March 16, 2009 05:50 PM UTC

Why did the State of Colorado wait

• 2 Comments
• by: JeffcosSuperman

Most of us have read the reports about counties not being in compliance with persons and their medicaid and food stamps. The image portrayed as not been accurate.

  Colorado Department of Human Services has known for YEARS about counties not following rules,time frames and procedures.There have been audit reports detailing these findings.

  This shows again CDHS allowing the counties to do their own thing, with little or no oversight. We have seen this going on with the Citizen review panel. This is basically a group of “common folk” who can address social workers ethics and behaviors when it comes to Dependency and Neglect cases. OFTEN social services will lie or add things. Most of the time Judges don’t question what they are being told.

Jefferson County Human Services has had problems with their Medicaid and food stamps office for at least 5 years. This office had files lost, “misplaced” and caseworkers not follow up. Technicians were basically doing their own thing. Programs and procedures were not being followed. Jefferson County Human Services has untrained people not utilizing programming that would catch any kind of error regarding eligibility,determination and case worker error. Even County Management AGREED with many of the findings in this audit.

We further recommend that the County evaluate the knowledge base and credentials of individuals in key financial reporting roles and evaluate whether the responsibilities assigned are properly matched with the individuals’ capabilities and skill levels.

There is no second review of client applications prior to approval or denial of assistance. Caseworkers do not consistently acquire and maintain necessary documentation from each applicant to appropriately determine eligibility did not base on the applicant’s representations, nor do they consistently document in the file which information they deemed questionable. The County relies heavily on the participants to notify the County if payments appear incorrect. However, this would primarily serve to identify underpayments rather than over payments due to ineligibility”.

Columbine Courier AJ Vicens

Johnson told the commissioners that the division has had three acting directors in the last year for “various reasons,” and that has contributed to its poor performance. But, she said, “this is not a one-year issue. This has been a problem-child area of this department.”

 So for how long was this going on, We all have known since 2006, have cases been reviewed, did the county know this and allow OTHER cases to continue KNOWING most fall for the plea deal game.

“It is clear that Jefferson County Department of Human Services has no respect for fiscal responsibility.

The mistakes that were reported by KPMG are so elementary. It’s like getting in a car and not knowing you need to use a key to start it. Their core accounting system has been undermined”.

Ms. Howard CPA

We want the residents to know , don’t be fooled by the smoke and mirrors. They have known about this and now it’s coming to light. As will many other things.

The Johnson Family