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Nearly 400 people attended the IDD Wait List hearing at the Colorado Capitol to support END THE WAIT! We asked everyone to wear blue!

Legislator Contact: Emma Hudson emma@emmahudsonconsulting.com

The Time Has Come to END THE WAIT!!!

A proposal to ensure access to quality services and enhance IDD system capacity

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BACKGROUND:

 
Colorado currently has three Medicaid waiver programs that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD): Children’s Extensive Supports (CES), Supported Living Services (SLS), and Developmental Disabilities (DD). These waivers provide supports in the person’s home and community to help with activities of daily living like bathing, getting dressed, finding and getting to work, and participating in community life. They are critical to ensuring that people with IDD can access the services they need to fully participate in their communities. Community-based IDD services are a unique marriage of the public and private sectors; the private agencies that provide them rely on Medicaid reimbursements for 90-98% of their revenues.

 

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On February 27th, 2019, Alliance, The Arc of Colorado and JFK Partners displayed 3,000 flags in front of the Denver City and County building to demonstrate the lives of those impacted by the wait list and our commitment to work together on a solution to eliminate it. We hope that you will take a moment to appreciate that each of these flags represents a person whose support needs aren’t getting met.

Background
The Problem

THE PROBLEM  


Waiting List for DD Services 


Unfortunately, despite the intensive level of care needed by people on the waiting list, it continues to grow and today totals about 3,000 Coloradans. Many of these individuals have been waiting more than a decade for the critical supports they need to fully participate in their communities. Despite a 2014 General Assembly decision (HB14-1051) to direct HCPF to create a comprehensive plan to eliminate the waiting list by 2020, no clear plan currently exists. While we have made some progress to help people come off the waiting list in recent years, a long-term solution is sorely needed.

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IDD System Capacity 

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Because Medicaid is the only funder of these services, IDD providers rely on Medicaid reimbursements for 90-98% of their revenues and they cannot shift costs to the people they serve or private insurance payors like other Medicaid providers. IDD providers are therefore disproportionately affected by economic factors such as the rising minimum wage and inflation. In 2008, the baseline rate structure for IDD services was set at only 76% of the cost of doing business. Since then, rates have continued to lag far behind inflation and increasing costs. For example, in the last five years, the Colorado minimum wage has increased 34.7%, while IDD waiver rates have increased only 11.6%. This disparity will be compounded by local minimum wage increases allowed by legislation passed in 2019. These decades-long structural financing issues and new challenges are placing strain on the service system, and - most importantly - limiting access to services for Coloradans with IDD and their families.

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System capacity and addressing the waiting list are inextricably linked – adding more people to an underfunded system simply means that, instead of waiting for enrollment, people wait to find providers.


We call this the “invisible waiting list”.

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The Solution

THE SOLUTION 

 

To advance the goal of eliminating the waiting list while ensuring system capacity, the General Assembly should:

  • Commit to a 6-year, phased-in elimination of the DD waiting list. In each of the next six years, Colorado should enroll one-sixth (about 500 people) of the individuals on the DD waiver’s As Soon As Available waiting list; and

  • Tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index (aka standard inflation measure) to ensure the availability of providers to serve new and existing enrollees.

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THE COST 


Year one of the six-year waiting list elimination coupled with a rate increase based on CPI (approximately 2.7% in 2018) amounts to $26 million General Fund (not including savings from people moving off the SLS waiver). For every dollar Colorado invests, the federal government provides a 100% match, doubling the impact. Once fully implemented after six years, the lives of 3,000 Coloradans and their families will forever be changed.  

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Supportors

Supporters of this 2020 End the Wait Initiative!!!

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Businesses IN SUPPORT (Updated 10/27/2020)

 

Advocacy Groups:

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Community Centered Boards:

  • Blue Peaks Developmental Services, Inc.

  • Colorado Bluesky Enterprises, Inc.

  • Community Connections, Inc.

  • Community Options, Inc.

  • Developmental Disabilities Resource Center

  • Developmental Pathways

  • Eastern Colorado Services for the Developmentally Disabled

  • Envision

  • Foothills Gateway, Inc.

