Overview
Individuals receiving HCBS in Colorado are more likely to be white and English-speaking than the overall Colorado population and general Medicaid population. The contributing factors driving the inequity are unclear. This project will help us better understand who receives HCBS in Colorado and what services they receive, where the gaps are, and target outreach to ensure Medicaid HCBS appropriately serves all Coloradans who qualify.
The ARPA 3.01 Equity Study project has three phases:
Internal data analysis:
Identify disparities in HCBS by analyzing by race, ethnicity, language, geography, etc., types and amounts of HCBS and State Plan LTSS received outcomes/satisfaction in HCBS, and access to HCBS. Based on the analysis, Department staff are developing a report that identifies disparities across the system. This also includes conducting a literature review to inform the work. The report detailing findings from internal data analysis and literature review will be published.
External stakeholder feedback and recommendations:
The project is conducting stakeholder engagement and will produce a recommendations report. The purpose of this engagement and the recommendations is to create opportunities for the Department to more fully and more equitably serve members and eligible Coloradans with disabilities. The engagement is designed to achieve three outcomes: building and strengthening relationships with community partners, understanding members’ and advocates’ experiences, and identifying community-driven solutions.
Implementation plan:
Once recommendations are gathered, the project team will put together an implementation plan based on the recommendations to begin creating more equity in HCBS.
While the APRA 3.01 Equity Study aims to understand barriers people experience in HCBS and identify community-driven solutions, the project will not be the end of equity work in HCBS. An important part of this project is building new and deepening relationships with organizations and connectors who help underserved communities navigate the landscape of public services. The hope is that these relationships will continue and be incorporated into HCBS-related policy work well into the future.
Meetings
Creating Equitable Access within Colorado’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
April 4, 2023
Meeting Background:
In February 2023, we sent out a survey request, and nearly 350 providers and 140 members and caregivers responded. Your responses are helping us identify barriers and solutions for awareness, enrollment, and use of HCBS services. Thank you!
Now, HCPF and the Office of Community Living want to share those results with you and create a space to brainstorm more solutions based on the data. We also want to provide more background information about where we are headed with equity work within HCBS programs and what you can expect in the coming months and years.
Virtual Summit #2 - Discussing Project Findings and Next Steps to Increase Equity in HCBS
June 6, 12 to 2 p.m. MT
Project Reports
Coming soon!
Contact
For more information on the OCL ARPA Equity Study, please contact Tasia.Sinn@state.co.us