Colorado ADAPT had
a very successful Freedom Day. We actually began the week
before. On the 4th,
we went to the Capitol and handed out valentines to all
of our state legislators,
along with information on the money following the
individual. On the
14th, ADAPT got an early start with a meeting with Karen
Reinertson, Executive
Director of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).
Karen LOVED the idea
of the money following the person! She wants to move
more people from nursing
homes and other institutions into the community.
She heartily agreed
to call Bobby Halfmann in Texas to consult with him.
Karen also offered
to hold monthly meetings with ADAPT to brief us on
Medicaid issues concerning
the disability community.Our first meeting is on
March 6th at 2:00pm.
Karen also gave us some interesting figures. Here they are:
9,900 people in nursing homes in Colorado.
Less than 100 in ICF-MR facilities.
$385-390 million are spent on these individuals.
There are 12,500 people in the state who are using Medicaid or HCBS waivers.
$200 million are spent
on these individuals. Look at the savings. Colorado
is spending almost
50% less money to serve more folks in the community!
Later, we went to a
Colorado Medical Services Board meeting to make sure
that Karen was telling
us the truth. It definitely appeared that she was.
On the lunch break,
we went over to the Capitol to give Gov. Owens a huge
valentine. It read:
Roses are red, violets are blue. You live in the
community. We want
that too. We also gave him literature about the money
following the individual.
Gov. Owens has indicated that he wants to meet
with ADAPT. What a
change!
Colorado ADAPT is looking
forward to more profitable meetings with Karen,
and we wait to see
what Owens has to say to us.
FREE OUR PEOPLE!
Quite a day for Colorado ADAPT, eh? You may now return to the Current Events page, the ADAPT main page, or go home, and see the rest of my house.
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