Colorado Revised Statutes Title 25.5. Health Care Policy and Financing § 25.5-1-107. Final agency action--administrative law judge--authority of executive director

(1) The executive director may appoint one or more individuals to serve as administrative law judges for the state department pursuant to section 24-4-105 and pursuant to part 10 of article 30 of title 24 subject to appropriations made to the department of personnel. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, hearings conducted by the administrative law judge are considered initial decisions of the state department and the executive director or the executive director's designee shall review the initial decisions. If exceptions to the initial decision are filed pursuant to section 24-4-105(14)(a)(I), the review must be conducted in accordance with section 24-4-105(15). In the absence of any exception filed pursuant to section 24-4-105(14)(a)(I), the executive director or the executive director's designee shall review the initial decision in accordance with a procedure adopted by the state board. The procedure must be consistent with federal mandates concerning the single state agency requirement. Review by the executive director or the executive director's designee in accordance with section 24-4-105(15) or the procedure adopted by the state board pursuant to this section constitutes final agency action. The administrative law judge may conduct hearings on appeals from decisions of county departments of human or social services brought by members of and applicants for medical assistance and welfare that are required by law in order for the state to qualify for federal funds, and the administrative law judge may conduct other hearings for the state department. Notice of any hearing must be served at least ten days prior to the hearing.

(2) Hearings initiated by a licensed or certified provider of services shall be conducted by an administrative law judge for the state department and shall be considered final agency action and subject to judicial review in accordance with the provisions of section 24-4-106, C.R.S., for any party, including the state department, which shall be considered a person for such purposes.