An Interview with Catherine Strode
Gretchen Hammer is recognized as one of the state’s most respected leaders in healthcare. Formerly the State’s Director of Medicaid, she recently left the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. For the past four years, Gretchen has overseen the Department’s Health Programs Office which administers the state’s public health insurance programs for low-income Coloradans including Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Prior to HCPF, she served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU). As she looks back over the years of her tenure, Gretchen Hammer cites progress for the state’s Medicaid members in that they have reported satisfaction with the delivery and quality of their care.
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Needs Assessment Validates Services Offered By RMHS
Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Human Services
An Interview with Catherine Strode
When Denver Human Services (DHS) released the findings of a needs assessment for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, one Denver nonprofit organization took it as validation of its work. As part of the needs assessment, Denver Human Services surveyed recipients, providers and others and asked how supportive people are of the current mill levy services being provided by Rocky Mountain Human Services. On a scale of one to ten, where 1 is the lowest level of support and 10 is the highest level of support, across the different types of respondents to the survey, the scores were just over seven and just under nine in terms of how satisfied people were with those current services. Executive Director Sheri Repinski says the results of the needs assessment reflect that RMHS is on the right track and doing work that people value with Denver property tax mill levy dollars.
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Affordable Housing Tops List In Needs Assessment for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
An Interview with Catherine Strode
The results of a needs assessment on services available to Denver residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities have been completed. Denver Human Services (DHS) has released the findings and is now in the process of seating an Advisory Council to recommend solutions. The assessment rated support for the use of Mill Levy funds for enhanced services was high, but cited key gaps in unmet needs. Denver Human Services Mill Levy Program Manager, Justin Sykes, explains the systemic challenges revealed in the needs assessment and discusses the next steps.
Promoting Inclusion with Why Not Them?
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Since 2005, Lloyd Lewis has been overseeing all operational and financial management issues of the arc Thrift Stores in Colorado. He has built a strong reputation on his financial management prowess, turning a business that was burning cash into a solid source of revenue for all of the state’s Arc chapters. However, his latest undertaking is earning him recognition as an advocate, and, as a dad. In the book Why Not Them?, Lloyd delves into how the experience of parenting his son Kennedy has changed not only his life but also his life’s mission.
Fight for Access to Disability Benefits Scores Victory
An Interview with Catherine Strode
For the past two years, Attorney Allison Neswood has campaigned for individuals with disabilities to have greater access to benefits provided by Colorado’s Aid to the Needy Disabled program (AND.) The program provides cash assistance to people with disabilities who are in the process of applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI.) She, along with a group of community advocates, fought for a rule change that will make applying for the cash assistance easier. The State Board of Human Services approved the change unanimously last month, impacting the lives of people with disabilities statewide.
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The Gift of A Lifetime
An Interview with Catherine Strode
For nearly 50 years, Don Morales has given his time and talent to support the needs of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. At 84 years old, Don currently serves as the Treasurer on AdvocacyDenver’s Executive Board. However, his history of service does not begin there nor does it end there. He has logged countless hours of volunteer time over the decades in order to raise funds and improve services for our community.
Don says the greatest advancements he has seen over the years has been children having the right to attend public schools. His service has been based on his passion to help individuals like his own son Danny. He says Danny, now 56 years old, has been a gift to his entire family. ”
The Arc of the United States Opposes Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
The Arc of the United States is actively opposing the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. It is rare for the national Arc to oppose judicial nominations. The last time the United States Arc opposed a judicial nomination was more than 30 years ago.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Peter Berns, says Judge Kavanaugh represents values and a philosophy that are regressive for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. He is urging Arc chapters across the country to speak out against the Kavanaugh nomination to their U.S. Senators, asking them for a “NO” vote on his Supreme Court nomination.
In this interview with Catherine Strode, Peter Berns cites specific decisions written by Judge Kavanaugh that are found to be offensive by the national Arc. Berns says these decisions in the areas of health care, education, and employment threaten the independence and well-being of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
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CDE State Complaint Officer Issues Decision on Systemic Complaint
On April 12, 2018 AdvocacyDenver filed a complaint with the Colorado Department of Education State Complaince Officer on behalf of students eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act served by Denver Public Schools. [Read more…] about CDE State Complaint Officer Issues Decision on Systemic Complaint
Call For Electronic Visit Verification Delay Grows Strong Nationwide
The Washington DC House of Representatives successfully passed H.R. 6042 that would delay by one year the implementation of Electronic Visit Verification. Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is a tracking system that requires electronic verification of when a person receives Medicaid funded personal care or home health services. The bill that has passed the House extends the deadline to January 1, 2020 for implementing EVV for personal care services. A Senate vote on the bill is expected in July
Nicole Jorwic, Director of Rights Policy at The Arc of the United States, calls the delay of EVV a ‘civil rights issue.’ She says the delay is important because it will give stakeholders the opportunity to work out the challenges of privacy protection.
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State Prepares for Electronic Visit Verification Rollout
Over 30,000 Coloradans receiving Home and Community Based Services through the state will be impacted by the federal mandate of electronic visit verification (EVV.) The federal mandate goes into effect on the first day of January 2019. The verification system must be in place in order to continue to receive a 50 percent match from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Stakeholder groups are meeting with representatives from the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing throughout the state to become educated about the verification system requirements.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the state’s Director of Benefits and Services explains Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), how the state will implement it and what concerns are being expressed by clients and providers. In Part One of this interview, Colin Laughlin explains how Colorado will do a “soft rollout” of the Electronic Visit Verification with the formost concern being protection of privacy. [Read more…] about State Prepares for Electronic Visit Verification Rollout