Conflict Free Case Management Unintended Consequences Part 1

You may have heard, and you will likely hear more, about an issue that directly effects people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), Imagine! and the entire system of services in Colorado for people with I/DD. The issue is Conflict Free Case Management.

The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a rule that took effect March of 2014 that states: “Providers of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for the individual, or those who have an interest in or are employed by a provider of HCBS for the individual must not provide case management or develop the person-centered service plan, except when the State demonstrates that the only willing and qualified entity to provide case management and/or develop person-centered service plans in a geographic area also provides HCBS.” 

Interpretations of this rule suggest that in Colorado, where by statute organizations that perform the Community Centered Board function as a case management agency, and also provide HCBS services, will no longer be allowed to do both.

This could impact services in many ways, and not all of them may be positive. So I’ve decided to bring back a couple of my favorite characters to discuss some possible unintended consequences that I believe should be considered before making any final decisions as to how our service delivery system should be organized moving forward.

Today, they will talk about the potential loss of local values, accountability, controls, and responsibility that are embedded in the current system.

Enjoy!

Can’t see the video? Click here.