OVP: Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Payment Program (SAVE)

The Office for Victims Programs (OVP) provides resources to assist hospitals, communities, and sexual assault victims. Our office works with agency partners to improve outcomes for adult victims of sexual assault. Current efforts include the Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Fund Program (SAVE); the Forensic Compliance Team (FCT); and the Colorado Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Project. 

Victims of sexual assault in Colorado have three options for getting medical care, collecting possible forensic (DNA) evidence, reporting the crime to police, and financial assistance for the medical costs associated with the sexual assault. The three options are:

• Report the sexual assault to police; 
• Report the sexual assault to medical providers without a police investigation (referred to as medical reporting); or 
• Report to medical providers but remain anonymous to the police (referred to as anonymous reporting). 

In all sexual assault cases, victims determine whether to have a medical forensic exam (sexual assault specific medical care and evidence collection).

Victims are not financially responsible for the cost of the evidence collection portion of the exam. During the exam, the individual determines what, if any, evidence will be collected.  

For the latest information on your reporting options and medical care locations,  please visit YOU have the RIGHT.

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).

SAVE Program Contact Information

The SAVE Program will pay for routine costs associated with obtaining a medical forensic exam. If you have questions about the SAVE program, please contact Jill Nore at 303-239-5714 or Jill Nore. 

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):

• The cost of the evidence collection portion of the medical forensic exam.  Survivors never pay this cost.
• Routine costs associated with accessing a medical forensic exam (MFE).
• Some medical expenses related to injuries sustained from the sexual assault.

For FY (fiscal year) 2024, the current per incident cap payable by the SAVE program is $5,000. This amount is inclusive of the MFE and associated medical costs incurred from a sexual assault. The cap is subject to change based on the availability of funds. 

How Are Medical Forensic Exams Paid For

Victim/Survivor elects not to participate with law enforcement

1. The Division of Criminal Justice will pay for the evidence collection portion of a medical forensic exam. Hospitals may download the Medical Forensic Exam Payment Request Form (PDF) and send it to Jill Nore for payment.
2. If the victim has insurance and requests that their insurance is billed, the hospital bills the survivor's insurance for related costs. If the victim makes an anonymous or medical report, the SAVE program will pay for insurance deductibles and co-pays.
3. After the SAVE program has paid the hospital for eligible medical expenses (up to the cap), the patient is responsible for paying any outstanding balances.

Victim/Survivor reports the sexual assault to law enforcement

1. The law enforcement agency will pay the cost of the evidence collection portion of the medical exam.
2. A law enforcement reporting victim may be able to request Victim Compensation to cover additional costs associated with the assault.

What if I Decide to Report to Law Enforcement After Receiving the Exam

If the survivor 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.