Arecent Denver Post editorial about Colorado’s welfare system stated that “applicants, while struggling, aren’t simply being required to endure old technology, but in some cases are seeing needed benefits delayed.”
The Colorado Benefits Management System, or CBMS, is the computerized system that determines eligibility for programs like Food Assistance and Medicaid health care benefits. As county commissioners we agree with The Post’s statement, but as always, there is more to the story.
We have a responsibility to our constituents to ensure that services and benefits are delivered in a timely and efficient manner. Given the current economic downturn, it is especially critical that families eligible for food assistance and health care benefits have their eligibility determined as quickly as possible.
To that end, the counties and the state have been working closely to improve CBMS. These improvements make it possible for county workers and other CBMS users to process an unprecedented volume of applications that reflect the extraordinary number of people actually receiving benefits.
Medicaid enrollment has increased by 60,000 since this time last year. Colorado has one of the fastest-growing food assistance caseloads in the nation: up 33 percent in 18 months. More than 15,000 applications for Food Assistance were processed in April, compared to fewer than 9,000 in December 2007.
Even with the significant increase of applications over the past 18 months, compared to 2005, Colorado has improved its timely processing of food assistance applications by 17 percent, and improved its payment accuracy error rate by 54 percent. These rates are better than the national averages.
The staff, the process and the system are functioning extremely well given the increased demand for services.
Can we improve the system to make it user-friendly for our clients and more efficient? Absolutely. Do we wish the system had worked well for clients when it was implemented in 2004? Of course. Do we wish we could have completed all the improvements to CBMS before 2009? Yes.
However, any proposed statewide solutions must be carefully crafted and implemented well if they are to have their desired outcomes.
The Post’s editorial did not accurately portray the proposed improvements or the timelines for implementation of these changes. Within nine months, for the first time, clients will be able to apply for benefits online for programs like Food Assistance and Medicaid. The online application will be easy to understand and navigate and will be integrated into the existing CBMS system. The CBMS vendor, Deloitte, has a proven track record for developing online applications for clients in other states.
Solutions proposed by outside companies do not represent a true online application that is fully integrated into CBMS. For example, some companies have proposed creating an easier form for applicants to use to enter their information. However, once the information is entered into the form, the form needs to be mailed or sent electronically to a CBMS worker. The information would then need to be entered into CBMS — this represents a duplication of effort and has a greater potential for errors.
Additionally, the state is planning to reduce the amount of data entry into CBMS, which will result in fewer data entry errors and take less time. These changes will be implemented on an ongoing basis over the course of the next 12-18 months.
At a time when people are already feeling vulnerable and under stress because of the current economic situation, it is important for Coloradans to know that the counties and state are working in partnership to ensure that we are representing the best interests of our clients and acting in a responsible way to meet their needs for benefits and services.
Susan Beckman is an Arapahoe County commissioner. Kathy Hartman is a Jefferson County commissioner and Jeanne Nicholson is a Gilpin County commissioner. All three are members of the CBMS Advisory Committee.
