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Posted by Dave Reynolds Thanks for the message. What the "Choice" in Spokane County's system means is that the people receiving services can choose their vendor and their service category. Each vendor receives $500.00 from the county for each person it serves -- regardless of the services. In the past, each vendor was paid a rate it negotiated with the county's advisory board. The amount each vendor was paid varied significantly. The "Choice" system is an improvement over the old system, which was directed entirely by the board and the vendors. The people being served had no say at all. Now all vendors are paid the same rate per person. Now those being served control where they will be served. Vendors that provide good service -- as defined by the individuals themselves -- receive more funding. If they do not satisfy those being served, the person leaves and takes the funding with them to another vendor. There is now an element of competition between vendors to please their customers. There is still room for improvement. For example, people do not really design their own services. The categories of service -- supported employment, community access, prevocational services, and specialized industries -- are still pretty rigid (although many community access providers are helping folks find jobs). Another downside is that each vendor gets exactly $500.00 even if they provide very little service, such as for somebody who has been on a job for several years without needing much support. Some folks also report that families, residential programs, and the day program vendors themselves put pressure on people to make certain choices. It's a step, but there are so many more steps to go. Dave Reynolds
on October 28, 2002, 3:11 pm
12.230.30.22
Hi there,
The number of people served was also negotiated.
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