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‘Champion for the Underserved’ Leaves Legacy of Wait List Reform

An Interview with Catherine Strode

‘Champion for the Underserved’ Leaves Legacy of Wait List Reform
After six years in office, State Representative Sue Schafer (House District 24) is not seeking reelection. It is her vision that along with her personal retirement will come the retirement of the term, ‘the wait list.’
by Catherine Strode MPA
Health Care Advocacy Program Policy Perspective
‘Champion for the Underserved’ Leaves Legacy of Wait List Reform
After six years in office, State Representative Sue Schafer (House District 24) is not seeking reelection. It is her vision that along with her personal retirement will come the retirement of the term, ‘the wait list.’ The passage of House Bill 14-1051, which she sponsored this session, provides for a strategic plan to retire not only the term, but the existence of, the wait list for services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by the year 2020.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the Health Care Advocacy Program’s Consultant, Representative Schafer discusses the goals of House Bill 14-1051 and how the bill represents her work as a legislator, her contribution to the state, and, her legacy.
What does the passage of House Bill 14-1051 provide for?
“We’re going to have a strategic plan that will be coordinated by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance to end the wait list by the year 2020 and we’re gradually going to be able to reduce the people on the wait list over these next few years. We don’t even like the term ‘wait list’ any more. It has a negative tone to it. We want to be able to talk about providing the right service to the right person at the right time. We are trying to forecast who is going to need services when, and, how are we as a state going to be able to provide that service. This is a very huge undertaking. Right now we have 2600 adults and children needing services on the Medicaid waiver list; and we have 6200 adults and children waiting for family support services in home and community based services.”
How will the strategic plan be implemented?
“The Governor’s office has the Community Living Advisory Group working in collaboration with Health Care Policy and Finance to set goals and to increase staffing for the Department and the providers across the state. The money from the state will be allocated under the advisement of the Community Living Advisory Group to Health Care Policy and Finance. The plan will have specific measurable goals, with funding attached. We were able to get $17 million from the governor’s office in the general fund for better technology to track these individuals that need the services. Data is critical, matching persons with needs to the right provider. I almost see it as an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for every eligible person. With the technology we have now, I think we can really track these persons and project when they’re going to need a service. There are powerful new ways of diagnosing an early service to people to allow them to have a quality life, as independently as possible. In the least restrictive environment.”
How will the bill provide for future cost savings with the care of individuals with developmental disabilities?
“Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities fall into three different categories. First, there are persons needing services immediately but don’t currently receive services. Secondly, there are persons needing services immediately and currently receive services. And third, there are eligible persons who aren’t needing services at this time. There’s going to be efficient planning and use of money for these three different populations rather than emergencies. We are taking people out of institutions, which are very costly, putting them into Home and Community Based Services or whatever service they might need. People are getting diagnosed earlier, especially children with autism. We are also serving more children through the Early Intervention Program. They’re getting the early diagnosis which can prevent much higher costs down the line of their lives. To get services provided early is going to help them; and it will help us save costs over time.”
As you depart the state legislature, what do you project your legacy to be?

“I see it as a champion for people living on the margins, a champion for the underserved, a champion for so-called underdogs. Over the last six years, I have run bills on mandatory reporting of elder abuse, which has become rampant. There is, unfortunately, more and more physical, sexual, financial abuse of elders. I was the prime sponsor on civil unions, granting rights to LGBT couples. I was the primary sponsor on a children’s mental health act. This bill is allowing children who have serious mental health needs to get treatment and counseling early. I was the prime house sponsor on stopping health insurance companies from treating being female as a preexisting condition and charging women higher premiums. I’m a champion for reducing bullying in schools by training teachers on the new forms of bullying in this electronic age. We’ve provided through that bill training to teachers on how to identify and reduce the bullying. I am passionate about protecting people, and, justice.”

 
 

Catherine StrodeCatherine Strode is the Consultant to the Health Care Advocacy Program. She holds a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Policy. Formerly the Coordinator of the HCAP Program, Catherine publishes Policy Perspective, featuring interviews with state legislators and policy leaders.