An Interview with Catherine Strode
Merrill Friedman leads the national Disability Policy Engagement team and advocacy strategy for Anthem and its affiliate health plans. She works with advocates to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in the company’s managed health care plans.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, she explains how the health care industry is embracing a Community First philosophy in delivering its Medicaid managed program services.
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National Health Expert Optimistic About Medicaid’s Future Services
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Health Affairs is the leading health policy journal in the country. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Alan Weil, recently gave a presentation in Denver on an overview of the evolution of the country’s Medicaid program. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and an appointed member of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Alan is recognized nationally as an expert in health care policy.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, he explains why he views the future of Medicaid services optimistically for individuals in vulnerable populations.
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Tenants’ Rights Top Colorado Arc’s 2018 Legislative Agenda
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Tenants’ rights for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities will be under review during the 2018 Legislative Session. According to Jon Labadie, Senior Associate with Mendez Consulting, Colorado state statutes are in conflict with the settings rules of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In an interview with Catherine Strode, he says the language in Colorado statutes denies individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities basic rights. This issue, along with early childhood student discipline, will lead The Arc of Colorado’s 2018 legislative agenda.
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Child Mental Health Treatment Act Initiates Wait List
An Interview with Catherine Strode
The Child Mental Health Treatment Act (CMHTA), enacted by the state in 1999, is celebrated as a victory for the mental health community. The Act allows families to access children’s treatment services without requiring parents to be charged with abuse or neglect. In its current format, the bill faces reauthorization every ten years in the legislature. Mental Health Colorado’s VP of Public Policy Moe Keller says the CMHTA has had to institute a wait list because of increased referrals this year.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, she says in addition to requesting the reauthorization of more funding for the Act this Session, changes are also being proposed.
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AdvocacyDenver Featured on KGNU’s “A Public Affair”
AdvocacyDenver’s Pam Bisceglia, the Coordinator for Child and Family Advocacy and Interim Director of Advocacy, and Scott Utash, advocate for the Children’s Mental Health Program and Interim Director of Operations, visited last week with KGNU’s Tish Beauford on her program “A Public Affair”.
On the program Pam and Scott discussed AdvocacyDenver’s mission of serving children, teens and adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities—as well as their families—throughout the Denver community, including issues relating to education and current legislation that AdvocacyDenver is working to advance through the state legislature.
New Director Set To Take Reins of Colorado Arc
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Effective November 9, Christiano Sosa takes hold of the leadership reins as Executive Director of The Arc of Colorado. He is in the process of completing a statewide tour of the 13 Arc chapters across the state. Christiano brings a strong background to the position in philanthropic and policy leadership roles for nonprofits including: The Denver Foundation, the Northern Colorado AIDS Project, and Mi Casa Resource Center. His professional career experience reflects his commitment and passion to the goal of social justice.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Christiano says his career experience reflects his commitment and passion to the goal of social justice. He adds that the concepts of inclusion and equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be a primary undercurrent of all policy and systems change promoted by the Arc of Colorado under his leadership.
[Read more…] about New Director Set To Take Reins of Colorado Arc
Three Perspectives On Late Payments For Medicaid Providers
On March 1, 2017, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) launched a new fiscal agent and “The Colorado interChange”, a new Medicaid Management Information System for claims payment. HCPF says this new system replaced technology that had been in place for over two decades and will allow implementation of audit recommendations made over the past several years.
The system underwent several hours of testing. In fact, the Department reports there were, overall, more than 200,000 hours of system pilot testing. However, the testing did not apparently catch a list of issues. In many instances, claims are being denied due to system processing errors. Since The Colorado interChange launched, Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) providers have complained of reimbursement problems threatening their financial sustainability and services continuation. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has instituted interim payments to providers who are facing financial difficulties.
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Arc’s Departing Executive Director Gives Final Reflections
An Interview with Catherine Strode
For the past 10 years as Executive Director of the Arc of Colorado, Marijo Rymer has led policy campaigns across the state to shed light on the issues of our community of individuals with developmental disabilities. At the end of this month, she is retiring from her position. However, she is not retiring from advocating for the IDD community.
In a “farewell” interview with Catherine Strode, she says she will be staying involved with the Arc of the US and with the local Arcs in New Mexico. Her policy legacy? She says it’s a call for collaboration.
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Coverage Gains and Medicaid Satisfaction: Big Takeaways From CHAS
An Interview with Catherine Strode
The Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) is the leading source of information on health insurance coverage, access to health care and use of health care services in the state. Since 2009, over 10,000 Colorado households have been surveyed every two years on changes impacting health policy.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the Colorado Health Institute’s Manager of Public Policy Outreach Joe Hanel, says this year the survey included new questions about satisfaction of care. Results show the state’s Medicaid program fared well with recipients’ responses.
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AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff Look Forward To…
Looking forward towards 2018, AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff have their own individual goals of contribution as this new beginning of the organization unfolds. [Read more…] about AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff Look Forward To…