Happy Summer 2022!

We hope that everyone is looking forward to the upcoming 4th of July holiday this weekend and is able to take some time to relax, be outside, and enjoy time with friends and family. Within the Department, more ARPA projects are gaining momentum and beginning to move into the implementation phase. With this comes increased opportunities for stakeholder engagement, including the chance to weigh in on the initiative’s direction, and the release of grant funds to support community efforts. In this issue of the newsletter we will be pausing our focus on one specific project category, and instead, will be breaking down the projects and the work we are doing in different ways to help the community understand how they will impact members, families, and providers. Thanks as always for your interest in this important work and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

~ The ARPA Team

Developed by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, CAPABLE is a person-directed, home-based program that addresses both function and health care expenses, and is approved by the National Council on Aging as an evidence-based fall prevention program.

Up to four grant recipients will work closely with partners at Johns Hopkins University and the Department to implement the program in one (or more) locations across the state. The purpose of this project is to pilot the CAPABLE program, expanding the ages of those participating in CAPABLE to include individuals 18 and older and broadening the geographical areas served. The pilot will be evaluated to understand the impact and outcomes on the participating individuals.

From Johns Hopkins School of Nursing here is a summary of the CAPABLE Philosophy:

In today’s health care environment, improving health largely falls outside of health care facilities. Home is where health is. People with functional limitations and chronic conditions are four times more likely than the general population to be among the five percent costliest users of health services. And yet, function is rarely addressed in medical visits.

CAPABLE is a person-directed, home-based program that addresses both function and health care expenses. The four to five-month program integrates services from an occupational therapist (OT), a registered nurse (RN), and a handy worker who work together with the older adult to set goals and direct action plans that change behaviors to improve health, independence, and safety. Participants learn new skills, exercises, and how to work with additional tools/equipment/home modifications to improve function and safety. CAPABLE focuses on prevention and problem-solving, building skills that participants can use in the future.

More than a decade of research shows that CAPABLE reduces the impact of functional impairment and disability, enhances motivation and self-efficacy, reduces health disparities, improves emotional health, and reduces hospitalizations and nursing home days.

CAPABLE has been shown to decrease hospitalization and nursing home stays by improving medication management, problem-solving ability, strength, balance, mobility, nutrition, and home safety.

Research has shown that CAPABLE has provided more than six times return on investment. Roughly $3,000 in program costs per participant yielded more than $30,000 in savings in medical costs driven by reductions in both inpatient and outpatient expenditures.

Through the client-driven brainstorming process, clients are given the opportunity to work as a team with their clinicians. This process improves the clients’ self-efficacy and builds self-confidence to address challenges once the CAPABLE program is completed.

In a population of low-income older adults with Medicaid and Medicare who participated in CAPABLE, 75% of participants improved their self-care over the course of 5 months.

Symptoms of depression, as well as the ability to grocery shop and manage medications also improved.

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For an example of the impact of this client-driven interdisciplinary approach, check out Mrs. R's "Beyond Grab Bars" Case Study.

Want to learn more about the research that supports this approach? Read about it here along with information about awards received.

Application Due Date: Friday, July 22, 2022, 5 p.m. MST

Total Award Amount: $3,000,000

Maximum Award Amount: $750,000 per area

Organizations who have completed the required training and obtained certification with Johns Hopkins University to implement CAPABLE, or will be able to fully complete the certification process prior to enrolling participants

The most generic and flexible type of stakeholder engagement offering many different options for participation such as in-person (when safe and available), via video conference, phone, or online chat. This is typically bi-directional in nature with Department staff sharing information and updates and also hearing from attendees.

Short for “web seminar,” this is an online presentation with shared materials displayed for the audience. The communication of a webinar is typically one-directional, with the audience attending as listeners of information being shared out.

The purpose of an advisory council is to connect Department staff with members of the community who can provide non-binding strategic advice based on their own lived experiences in subject areas directly related to the council’s purpose. Members can also have specific roles and responsibilities during meetings.

Similar to a focus group, listening sessions are facilitated discussions where stakeholders share information about their own experiences related to the topic of the session. The goal of a listening session is for the Department to gain insight into challenges and opportunities surrounding the topic and to incorporate that feedback as best as possible.

Temporary in nature, an action or work group is an assembling of stakeholders and Department staff who come together to accomplish a specific task. Members of the action group are active participants who frequently have responsibilities for creating work products and deliverables related to the goals of the group.

Much like a meeting, collaboratives are a flexible style of engagement that rely on robust bi-directional engagement and communication. They are designed to be interactive and demonstrate real-time progress during the engagement toward a defined goal.

On June 3, 2022, CMS announced that states “now have an additional year — through March 31, 2025 — to use funding made available by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to enhance, expand, and strengthen home- and community-based services (HCBS) for people with Medicaid who need long-term services and supports.”

While this is exciting news, states that decide to extend the spending timeline must also extend the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) timeline associated with ARPA Section 9817.

The Department is working to weigh the pros and cons of the extension and will make an announcement about our decision on the extension as soon as we can.

To see all the meetings listed below on a calendar or to find meeting materials and recordings from previous ARPA-related Stakeholder Engagement, visit the ARPA Stakeholder Engagement webpage anytime.

Supporting the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, this Action Group brings stakeholders together to develop solutions that recognize the diverse needs of this workforce and meet the need of improving wages and benefits. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

For more information, please see the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

 Meeting ID: 969 4053 6000, Passcode: 115140

The CFC Council collaborates with and advises the Department on the design and implementation of a CFC option in Colorado. The CFC Council consists primarily of individuals with disabilities, those 65 years or older, and their representatives to help ensure CFC is implemented in a way that best meets the needs of Coloradans with disabilities.

All interested stakeholders are welcome. CFC Council meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., through May 2023. These meetings are open to the public.

We will continue discussing CFC services for the upcoming council meetings and to ensure there is enough time to discuss these important topics, we have created an additional meeting for July and split the meetings up into two different sessions.

Meeting information will be posted on the Community First Choice Stakeholder Opportunities webpage.

Supporting the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, this combined Action Group meeting brings stakeholders together to develop solutions that recognize the diverse needs of this workforce. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

For more information, please see the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

Friday, July 15, 2022

1-2 p.m. MT

Meeting ID: 993 1700 7314, Passcode: 396389

(Toll-free) 1-877-853-5257

Passcode: 396389

Supporting the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, this Action Group brings stakeholders together to develop awareness and advocacy strategies that increase community understanding and support for this workforce. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

For more information, please see the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

Meeting ID: 969 4053 6000 Passcode: 502578

This Learning Collaborative is Part III of a three-part series focused on listening and learning directly from the individuals whose lives are most impacted by case management services. Part III will feature national experts in person-centered thinking and equitable approaches to working with different populations. This webinar is open to the public and is designed for anyone interested in learning more about how to balance the unique needs of individuals being served with an overall approach to equity.

CMA staff working to integrate new and different populations into their organization may find this particularly helpful.

Interested stakeholders will include long-term services and supports (LTSS) stakeholders and members of the public.

Meeting information will be posted on the Department’s Case Management Redesign webpage.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

1-2:30 p.m. MT

(Toll-free) 1-877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 999 0109 2024, Passcode: 434937

Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify John Barry at 303-866-3173 or John.R.Barry@state.co.usor the 504/ADA Coordinator athcpf504ada@state.co.us at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.