidence collected is given to law enforcement without the victim’s contact information. With this option, victims cannot choose to have their evidence tested. Instead, law enforcement will store the evidence kit for at least two years. Victims can call the law enforcement agency at a later date should they decide to pursue criminal justice options. 

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault –