State officials said the proposals target what data shows is driving unsustainable spending trends.

COLORADO, USA — More than 40,000 Coloradans face significant changes to Medicaid services after Gov. Jared Polis introduced a budget proposal with major cuts to at least 15 programs supporting people with disabilities and their caregivers, state officials announced.

The cuts, proposed by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, include raising the minimum age for children to access Community Connector services and capping caregiver payment hours at 56 hours a week. Officials say the reductions are necessary to prevent programs from being eliminated entirely amid the state’s fiscal crisis.

“The Community Connector is not the only service, but as I highlighted, we have a 620% increase in utilization after allowing parents to be paid providers,” said Bonnie Silva, division director for the Office of Community Living at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Community Connector helps children with disabilities build skills through everyday activities like visiting parks, libraries and zoos. The proposed age restriction would eliminate access for young children, including those preparing to enter school environments.

Ciarra Stewart, of east Aurora, said her son Jackson, who will turn 4 in January, would lose access to the program. Jackson has two rare genetic mutations, brain deformities and severe developmental delays, and is nonverbal and nonambulatory.

“I’m at a loss for words whenever it comes to the amount of cuts that Colorado is trying to make,” Stewart said. “This just feels like a huge setback for a lot of us.”

Stewart said Community Connector has been essential for Jackson’s development. 

“It expands his body language, it expands his knowledge, it expands his confidence,” she said. “Without that, even the most devoted parents are going to lose as many opportunities as we are given currently.”

The cuts will also impact families financially. Brittny Tarango, whose 4-year-old son Jaxson has level 3 autism, said the caregiver hour cap means her son will lose more than half his hours.

“For a lot of parents, our children, like that, that is sadly it is our income, you know,” Tarango said. “A lot of families are going to be hurt.”

State officials cited Colorado’s fiscal constraints, including decreased federal revenue and taxpayer bill of rights limitations, as reasons for the cuts. 

Silva said the proposals target what data shows is driving unsustainable spending trends.

“We maintaining poor access to services is a North Star for us and so that is why we are taking these actions,” Silva said. “But I don’t want to be dismissive. These changes will have an impact for some members and for some families, and I certainly recognize how difficult that is.” 

Implementation timelines vary, with some changes taking effect as early as spring 2026 and others not until 2027, Silva said.