Bill Summary for Bill Number HB08-1031

Date: 01/11/2008

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB08-1031

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Motion to pass HB 08-1031 to the Committee on Appr	PASS

10:58 AM -- House Bill 08-1031

Representative Pommer presented HB 08-1031 and provided an article to the committee from the Lakewood Sentinel titled "The Waiting Game" (Attachment A). He explained the article concerns the waiting list for services for developmentally disabled individuals in Colorado. He recited a story to the committee about a mother who testified before the interim committee on Long-Term Health Care Services and Supports to Persons with Developmental Disabilities during the summer about her child who is developmentally disabled and has severe behavioral problems. He stated that the mother described to the committee her anxiety in not knowing where her child was on the waiting list for services, nor when her child may receive services. He stated that the mother's testimony was very compelling and the need for a navigator is crucial to those individuals and families who care for people with disabilities. He stated that the department used a managed care system for the developmental disability programs, but with the implementation of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act, the department switched to a fee-for-service delivery system. Representative Pommer explained that because of the change in the way services are paid for (managed care versus fee-for-service), monies within the department cannot be used in the same manner. He provided some information on the Division for Developmentally Disabled (DDD) and the programs offered through the division. He stated that the navigator can provide information to the families of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

11:06 AM

Representative Green asked if the navigator would do any marketing for the programs offered by the department. Representative Pommer responded that the navigator could provide marketing information. Representative Primavera asked whether the case manager should have larger caseloads and the navigator should have a smaller caseload. Representative Pommer stated that once an individual receives services, they are under Medicaid and specific rate setting applies. He continued to state that the navigator is not necessarily meant to spend a lot of time with each client, but rather to inform an individual or family member of his or her status on the waiting list.

11:19 AM

Representative Pommer stated that in the Governor's agenda which was presented in January 2008, approximately $10 million is secured for developmental disability services. Representative J. Kerr asked how navigators within the department will be tracked. Representative Pommer responded that an indicator should be built into the program to evaluate how the population is being served.

11:21 AM -- Dr. Art Hogling, Alliance, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Hogling provided some background information on the Alliance program. He stated the way to deal with the waiting list is to fund it, but that clearly Colorado does not have the money in its General Fund to do this. He stated that the Alliance does not receive state funding. He stated that having a navigator would be an immense help and really help stretch each and every dollar that goes to the developmentally disabled community. Dr. Hogling stated that there is a real crisis going on in Colorado. Dr. Hogling stated that having a navigator could disseminate information to the developmentally disabled community which would be of great help.

11:32 AM

The committee expressed some concern about the amount of money going to the navigator and questioned whether the developmentally disabled community would feel like they are not getting any real kind of help. Dr. Hogling stated that the family members of the developmentally disabled communities are so disconnected and disenfranchised that it is hard to get a feeling of what the family members support, but he stated that the family member that are associated with Alliance support the use of a navigator.

11:45 AM

Representative Pommer provided a wrap-up and stated that the priority the interim committee heard about over the summer was to fund the waiting list. He stated that the second priority the interim committee heard about was to provide as much information to the families on the waiting list. He reiterated that this population feels extremely disenfranchised and stated that a navigator would address the interim committee's second priority.


BILL:	HB08-1031
TIME:	11:46:47 AM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Motion to pass HB 08-1031 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Garza-Hicks	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Marostica	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Roberts	Excused
	Stafford	Excused
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	McGihon	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:50 AM

The committee adjourned.