  • Horizons Specialized Services

  • Imagine!

  • Inspiration Field

  • Mountain Valley Developmental Services, Inc.

  • North Metro Community Services

  • Rocky Mountain Human Services

  • Southeastern Developmental Services, Inc.

  • Southern Colorado Developmental Disability Services

  • Starpoint

  • STRiVE

  • The Resource Exchange

 

Corporate and Community Support:​

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Provider Agencies:

  • A Better Life Experience, Inc. (ABLE)

  • A Brighter Community, LLC

  • Ability Specialists

  • Acting Up Seminars, LLC

  • Activity Options

  • All Friends, Inc.

  • Alpine Adult Day Care, LLC & Alpine Homecare, LLC

  • Altra Services Inc.

  • Ariel Clinical Services

  • Ascendigo Autism Services

  • Behavior Services of the Rockies

  • Belk Model, LLC

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Provider Agencies Continued:

  • Bethesda Lutheran Communities

  • C4C, LLC

  • C.A.R.E. Inc

  • Cheyenne Village

  • Colorado Autism Consultants

  • Common Roots LLC

  • CommonWorks

  • Community Advantage

  • Community Link

  • Community Living Alternatives

  • Community Outreach, Inc.

  • Community Support Services

  • Continuum of Colorado

  • Cottonwood Community Alternatives

  • Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health - Colorado

  • Dungarvin Colorado, Inc.

  • Dynamic Dimensions, Inc.

  • Easterseals Colorado

  • Elevated Supports

  • Evergreen Service Providers

  • Freedom Career Services

  • FRIENDS of Broomfield

  • Garden, Inc.

  • GoldStar Learning Options Inc.

  • Happy and Smile Home Care

  • Integrated Life Choices

  • Jewish Family Service

  • Jordan Residential and Vocational Services

  • Karuna Care Services

  • Laradon

  • Metro Support Services

  • Mosaic

  • Nursing and Therapy Services of Colorado (NTSOC)

  • Oliver Behavioral Consultants

  • Overture

  • Parker Personal Care Homes, Inc.

  • PASCO

  • Pueblo Diversified Industries

  • PursueJoy LLC

  • Quality Life Services

  • Rehabilitative Rhythms Music Therapy

  • Rocky Mountain Pathfinders, LLC

  • Roundup Fellowship

  • Sample Supports

  • Schaefer Enterprises

  • Shared Touch, Inc

  • Six Points Evaluation and Training, Inc.

  • Skills Academy Day Program

  • Stepping Stone Support Center

  • Support, Inc.

  • The Child & Family Center of Denver

  • Thrive Community Options

  • Treeline Pass

  • VitalCare

  • Wellspring Community

  • Wild Sun Behavioral Services, LLC

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Self Advocates, Parents, Guardians, and Friends    IN SUPPORT (Updated 3/3/2020)

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  • Adrienne Paradis (Parent in Littleton)

  • Alexa Mapes (Denver)

  • Alicia Spear (La Plata County)

  • Amanda J (Resource Coordinator)

  • Amber Smith (Colorado Springs)

  • Amy Schmedeke (Craig)

  • Andrea Morrow-Kraljic (NMSC in Englewood)

  • Andrew Knight (Colorado Association for Music Therapy in Fort Collins)

  • Andrew Scorsone (Littleton)

  • Angela Grimes (Residential Case Manager in Arvada)

  • Annette Richter (USA Technologies in Aurora)

  • Arnetta Starnes (Parent in Denver)

  • Dr. Art Hogling (Evergreen)

  • Aubrey Wright (Direct Support Mentor in Arvada)

  • Barb Manchego (Inspiration Field in La Junta)

  • Barbara Kenyon-Mohrlang (Community Living Alternatives, Inc. in Aurora)

  • Barbara Ramsey (SGPC in Denver)

  • Barbara Sharp (Happy Days Again, LLC in Aurora)

  • Beverly Winters (DDRC in Lakewood)

