Colorado Terminates In-Home Care Firm Amid $21M Billing Surge
The Colorado Sun reports that payments from Colorado's Medicaid agency (HCPF) to in-home care provider FreedomCare jumped from $1 million to $22 million in one year, prompting lawmaker outrage over oversight and transparency. HCPF has terminated its agreement with the New York-based company, alleging it failed to protect over 700 Medicaid members across 17 counties by not conducting background checks, maintaining care plans, or resolving complaints. The dispute is now in litigation; FreedomCare's attorney disputes the state's findings and says the company responded comprehensively. Lawmakers on the state's Medicaid Commission, including Sen. Judy Amabile and Rick Taggart, said they were blindsided by the scale of spending and legal action, demanding greater agency transparency as Colorado faces a $1.6 billion budget shortfall.