Joint Budget Committee Hearing for CDHS

The new year got off to a fast start with the Colorado Joint Budget Committee (JBC) hearing for the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) on Wednesday, January 2nd.  The JBC heard from CDHS Executive Director Reggie Bicha, who answered questions from the JBC and outlined the Department's short-term and long-term goals.  Some highlights from the presentation:

• A new office was created in CDHS last June called the Office of Early Childhood.  This office will consolidate and streamline programs for young children.
• CDHS is requesting $1.78M in appropriation for Early Intervention funding due to growth in the number of children in Colorado who need such services.
• CHDS is anticipating steady growth in individuals diagnosed with Intellectual/ Developmental Disability (I/DD) (due to increases in technology and health care)
• CDHS would like to see definition of I/DD changed in rule to match Colorado state law.
• The new Office of Community Living, established by Gov. Hickenlooper, will address long term strategies, including drawing down the waitlist for services, simplifying the waivers, and improving the system for accessing services..
• Mr. Bicha acknowledged the problem that parents of children with severe disabilities need to “give up” their children to get services.
• A transition plan is being developed to transition kids to adult waiver at age 18.
• CDHS does not want to eliminate CHRP or just thrust kids into the DD system due to unintended negative impacts, and will transition kids on a person-by-person basis.
• The JBC budget proposal provides services for 809 additional individuals, including 573 enrollments for children on the CES waiting list.
• CDHS is committed to transitioning people to the “most integrated setting,” and will work to transition people from the Regional Centers to community placements when possible.  
• CDHS will continue to use Regional Centers for short-term stabilization.
• Mr. Bicha agrees with Gov. Hickenlooper's recommendation of a 1.5% provider rate increase for the next fiscal year.  When pressed by Rep. Levy, he stated that CDHS will not be asking for any further rate increase for next fiscal year.

Click here for the agenda for the CDHS hearing and the written responses from CDHS to questions from the JBC.  Click here for an audio recording of the hearing.