Colorado Budget Strain Deepens as Autism Therapy Audit Threatens $60 Million Medicaid Repayment

By Jennifer Brown | The Colorado Sun

Colorado may have to repay the federal government from $60 million to $150 million after auditors found the state Medicaid program has been covering care by uncredentialed behavioral technicians for children with autism. 

The financial hit comes as the state is already dealing with a $1 billion budget shortfall and cuts to Medicaid benefits that have affected multiple programs for people with low incomes and disabilities. 

Colorado is among several states whose programs were audited by the Office of the Inspector General. The audit is not final and the results are not yet public, but officials at the state Medicaid division said they are expecting that the state will have to return the federal portion of the state-federal benefit program. 

“If OIG maintains their stance in the final audit report, Colorado will be required to repay the federal match identified in the report, which essentially means that all of those services that were billed and paid for will be paid only with state general fund,” said Rachel Entrekin, legal director for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which includes the Medicaid division. “We’re right in the middle of a state budget crisis.”

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