Joint Budget Committee Hearing Next Week!

Government funding is critical to our ability as an agency to provide services to people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).  Most of our funding comes from Medicaid, a federal program that is administered by each State.  Since the bulk of our funding is impacted by fiscal concerns at the State level, it is critical for us to follow and participate in the State budget process.

Every year, the Colorado General Assembly's Joint Budget Committee (JBC) meets with each department to discuss their budget for the upcoming year.  The JBC process starts with a "briefing," where a JBC staff-person presents the department budget request to the Committee, and offers recommendations for follow-up questions and requests.  The Department prepares written responses to the questions, and responds at an in-person "hearing."

The two governmental agencies that have the most impact on our services are the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).  The hearing for both HCPF and CDHS will occur on Tuesday, 12/22, from 9-12, at the Legislative Service Building in Denver (200 East 14th Avenue).  The hearing is a public event, and all are welcome to attend.  If you would like to listen to the hearing but are unable to attend in-person, you can listen to the event by clicking on this link (click on "Year-Round Committees" on the left side of the page, and then "Joint Budget Committee").

Through our involvement with this process, we become more educated about our system, and ensure that the people we serve receive the best possible services here in Colorado!