  • Birte Kalz (Littleton)

  • Brandie Montoya (Durango)

  • Brian Gauna (Inspiration Field in La Junta)

  • Brittany Lauer (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Bryan Simmons (Cottonwood Community Alternatives in Englewood)

  • Caitlin Coffield (Inspiration Field in La Junta)

  • Carl DeGolier (Castle Rock)

  • Carla Esquibel-Melendez (Lakewood)

  • Carol Silvestain (Parent)

  • Caroline Dekkers (FGI in Fort Collins)

  • Caroline Rettig (Para Educator in Montrose)

  • Carrie McWilliams (Parker)

  • Carrie Morris (North Metro Community Services, Inc. in Westminster)

  • Catherine Kiene (Durango)

  • Catherine Sounart (Canon City)

  • Celeste Ewert (Envision in Greeley)

  • Chelsea Johnson (Durango)

  • Chelsea Sayer (Castle Rock)

  • Chelsey Heath (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Cheryl Bryant (Durango)

  • Christine Wester (Denver)

  • Christopher Ruge (Support Inc in Evans)

  • Christy Liden (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Cindy Muller (Englewood)

  • Cindy Newell (Lafayette)

  • Cindy Opheim (Cottonwood Community Alternatives in Englewood)

  • Corrine Farney (Direct Support Professional in Broomfield)

  • Corry Robinson Rosenberg (JFK Partners in Denver)

  • Crystallene O'Shea (Community Living Alternatives in Aurora)

  • Daniel Parsons (Be The Change in Durango)

  • Daniel Yost (Self-Advocate in La Junta)

  • Darcie Doolin (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • David Aarestad (Candidate for Colorado House District 41)

  • David Hicks (Aurora)

  • Debbie Klein (FGI in Fort Collins)

  • Deborah Lapp (FGI in Fort Collins)

  • Deborah Neill (Adoptive Mom/Guardian from Grand Junction)

  • Debra Taylor (Parent/Guardian in Glenwood Springs)

  • Deirdre Noble (Vail Symposium in Vail)

  • Deirdre Pepin (Horizons in Steamboat Springs)

  • Devin Eppers (PDC Pharmacy in Boulder)

  • Diana McFail (Centennial)

  • Donna Daly (Westminster)

  • Doug Shepherd (Westminster)

  • Duane Roy (SCDDS in Trinidad)

  • Elizabeth Alire (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Erica Tafoya (Denver)

  • Erin Eulenfeld (FGI in Fort Collins)

  • Eva Groves (Cottonwood Community Alternatives in Elizabeth)

  • Eyerusael Mengesha (Host Home Provider in Denver)

  • Francis Docherty (Bellvue CO)

  • Frank Wilkins (Ken Caryl)

  • Franz Huber (Grand Junction)

  • Gary Armour (Parent — Advocate in Grand Junction)

  • Gerald Bellendir (Greeley)

  • Gitanjali Shrestha (Host Home Provider in Longmont)

  • Grace Hendricks (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Greg Arbour (Denver)

  • Gregg Wilson (Community Living Alternatives in Aurora)

  • Gwen Bonilla (Support Inc in Aurora)

  • Hannah Shilling (Social Worker in Grand Junction)

  • Heather Hagen (DDRC in Conifer)

  • Helen Hollar (La Junta)

  • Jack Swift (Lone Tree)

  • Jacob Spencer (Overture in Longmont)

  • Jakeob Cox (Caregiver in Boulder)

  • Janet Trujillo (Parent in Canon City)

  • Jayne Tschirhart-Short (Community Support Services, Inc. in Aurora)

  • Jeff Newman (Self-Advocate in Durango)

  • Jeffrey Sheley (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Jenelle Wininger (Overture in Denver)

  • Jenna Riley (Community Partnerships & Associates in Aurora)

  • Jennifer Biggs (Overture in Lakewood)

  • Jennifer Kalkhorst (Arvada)

  • Jennifer Torres (Cottonwood Community Alternatives, Inc. in Englewood)

