Waiver Modernization Manager for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Client: The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Mission Analytics Group worked with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s (HCPF) process to simplify the state’s Medicaid funded system of community-based long-term services and supports while improving access and controlling costs. For this project, Mission had reviewed research on other states’ efforts to consolidate waivers. Using input from wide array of stakeholders, Mission drafted a "concept paper" for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that proposes specific changes to the state’s waiver system. Once CMS has reviewed the concept paper, Mission developed a plan to guide implementation of the proposed changes. Mission also led a feasibility analysis for implementation of the Community First Choice (CFC) State Plan Option as a means to expand access to consumer-directed personal assistance services for Medicaid consumers who meet institutional level of care. As part of this work, Mission constructed a cost model that allows the state to specify which services will be included in the CFC program and how expensive those services are likely to be (based on uptake and level of need). Completion all deliverables relies heavily on a close working relationship with existing state committees, DHCPF staff, and various other stakeholder groups.