Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council

Legislative and Public Policy Committee (L&PP)

Minutes

Date: May 5, 2015

Mission: The Legislative & Public Policy Committee guides the Council by actualizing the Council’s vision to establish and implement public policy which will further the independence, productivity and integration of people with developmental disabilities by effecting positive system change.

The Committee is guided by all goals and objectives of the Council’s Five-Year Plan for 2012-2016.

The Committee specifically addresses Goal 5, Objective One of the Plan.

Goal 5: Improve the quality of life, and increase real choices for people with disabilities to live in their communities by providing them the resources they need to live a quality inclusive life.

Objective 2: Engage in public policy and advocacy activities that encourage and result in the simplification and coordination of systems and resources for the support of people with developmental disabilities.

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Agenda: UPDATES

Meeting called to order at 11:18 AM

There was no quorum to approve the minutes.

Legislative Update: Julie Farrar said that most bills the Committee was following were postponed indefinitely

and she thanked the Committee members who participated in the Legislative Weekend.

Update on CDASS/SLS:Barb Ramsay said amendments to implement the consumer direction of CDASS

willbe submitted at the end of May.

HB15-1368: Cross system pilot: This legislation requires a pilot program toinitiate

the CANDO Gaps Analysis recommendationsto provide services for

individuals with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities

and mental or behavioral conditions.

The pilot will operate at several sites throughout the state and

incorporated the services oftheColorado Crisis Line, Behavioral

HealthOrganizationsand other agencies.

HB15 -1318: Consolidate waivers. This legislation requires the Department to

redesign the adult waivers serving individuals with intellectual and

developmental disabilities.

The new waiverwill incorporateself-direction,person

centeredness,flexibility,and a newbenefit designthat includes

supportfor transitions from nursing facilities and other

institutions,school-to-workand other employment supports and

wellness supports.

This waiver will serve as a model for Colorado’s other long term support

waivers.

The law will provide funds to cost outthebenefits andset

reimbursement rates. It also requires the Department make a plan for

conflict free case management and to review the Supports Intensity

Scale needs assessment tool.

Update on CMS:Josh Winkler asked Barb about personal care and health maintenance being merged into

one service tocreate one reimbursement rate, as this has been requested by both CAG and

the CFC Council. CDASS has individualized allotments; the clients get to decide how much

to pay attendants for each service which works well.

Update on CFC: Josh stated the FY2015-16 budget included funding to continue CFC feasibility/pre-

implementation work for two more years. There will be a revised analysis ofthe costs due to

changes in rules since the initial feasibility report by the end ofJuly 2015.

ABLE ACT:This bipartisan legislation allowed Colorado residents, who receive a disability diagnosis before

age 26, to have savings accounts similar to college savings accounts. Julie and Josh are

continuing to work with HCPF to raise, or eliminate, asset limits for everyone.

NEXT L&PP MEETING June 16, 2015 at 11:00 AM

Meeting Adjourned: 12:55 pm

ACTION: Ed George, Mike Hoover and Josh gave their approvals for the submitted minutes. It was determined

that the co-chairs can approve past minutes since they have been sent to all committee members and no corrections were noted. All three sets of minutes were approved. Lionel will post on the website.

Barb will report back to the Committee on the CMS reimbursement rate that Josh questioned in his CMS

report.

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Those in Attendance: Ed George, Mike Hoover, Barb Ramsey (GTM), Josh Winkler (GTM)

Staff: Julie Farrar, Lionel Llewellyn

Guests: Donna Downing,

Absent: Lisa Franklin, Tim Hudner, Lisa Kramer, Bob Lawhead, Hanni Raley, Anaya Robinson, Cynthia Shaffer, Ty Smith, Mellisa Umphenour, Renee Walbert

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