  • Jenny Jordan (Developmental Pathways in Denver)

  • Jessica Eppel (Mosaic in Denver)

  • Jessica Peck (Greeley)

  • Jessica Cannon (Steamboat Springs)

  • Jessica Hartman (Arvada)

  • JoAnn Kowal (Parker)

  • Joann Marshall (Arvada)

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  • Joann Owen (Firestone)

  • Joann Marshall (Arvada)

  • John Klausz (Mountain Valley Developmental Services in Glenwood Springs)

  • Josh Rael (Denver)

  • Joye Miller (Laradon in Denver)

  • Judi Hulvey (Brighton)

  • Judy Stevens (Broomfield)

  • Julia Hoeppner (Inspiration Field in La Junta)

  • Karen Caldwell (Pueblo)

  • Karen Huber (Grand Junction)

  • Karen Roberts (Denver)

  • Karen Wainscott (Envision in Greeley)

  • Karen Zeid (Boulder)

  • Katherine Hartley (Horizons in Steamboat Springs)

  • Kathi McGinley (Guardian/Parent in Fort Collins)

  • Kathryn Shepherd (Westminster)

  • Kathy Plunk (Grand Junction)

  • Katie Kushnir (Belk Model in Wheat Ridge)

  • Katie Trotter (Overture in Highlands Ranch)

  • Keelin Schaffrath (Grand Junction)

  • Keith Larsen, Sr (Guardian/Arc of Mesa County in Grand Junction)

  • Kelly Britton (Mosaic in Grand Junction)

  • Kelly Herzog (Avon)

  • Kelly Salling (Colorado Springs)

  • Kelsey Parker (Direct Support Professional in Garfield County)

  • Kenneth Berry (Activity Options in Lakewood)

  • Kevin Graves (CommonWorks in Colorado Springs)

  • Kirk Coy (Adult Foster Care Provider in Hesperus)

  • Kristie Braaten (DDRC in Lakewood)

  • Kylie Kampbell (Denver)

  • Laila Gillam (Centennial)

  • Laura Ayers (Mountain Valley Developmental Services in Glenwood Springs)

  • Laura Leach (Denver)

  • Lee Carter (Centennial)

  • Lila Downing (Englewood)

  • Lina Watkins (Community Living Alternatives in Arvada)) 

  • Linda Kranz (Manitou Springs)

  • Lori Schult (Laradon in Denver)

  • ​Madeleine Robinson (Denver)

  • Madeline Landgren (Steamboat Springs)

  • Marcia Francis (Bethesda Lutheran Communities in Englewood)

  • Marilyn Cosson (Denver)

  • Marilyn Robinson (Grand Junction)

  • Mark J. McCluskey (Pueblo Community Resources in Pueblo)

  • Mary Ann Tillman

  • Matt Payne (Community Connections, Inc. in Durango)

  • Matthew Magnotta (Brighton)

  • Mayre Lynn Schmit (Centennial)

  • Meg Reynolds (Elizabeth)

  • Meg Zorn (Support, Inc in Colorado Springs)

  • Megan Hawkins (Overture in Longmont)

  • Meghan Horihan (GoldStar Learning Options Inc. in Denver)

  • Melanie Goodman (Longmont)

  • Michael Atlas-Acuna (Colorado Bluesky in Pueblo)

  • Michele Majeune (DDRC in Lakewood)

  • Mike Jordan (Jordan Residential & Vocational Services Inc. in Pueblo)

  • Misty West (QAFCP in Westminster)

  • Nola Restesan (RN, BSN in Aurora)

  • Olivia Mayer (Centennial)

  • Patricia Finkner (La Junta)

  • Paul Tafoya (Lakewood)

  • Pauline Davis (Logan, Thomas, Johnson CPA LLC in Denver)

  • Peter Bell (Parent/Ascendigo Autism Services in Carbondale)

  • Rebecca Ely (Grand Junction)

  • Rebecca Schreck (Arvada)

  • Reid Duvall (Horizons in Steamboat Springs)

  • Rob DeHerrera (DDRC in Lakewood)

