The Colorado Department of Early Childhood is facing a significant budget shortfall and plans to implement emergency cost containment measures that will impact therapeutic care for babies and toddlers with disabilities. The changes, set to take effect on Monday, include new limits on the number of hours of services such as physical or occupational therapy that a child can receive through the Early Intervention Colorado program each month.
Providers who were caught off-guard by the cuts expressed concerns about the impact on the development of Colorado’s most vulnerable children. Questions have also been raised about the legality of the changes under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Department of Early Childhood cited a need to balance the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 as referrals to the program continue to increase while stimulus funding has decreased.
The proposed cuts are expected to save at least $3.5 million by the end of June, amid a $1 billion budget gap faced by Colorado lawmakers. The Department of Early Childhood emphasized that the changes are temporary and will last through the 2025-26 fiscal year. The program serves over 11,000 children each month, with a focus on providing care to those with developmental delays or disabilities.
Providers and families have expressed concerns about the impact of the cuts, particularly on families who rely on multiple forms of therapy for their children. The changes will force families to prioritize one type of therapy over another, potentially affecting the quality of care received. Providers who offer services that cannot be billed to Medicaid will no longer be able to work with children on federal assistance, leading to concerns about support for vulnerable families.
The Department of Early Childhood is working closely with early intervention agencies to minimize the impacts of the cuts, including exploring telehealth options and assisting families in finding Medicaid-enrolled providers. Providers are grappling with uncertainty and confusion about how to proceed and are seeking clarity on the implications of the changes for their practices.
Families, like that of Celia Saravia from Westminster, are already feeling the impact of the changes. Saravia’s daughter, Anastasia, who has Down syndrome, will see a reduction in the number of therapy sessions she receives before aging out of the program. The changes have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on children who benefit from multiple therapies.
The Department of Early Childhood is working to address concerns raised by providers and families and plans to provide further information on the changes. The situation highlights the challenges faced by programs that serve vulnerable populations in the face of budget constraints.
