Congratulations to Jared Polis and Other Winners

CCDC wishes congratulations to our new Governor Jared Polis and looks forward to working with this new administration.   Our expectations of a new governor are clear and doable.   We look forward to advancing the rights of people with disabilities so that we can show our capabilities as full citizens.  This means a dramatic increase in the number of people with disabilities who are employed.  This means a dramatic improvement in the high school graduation of students with disabilities and making sure that students go to college or some sort of vocational program.   This means a government that values people with disabilities by having high expectations and providing appropriate supports.   This means a government that involves us at every level…on boards, commissions, as employees in state agencies, and on the transition team.    Governor-Elect Polis stated last night that his administration will be inclusive.   We expect to be part of this inclusion and to have disability representation in historic proportions and stand ready to help make that happen.

CCDC congratulates all of the representatives and senators that won their seats as well and we look forward to working with all of you on these same goals.

We will be solidifying legislative priorities for the next two years soon but among them will surely be:

1) Increasing protection for renters such as statewide source of income discrimination protection and habitability laws.

2) Extending the Mediciad Buy-In for Working Adults with Disabilities to people over the age of 65 and for more than 10 days in between jobs, even if we have to use state funds.   With the federal government giving the states carte blanche we should be able to get approval.

3) Getting safety protections for people living in host homes.

4) Consumer direction for all HCBS services.

5) Improving our case management systems, especially transition from institutions.

We will be focusing on money for solid transportation that has a focus on transit and affordable housing that is inclusive of everyone including those with very low income.   We will be working on increased accountability around behavioral health and overall health care in the Medicaid program.

On a federal level with the Democrats having a majority in the house, we will be holding Congresswoman DeGette accountable for her promises to us to fix the Electronic Visit Verification mess and exempt consumer direction and family caregivers.   We will also expect help with improved access to quality complex rehab equipment (power wheelchairs) including accountability for repairs.

While Colorado definitely went blue, this does not mean that CCDC will stop working with our Republican allies.   We have always been and always will be a bipartisan organization.  Our issues cross both parties.  Disability does not discriminate.

CCDC was very proud of the VERY STRONG voter turnout in the disability community.   Approximately 90% of our members had already voted before Monday and we are sure the rest voted Monday or Tuesday.     Voting is the first step of realizing NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.

Consumer Directed Attendant Suppport Services (CDASS) Implementation in Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver

This post is a reproduction of the Policy Memo put out by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

POLICY MEMO

POLICY MEMO NUMBER: HCPF PM 18-002
TITLE: CONSUMER DIRECTED ATTENDANT SUPPORT SERVICES (CDASS)
IMPLEMENTATION IN SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES (SLS) WAIVER
SUPERSEDES NUMBER: N/A
ISSUE DATE: August 3, 2018
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2018
DIVISION AND OFFICE: BENEFITS AND SERVICES MANAGEMENT  DIVISION, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIVING
PROGRAM AREA: CONSUMER DIRECTION
APPROVED BY: GRETCHEN HAMMER
KEYWORDS: CONSUMER DIRECTION, SUPPORT LIVING SERVICES,
IMPLEMENTATION, CDASS

Continue reading “Consumer Directed Attendant Suppport Services (CDASS) Implementation in Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver”

Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 3)

CDASS lets you decide who you want to support you and you hire them. You become the employer and you do not have an agency for the services (personal care, homemaker, enhanced homemaker & health maintenance) available using CDASS.

If you want to use the CDASS service delivery option, you have to use it for all the CDASS services that are in your plan.  For example, if you only have personal care and homemaker services you can use the CDASS option for those.  You cannot use CDASS for one of these services and get another from an agency.  All of your  SLS services that are not available through the CDASS option will continue to come through an agency.

To get started you will need to:

Meet with Your Case Manager or Resource Coordinator

Continue reading “Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 3)”

Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 2)

CDASS: A Three-Part Series – Part 2

Read Part 1 here

Submitted by The Arc of Adams County, February 7, 2018

Part 2 of 3 in a mini-series about Consumer or Self Directed Care in Colorado’s Supported Living Services Waiver. It is meant to give you enough information to decide if you want to explore it further.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy Finance is responsible for assuring the implementation of this Consumer Directed Option. They will be training Case Managers/Resource Coordinators to help individuals and families use the CDASS option. All training for CDASS is done through a contract with Consumer Direct of Colorado.  Continue reading “Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 2)”

Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 1)

Submitted by The Arc of Adams County, January 29, 2018

Coloradans using the Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver will have the option to consumer or self-direct some of their services.  People using some other Colorado waivers have had this opportunity since 2002. Until now those options have not been available in services specifically designed for persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This article is Part 1 of an introduction to Consumer Direction in Colorado. It is a three (3) part information mini-series written primarily to help families of people with I/DD to understand consumer direction in Colorado and decide if you want to use this option for your son or daughter. This 3 part mini-series will be sent over the next 2 weeks. It is not intended to give detailed information.
Continue reading “Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (Part 1)”