Colorado’s hopes dashed
Colorado disability activists who had been awaiting the decision of their state to apply for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) grant offered by the Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS) had their hopes dashed on Wednesday when Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) Director, Steve Tool called to say that he would not be applying on behalf of the state for the grant.
Activists are aghast at the decision, which, according to Tool, is because of his belief that Colorado has a slim chance of getting the grant. He feels that because Colorado already utilizes its budget in an MFP-like fashion, and has a very successful Transition Services benefit provided for in its Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) Waiver, that CMS will not see fit to award the state any money.
Disability activists strongly disagree with Tool, and feel that he should have gone ahead and applied for the grant, as, according to CMS, Colorado is eligble to apply. Members of Colorado ADAPT, who led the effort to get the state to apply for the MFP grant, and who had been trying to work with Mr. Tool, and HCPF for several months, even offered to write the grant themselves, but the offer was declined. The deadline for states to submit their grant applications to CMS is November 1st.
Colorado ADAPT, along with several other disability groups will testify at a hearing this morning before the state Medicaid Services Board. They will try once more to persuade mr. Tool to apply for the grant, but if he doesn’t, Colorado ADAPT will demand his resignation.
This issue is close to my heart, as I helped to write the letter that Colorado ADAPT sent to Steve Tool back in August, and went with them to deliver the letter (I happened to be in Colorado for my dad’s memorial service), and was there when Colorado ADAPT participated in a conference call with CMS when Mr. Tool refused to do so. When states like Tennessee and Mississippi, two of the states with the worst record for home and community-based services for people with disabilities and seniors will apply for MFP, while Colorado won’t — that is shamful! Even the District of Columbia, another place with dismal disability services is applying for the grant. The excuses that HCPF is spouting is farcical in light of the fact that Texas, a state that also utilizes its budget in an MFP-like fashion, has already stated its intention to apply for the grant.
I will keep you posted on what happens with this fight. I have a feeling that there are going to be some mighty fireworks at the hearing…