  • Robert Froehike (Physician)

  • Robert Loomis (Evans)

  • Robert Marisette (Community Options in Montrose)

  • Robin Phillips (Lafayette)

  • Robin Platt (Inspiration Field in La Junta)

  • Roger Jensen (Retired CCB CEO in Salida)

  • Ronald Skabo (Lakewood)

  • Ronald and Mary Ann Stevens (Greeley)

  • Rosie Wartner-Chaney (Pine)

  • Ruth Coyle (Arvada)

  • Samuel Nyame (Happy and Smile Home Care in Aurora)

  • Sandy Duran (Laradon in Denver)

  • Sara Sims (Mountain Valley Developmental Services in Glenwood Springs)

  • Sarah Henrich (Mosaic in Denver)

  • Sarah Knight (Grand Junction)

  • Sharon Chamberlain (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Sondra Cordova (Community Connections in Cortez)

  • Stacy Hill (FGI in Fort Collins)

  • Stan Neverve (Westminster)

  • Stephanie Areman (Self-Advocate in Steamboat Springs)

  • Steve Berg (La Junta)

  • Steven Baker (Greeley)

  • Susan Hartley (The Imagine Project in Denver)

  • Susan Reynolds (NMSC in Westminster)

  • Susan Mizen (Horizons in Steamboat Springs)

  • Tabitha Carter (Windsor)

  • Tara Kiene (Community Connections in Durango)

  • Tatum Heath (Horizons in Steamboat Springs)

  • Tauni McRae-Couch (Guardian)

  • Terry Jost (Steamboat Springs)

  • Theresa Baffour Addae (Self-Advocate in Aurora)

  • Theresa Vosberg (Lakewood)

  • Thomas Bruch (Greeley)

  • Thomas Dwyer (Physician from Montrose)

  • Tom Turner (Community Options in Montrose)

  • Travis Cutshaw (Blue Peaks Developmental Services in Alamosa)

  • Vanessa Lehman (Colorado Springs)

  • Vickie Kelemen (Ariel Clinical Services in Grand Junction)

  • Wendy Rainford (Louisville)

  • Zeke Vigil (La Junta)

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Endorse

ENDORSE THE END THE WAIT CAMPAIGN

We will add your agency name to our list of supports above!

Petetion

SIGN THE END THE WAIT PETITION

We will share this petition with the Colorado General Assembly and Governor Polis!

END THE WAIT Testimonials

Have a story? Let us know at info@alliancecolorado.org

Testimonials of people waiting
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END MY WAIT Paul from Lakewood in Jeff C
END MY WAIT Amy from Hayden in Routt Cou
END MY WAIT Zachary from Ft Collins in L
END MY WAIT Celeste from Manitu Springs
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END MY WAIT Julianne from Craig, Moffat
END MY WAIT Christopher from Pagosa Spri
END MY WAIT for Jaime Jared in Littleton
END MY WAIT Elizabeth Lynn from Grand Co
END MY WAIT Hannah from Canon City in Fr

Testimonials of people who just got off the wait list

Have a story? Let us know at info@alliancecolorado.org

testimonials of people off the list
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Story Jonat
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Story Tom .
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Story Emily
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Steve from
Tyler from Littleton in Jefferson County
Kathi in Idaho Springs in Clear Creek Co
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Kelsey from
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Nathan Arap
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Jaran from
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Ashleigh in
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Cindy from
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Ima in Crai
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Leo from Co
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Missy from
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Asriela fro
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Jean Marie
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT John from
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Ron from Pa
THANK YOU FOR ENDING MY WAIT Kristi West

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQ and Webinar  

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Have a question? Ask us at info@alliancecolorado.org

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQ
Contact your Legislator

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR

 

At Alliance, we believe every voice matters! Visit the www.votesmart.org website to easily search for your legislator using your zip code or home address. Get informed! Get heard! Contact your legislator today!

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Alliance Members, we track all 100 legislators and match members with with representatives and senators in your service area. Please contact Josh or Kylie for more information!

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