In 2004, disability advocates, policy analysts, and health care providers collaborated to design new approaches to care for people with disabilities who are served by the Colorado Medicaid program.

Two years later, the Colorado Legislature authorized the creation of the Colorado Alliance for Health and Independence (CAHI) with Senate Bill 06-128, which states that “a nonprofit organization shall be based in Colorado and shall be governed by a board composed of persons interested in recipients with a disability that contains a majority of recipients with a disability, or familial representatives of recipients with a disability, who have experience in representing the interests of persons with a disability…”

Bringing the Knowledge of Disability to the Opportunity of Accountable Care

CAHI addresses the unique needs of adults with disabilities through an integrated, consumer-centered health plan. The primary purpose of CAHI’s program is to improve health care for people with disabilities by coordinating a high-quality, cost effective network of integrated care services, spanning the continuum of care and support.

A pilot program has been developed and is set to launch in the Denver metro area on July 1, 2009. CAHI's program builds upon the success of other programs to better serve persons with disabilities that have been implemented in other parts of the country while respecting the culture, geography and regulatory environment of Colorado.

As these other programs have shown, avoiding unnecessary costs through effective utilization of primary and preventive services not only leads to lower health care costs for Medicaid but also leads to better health outcomes and better quality of life for persons with disabilities.

To learn more about our services please contact us.