Don McCubbrey's Blog

CBMS Lawsuit is Settled

This morning's Rocky had a story by John C. Ensslin entitled "Settlement reached over state's benefits management program." You may recall that shortly after the Colorado Benefits Management Systems (CBMS) took a nose dive after a premature conversion back in September 2004, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP) filed a lawsuit on behalf of clients in an attempt to hold the State accountable for its performance.  The action was led by Denver attorneys Ed Kahn and Mike Cook, working on a pro bono basis. Others working on the case locally included Elisabeth Arenales of CCLP. and nationally, a group from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice based in NY City, led by Marc Cohan.

The article states that according to the terms of agreement:

"* The Department of Human Services will be required to deliver ongoing food stamps to eligible clients within 30 days after their applications are filed. Families eligible for expedited food stamps must receive them within seven days.

* The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will be required to process applications for Children's Basic Health Plan benefits within 45 days.

* Three times during the 36- month review period, HCPF also will be required to provide a random sample of cases so an independent auditor can review whether or not benefits were correctly approved or denied."

Here is Ed Kahn's comment taken from the article: ""Some problems have been solved," he said. "But the system remains, in many ways, very bad."

I have to wonder why it took three years and a lawsuit to get State managers to set performance benchmarks for service to CBMS clients.  Thanks go to Ed, Mike, and the others for getting at least get this much accomplished on behalf of aid recipients.  Obviously, there is much remaining to be done.  Here's hoping.

Whoops! CBMS just won't go away

In my July 23 post I showed some optimism about the State of Colorado finally making the problems with our infamous Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) go away like a bad dream.  Sorry, it looks like I was wrong.  The Rocky had an article in the December 15 issue, with Myung Oak Kim's byline entitled "Food stamp applications mired in bureaucracy".  A glance at the article will tell you that "more than 1,000 local residents (have) been waiting for months because of bureaucratic snags".  The principle bureaucratic snagger?  You guessed it:   the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), which was converted on September 1, 2004 (yup, 2004) and still does not work properly. 

Here's more from the story: 

"County welfare agencies continue to violate federal protocols - a problem that dates back almost two years - because of funding shortages and staffing problems, including high caseloads, high turnover and workers' resistance to changing procedures.

"The state's notorious computer system - the Colorado Benefits Management System - compounds the problems because of errors and a complex network of screens that take a long time to navigate.

"CBMS also is sending out erroneous rejection letters to food stamp applicants, causing unnecessary panic.

"It's sending out scores of letters saying applicants are denied food stamps because their cases weren't processed within 60 days. In fact, the cases are still being worked.

"It's a huge problem involving thousands of people," said Ed Kahn, a lawyer with the Colorado Center on Law & Policy who sued the state in 2004 because CBMS was restricting public benefits for low-income residents."

The Rocky even wrote an editorial about it in today's paper, entitled "Food stamp food fight."  Please read it.  It starts out by saying:  "We imagine one of the last things Gov. Bill Ritter wants to hear about is more trouble with the Colorado Benefits Management System - the much-maligned $223 million computer system that was supposed to streamline public benefit programs when it was introduced by the Owens administration in 2004.

"Unfortunately, the bad news keeps coming. CBMS remains a headache for county welfare officials who say that its complicated data-entry requirements needlessly delay benefits to qualified recipients" and finishes with:  "As for CBMS, well, poker players warn against "throwing good money after bad". CBMS may be beyond redemption, and further attempts to rehabilitate it could simply divert resources and energy from the low-income Coloradans that public welfare programs are designed to serve. 

"As for CBMS, well, poker players warn against "throwing good money after bad." CBMS may be beyond redemption, and further attempts to rehabilitate it could simply divert resources and energy from the low-income Coloradans that public welfare programs are designed to serve".

How long do you think a large company in the private sector, Molson-Coors, for example, would put up with a $200 million mission-critical system that was installed 3 years ago and still  does not work properly?   It would have been fixed in days, weeks at the most.  Not years.  What's going on here?

 

Pay What You Want

Just wondering if this business model will spread.  The rock band, "Radiohead" is selling its latest album from its website asking buyers to pay whatever they want for an MP3 download.  Really.  Heres a couple of quotes from the New York Times article of December 9, 2007:

“‘Why don’t you pay us what you think it’s worth?’”

"Those are the exact terms on which the band is selling the down-loadable version of “In Rainbows”: Buyers can pay zero or whatever they please up to £99.99 (about $212) for the album in MP3 form. Sixteen years and seven albums into the career that has made Radiohead the most widely pondered band in rock, it is taking chances with its commerce as well as its art. For the beleaguered recording business Radiohead has put in motion the most audacious experiment in years".  Apparently they got the idea from London's street musicians, or "Buskers" who perform with a hat on the walk in front of them and accept whatever contributions passersby are willing to toss into the hat... nothing. a lot, or something in between.  Just what the digital download business needed.  Another business model to worry them.

Here's a link to the article, courtesy of the New York Times:  "Pay What You Want For This Article".

Cafe for Cat Lovers

A while ago I posted an item about some folks who established a rent a dog business.  It's designed to let dog lovers walk a dog of their choice every now and then....whenever they need a dog fix.  I thought it was a creative idea, even thought it was a bit expensive.

Now here's a business idea I really like.  A Cat Cafe.  Briefly, an entrepreneur in Tokyo opened a cafe for cat lovers.  Go in, have a cup of coffee, leave your laptop in the trunk of your car, and pet cats instead.  I have been a cat lover all of my life, but have not owned a cat in over 35 years.  For the first fifteen years or so I was unmarried and traveling a lot.  In 1986, when I re-married, I married a woman who is allergic to cats.  I love my wife, but I sure miss having a cat or two around.  Here's the story: Cat cafe soothes Tokyo's busy feline lovers.  I would appreciate it if someone who reads this blog would open a Cat Cafe in Denver.  I'll be a regular customer.