Date: 03/15/2006
Final
Presentation from Colorado counties
SENATE COMMITTEE ON -- SELECT -- GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
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01:00 PM -- Briefing from County Representatives On CBMS
Jeanne Nicholson, Chair, Health and Human Services Steering Committee, Colorado Counties Inc., introduced herself and presented the counties experience in implementing CBMS. She indicated that the counties have made significant progress in improving the way the program works to provide benefits to clients. She emphasized the counties belief that the system will be useful. Ms. Nicholson did indicate, however, there are still problems that the counties are trying to work through regarding the implementation of the system. She agreed with the comments on lessons learned presented by both Ms. Hammons and Mr. Tool. The counties experiences are along the lines of what their preceding testimony had indicated.
01:08 PM
Senator Teck asked about ensuring that inviduals who will be responsible for implementing a new program have proper training in anticipation of the rollout of a project. Ms. Nicholson indicated that for the most part, counties were anxious to participate in training, with a few exceptions. She indicated that, in her experience, there were some problems with the training initially provided to county human services staff members who would be working with CBMS. The training did not initially provide much useful application of what was being discussed. That issue appears to have been resolved, she said, as she has heard positive things from staff who have attended later trainings.
01:13 PM
Senator Owen asked if there was a way to track CBMS dollars as they are spent in the county. Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties, Inc., came to the table to explain how the counties are spending the money for CBMS. Because the counties must spend the money first, itemize how the money has been spent, and then be reimbursed by the state, it might appear that the CBMS money is going to the county's general fund. Ms. Ratliff indicated that in that case, the county is simply reimbursing itself for expenses used for CBMS purposes. Senator Teck asked for a written copy of Ms. Nicholson's perspective on lessons learned.
01:18 PM
Senator Groff asked about the response period to rectify cases in which a client is determined ineligible even though they are actually eligible. Ms. Nicholson responded that the time varies. Senator Hanna asked how counties had dealt with problems with ensuring individuals who need certain medications or care while their eligibility was being determined.
01:22 PM
The committee adjourned.