Colorado faces significant cuts to critical services for children with disabilities and developmental delays as the state grapples with a budget shortfall. The Early Intervention (EI) program, which supports children from birth through age 3, will no longer fund supplemental programs for children on Medicaid, leaving many families to choose what care their child will no longer receive. Providers and parents were shocked by the news and concerned about the lack of notice.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) announced cost containment measures, effective March 3, 2025, through Fiscal Year 2025-26, due to increased caseloads and workforce challenges. These measures include limiting children to four hours of care a month and suspending reimbursement for non-Medicaid services. Many providers, like speech-language pathologist Erin Jurgemeyer, are concerned about the impact on families who rely on these services.
Parents like Jillian Banghart and Torie Kennedy fear the cuts will limit the services their children need to thrive. The changes are expected to affect over 11,000 children each month, prompting backlash from families who rely on these crucial programs. CDEC is working to minimize the impact, explore telehealth options, and connect families with Medicaid-enrolled providers.
The Department aims to protect current eligibility criteria and maintain provider rates while managing the budget to sustain the program long-term. Despite the challenges, CDEC remains committed to delivering quality services and supporting children’s development. An informational session is scheduled to provide more guidance as the community navigates these ongoing changes.
