WANTED: Your Input on Conflict-Free Case Management

The purpose of this blog is to gather comments from self-advocates, parents, advocates, independent care-providers, etc. (i.e. those not employed for pay by organizations) in the Colorado system supporting those with developmental disabilities.  The topic is "Conflict-Free Case Management", or CFCM, the effort by Colorado State Health Care Policy & Financing/Division for Developmental Disabilities (HCPF/DDD) to correct conflict of interest (COI) in the system.  COI is potentially present when Community-Centered Boards (CCBs)  provide both case management and provision of service.   COI  might lead a CCB to recommend services provided by them, over services provided by parties external to the CCB, for clients whose cases they manage.

This issue goes back to 2004 when the Feds (CMS) noted that COI is incompatible with Medicaid rules for free choice of case manager and service provider.   It was again highlighted in 2007, when the University of Southern Maine ran a study which also came to the conclusion that COI is a problem.  A State group to study COI was convened in 2010, but no firm decision was reached by that group.

We invite self-advocates, parents, advocates, independent care-providers, and other interested parties who are not part of Colorado State HCPF/DDD or part of a CCB, to use this blog to anonymously submit their comments.  We on the CFCM task force want to hear from you as to:

1) What models/concepts/ideas/changes do you propose, to reduce COI in the System?  Do you have someone in mind (an organization, independent contractor, etc.) whom you believe could perform case management without having a COI?
2) Briefly, what experience(s) have you had that led you to the decision that what you propose will improve the System?

So, let's get busy!  Drop to the bottom and click on "comment:" to leave your input.  You can leave your comment anonymously by specifying "Anonymous" in the "Comment as:" selection box.   If you do not wish to compose your comment here, you can copy/paste text into the comment box from a computer.  If you would rather comment orally, you are welcome to text your phone number and dates/times you would be available for interview, to 720.539.4083.  You will be called during the specified dates/times.