Conflicting guidance leaves parents uncertain about Medicaid services

Last week, the state’s Joint Budget Committee voted to deny some proposed Medicaid program reductions for the current fiscal year.

DENVER — Some Medicaid cuts affecting Coloradans with disabilities have been paused but confusion over what changes are actually on hold has left parents frustrated and uncertain about their children’s care.

Last week, the state’s Joint Budget Committee voted to deny some proposed Medicaid program reductions for the current fiscal year, with plans to revisit them next fiscal year. State leaders say those changes that were paused included the 56-hour weekly caregiver cap and the Individual Residential Services and Supports (IRSS) rate alignment. 

The decision was initially welcomed by families who rely on the services, but some parents say they were led to believe certain cuts were included in the pause when they were not.

One of those parents is Jordan Feckovic, who received a message from her case manager saying her young son would continue qualifying for Community Connector services, a program she had been told he would lose starting April 1.

The message from her case manager at Rocky Mountain Human Services stated that “after a recent meeting between the state and HCPF it was determined that children under the age of six will again qualify for Community Connector services.”

But state officials later clarified that the age limit for Community Connector services will still take effect.

State leaders said case managers were instructed to pause discussions about the age cap while the state worked on better wording that aligned with federal guidance. The age limit is still expected to take effect April 1. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) said the language used in the message sent to parents did not come from them. 

“It kind of feels like we just got knocked to our knees,” Feckovic said via Zoom. “How can you word something like this and expect parents to be so ecstatic to have a little wiggle room of extra support and then them be like, ‘no, it’s just the terminology that we used, so sorry.'” 

Feckovic said the back-and-forth has taken an emotional toll on families trying to plan for their children’s care.

“A lot of emotions hurt, sadness, definitely betrayal,” she said. “You’re reading this information and you’re trying to be as up to date with all this bigger terminology. So then when you hear that you got that wrong, it’s like, OK, so now I’m like so confused.”

Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS), the agency that sent the message to Feckovic, apologized and said it was following guidance from the state.

In a statement, RMHS said it works closely with HCPF and implements program changes based on the guidance it receives. The agency said it received direction Jan. 15 to begin implementing changes that would exclude Community Connector services for children ages 6 and under and did so “in good faith.”

RMHS said it later received updated guidance from HCPF directing the agency to pause implementation efforts.

“We apologize that some families received information that did not fully reflect the most current guidance,” the statement said. “We are actively working to adjust as efficiently as possible in response to the updated guidance, while continuing to meet the expectations of the state.”

The agency acknowledged the confusion caused by the change in direction and said families with questions should contact their case manager or email questions@rmhumanservices.org.