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WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
July 15, 2013
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter, Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Weld County Administration Building, Greeley, CO
at 6:29 pm.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Councilman Don Mueller and on roll
call the following members were present, constituting a quorum of members thereof:
Councilman Don Mueller
Councilwoman Marge Klein
Councilman Brett Abernathy
Councilman Bernard C. Kinnick — Excused
Councilman Jeffrey Hare
Also present: Judy Griego, Director of Weld County Human Services, John Kruse, Jamie
Ulrich, County Commissioner Mike Freeman and Karleen Watson, Council Secretary.
la APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Klein made a motion to approve the July 15,
2013 Agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilman Abernathy and carried.
El APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilman Hare made a motion to approve the June 17,
2013 minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilman Abernathy and carried.
REIVEW PROGRAM: Weld County Director of Human Services, Judy Griego presented
to the Council. Also presenting: John Kruse, Business Assists Payment Manager, Jamie
Ulrich, South County Assists Payment Manager, and County Commissioner Mike Freeman.
Ms. Griego discussed the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She stated that
the implementation date of eligibility for clients eligible for the ACA is October 1, 2013. Ms.
Griego explained what this means for Weld County and the Human Services Department.
Human Services has been working with the Board of County Commissioners to be ahead of
the implementation process and make it a positive one. The Board has authorized Human
Services to hire additional staff. The process will be similar to the Colorado Benefit
Management System that was implemented in 2004.
John Kruse provided some statistics on this subject. Currently, there are 20,771 unduplicated
cases in the County. There will be increased Medicaid eligibility guidelines. The additional
staff will be paid from County funds that will determine eligibility but will mostly be funded by
federal money. The federal government provides for counties if the Exchange route is not
taken. The amount of exchange and uninsured is 21,204; total number of Medicaid clients are
58,468 (which are up by approximately 11,000). Businesses having not to cooperate could
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Weld County Council Minutes
July 15, 2013
Page 2 of 3
bring more people through the doors of Human Services in the process. The methods in which
clients apply for assistance are online, in person and by phone.
Ms. Ulrich discussed the major issues expected with implementation. Documentation may be
taken by phone which is can be recorded. It may be possible that a call center could be set
up. Another option is the PEAK online application system which is information being entered
while on the phone with clients and then verbal declaration will be obtained. Verification of
income is one aspect needing done in the process which may be difficult. Some clients will be
deemed eligible when they may be found later not to be. The federal government may do
random sampling to determine ineligibility but have not said how they will handle the situation.
Another part of eligibility is the Exchange process which will be Internal Revenue Service
information and having reasonable compatibility with the County's system. It will be hard to
prove fraud due to the different interfaces involved (Colorado Benefit Management System,
IRS interface, PEAK, Department of Labor and Employment will all have to work to make the
entire system work correctly.)
Other Human Services programs could be impacted such as food stamps, Colorado works,
and adult financial programs. If the Medicaid interface does not work with another interface
then benefits may have errors. The state's goal is to have 90% real time eligibility for
Medicaid. Many steps have to be accomplished in the process, for example, the state
identification verification. If there is a conflict in the system then the state cannot assign a
state identification which will be an exception and eligibility may be prevented. Exceptions will
be the County's responsibility.
All Medicaid rules were rewritten which will be effective in October. County hiring and training
and won't happen until late August. Exception processing is mandated through the state
exchange. Their coordination with the exchange and Medicaid eligibility is in state statute that
the County is part of the eligibility process. The result has been over issuance or no benefits
when all benefits are assessed. The conversion from existing Medicaid clients to a new
medical category is supposed to be seamless with no break in benefits. Major challenges will
be to minimize the effects of this implementation on Oct. 1st
Commissioner Freeman indicated that the there is not money for this implementation for extra
personnel for determining eligibility. Exchanges will 6-8 months behind schedule of where they
are supposed to be so it is likely they will not be functional on Oct. 1St. The County is worried
about the affects on staff when people are lined out the door. The full implications are not
known. Some counties cannot afford to implement the Exchange. Allowing the federal
government to do the implementation would take longer. Weld County is putting in extra funds
to implement the process and more communication will be very important.
The Recovery interface could lead to fraud investigation by the federal government but it could
also be the interface that causes the problems so the possible result is that fraud would be
very difficult to prove.
Some states have not opted in as Colorado did, (i.e. Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas). The
information coming out from the federal government is so fragmented and new rules were just
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July 15, 2013
Page 3 of 3
issued. It would be beneficial to have specific guiding principles on how to work together to
achieve them. The public library is a great ally. It is frequently open, with multiple locations
and the staff will be trained to assist people with this process. Ms. Griego will provide an
update to the Council after the October 1, 2013 implementation.
Pa PUBLIC COMMENT: None at this time.
NEW BUSINESS: Coordinator Reports: Councilwoman Klein and Councilman
Abernathy rode in Greeley Stampede parade.
Social Media Training will be July 17, 2013 for the Council secretary.
Upcoming Meetings/Invitations: July 20th Monfort Art, and the Chautauqua
ADJOURNMENT: By acclamation, the meeting w
djourne• t 7:42 p.m.
July 15, 2013 Coulcil President
Council Secretary Karleen Watson
Id Mueller
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