So much info to process, the Badass is gonna break it down for you!

My ears are getting callouses from my Ear Pods!

Hours of hearings, live and recorded, testimony in Joint Health Committee and quoted in a Colorado Public Radio article! My son and husband are annoyed that I am always listening to something on those EarPods!

Hat tip to Nikki Martin of Parent 2 Parent Colorado has been providing excellent summaries, and I credit her for much of the info below! I love listening to live stream and respect her skills in creating readable and accurate summaries.

Badass Reminder: CALL TO ACTION ITEM to do NOW to make a difference!

There is a shift amongst lawmakers and the Medicaid department HCPF health care policy and financing.

Emails and calls are working!

Keep them coming!!

Purple button You can submit written comment via this link purple button or sign up to speak (in person or remote) on Monday 2/2/26, starts at 1:30p and will go on for hours.

It is a lot of time to wait to speak, you can submit written comment using same link.

Perfect time to send emails is now: THIS WEEKEND or EARLY MONDAY!

Short & quick just 3 points, lots of white space and story!

Maureen quoted in Colorado Public Radio Story re: XL wheelchair billing debacle

What: I got a text from John Daly from Colorado Public Radio asking to interview me about the embarrassing hot topic of mis-billing of XL Wheelchair transport that HCPF staff suggested, in error. The committee was quite speechless.

Badass Reaction:

I shared my truth and asked where is does the buck stop? The medicaid director Kim Bimestefer had all this under her nose, yet she escapes accountability? Click below to link to the full story. Reply to this email with any comments!!

Joint budget committee Wed 1/28 summary

Badass Reaction: Keep the emails, calls and testimony coming. It is making a difference clearly!

From Nikki Martin P2P summary below

Lots happening with the Joint Budget Committee and proposed Medicaid changes, caps + cuts. After meeting yesterday (Wednesday), it's apparent that the JBC is struggling to understand the relationship/impact between soft caps on services and caps on caregiver hours. Also, they are hearing a variety of issues from a variety of people, making it difficult to discern priority issues. The revised Direct Care Services Calculator is a focus due to the hours reductions that have been resulting. Key takeaways to note... the JBC denied:

• Individual Residential Services and Supports (IRSS) rate cut
• Stopping Children's Extensive Services (CES) and CHRP enrollment to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver churn
• 56-hour caregiver cap
• Homemaker soft cap

While these are wins in the short-term, we may see HCPF propose more severe cost-saving solutions to balance its budget. It will take the creativity of this community to help identify viable solutions to ensure that our kids receive the level of care necessary.

They are expected to reconvene any moment--you can listen live or to recordings here: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260129/-1/17910​

Joint Budget Committee Thursday 1/28 summary

Badass Reaction:

From Nikki Martin P2P summary below

On Thursday, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) was presented with 13 comebacks for the Department of Health Care Policy + Financing (HCPF)--the entire department, not exclusive to the Office of Community Living where everything Medicaid resides.

Quick backgrounder, supplementals are brought to true up the current year's budget.

The JBC must approve these requests.

If JBC either asks for more information or denies a supplemental request, HCPF has the option to come back in front of the JBC and make their case one more time, hence the term 'comebacks'.

​You can review the info packet from this meeting HERE

You can listen HERE to audio recordings here click on date and Joint Budget

Key takeaways:

1.Bonnie Silva with the Office of Community Living is now suggesting (offering a compromise) a nine month "stair step" to get to the 56-hour family caregiver cap. (She suggested one step down would be on April 1 and then another a few months later, July 1 if I recall correctly.

Badass take: they are seeing pressure at HCPF and we must keep up the pressure!!

2. Legislators asked about the financial impact on caregivers. HCPF stated that on average, it amounts to a 50% reduction to which the JBC responded by saying reducing rates AND reducing hours is shooting ourselves in the foot.

Badass take: They are realizing the HCPF way and are skeptical. Progress!

3. Concern was raised around the exemption process for individuals requiring care above and beyond the proposed caps. HCPF requested funding for a full-time employee to run this program. Some legislators took issue with HCPF requesting additional FTEs given the current budget and there's concern about establishing a fair exemption process. Specifically, the cards being stacked against families given that HCPF controls access and it's in HCPF''s best interest to curb costs.

Nikki's quote of the day that sums up the last several months for Nikki : "This is what we were told yesterday and you're [HCPF] telling us something different today."

A reminder, you can sign up to submit written comment or testify at Monday's JBC hearing, use button below! TAKE ACTION- YES YOU!!!

HCPF webinar recording from

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will host two informational one-hour webinars to share updates on the Medicaid Sustainability Initiatives and their impact on providers.

These sessions were held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 @ 11 am, and Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 2:30 pm.

All Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Community First Choice (CFC) Medicaid providers are encouraged to attend one of the scheduled webinars.

Topics Covered:

• Individual Residential Services and Supports (IRSS) Rate Alignment - (remember this info was out before the Medical Services Board Meeting)
• HCBS (CFC) Soft Caps
• Utilization of Task Standards and Age Appropriate Guidelines
• Health Maintenance Activities (HMA) Documentation Requirements
• Weekly Caregiver Hours Cap
• Weekly LRP Homemaker Cap
• Community Connector Age and Unit Limits

What else can you do now to feel more empowered and informed?

• Badass Reaction: We are stronger together and can impact the decision makers. Join Today for Action steps!
• Breathe, plan, advocate, breathe again, plan some more, and keep breathing.
• Then take action. To learn more, JOIN THE FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR ADVOCACY ACTION. Button below.

Roadmap to Waiver Journey Program Feb 4 @7p Free virtual info session

Wednesday February 4, 2026 at 7p virtual session

You can NO LONGER AFFORD to put off getting or learning more about how to maximize a Colorado Medicaid waiver!

Ready to take control of your disability journey?

Let Maureen and NDC be your guide. Come for a free info session to learn more.