Managed Care Is Not the Right Solution for Budget Balancing and Colorado Medicaid

Medicaid cuts would threaten rural hospitals, nursing homes in Colorado

We recently were present when an interview was conducted by the Denver Post with Curt Wolff, a Thornton resident about the importance of Medicaid for people with disabilities. The article can be found using the button below.

Colorado Cross Disability Coalition Statement on the Budget Resolution Vote

The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition is deeply disappointed that Representatives Boebert, Crank, Evans, and Hurd voted tonight to advance cuts to Medicaid. A large portion of CCDC’s 5,000 statewide members rely on Medicaid for access to vital services, including home and community based services that allow our members to live independent lives in the communities of their choosing. Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF, the Colorado agency that runs Medicaid) currently serves 80,803 Coloradans with disabilities through its various long term supports and services programs. Medicaid is often thought of as health care coverage, and while many of our members get their traditional health care coverage from Medicaid, Medicaid is the only health insurance program in the entire country that offers coverage for long term care, including home and community based services. These services include things like bathing, toileting, dressing, getting in and out of bed and other activities of daily living. Without those services, disabled people’s lives and well-being will be at risk. 

CCDC Co-Executive Director Hillary Jorgensen said:

“The House Energy and Commerce Committee cannot find $880 billion in cuts without making devastating reductions to Medicaid. Anyone, including Speaker Johnson, who says that Congress will be able to meet that reduction target by only cutting “fraud, waste, and abuse” is being disingenuous with both their caucus and the American people. Disabled Coloradans will be on the losing end of this vote. We urge Colorado’s delegation, especially those who voted ‘yes’ tonight, to reexamine their priorities and commitments to their constituents as the budget reconciliation process moves forward. People with disabilities are counting on them and the stakes are dangerously high for our community.”

The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition is a statewide advocacy organization run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. Our motto is “Nothing about us without us! Ever!”. 

RTD Bill HB 24-1447

Here is the statement made by CCDC about our position on House Bill 24-1447.