Press Release
Jefferson Center for Mental Health Faces Crisis Amid Medicaid Unwind
LOUISVILLE, CO – The Jefferson Center for Mental Health is grappling with a staggering 50% increase in uninsured patients over the past 18 months, all while the center has received reduced staffing, now down by 75 workers. This challenge follows the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, resulting in over 500,000 Coloradans losing Medicaid coverage. The resultant financial strain has not only left many in need without critical health care but has also cut off essential federal funding for safety-net clinics like Jefferson.
Center President and CEO Kiara Kuenzler expressed the dire need for resources, stating, “We’ve had to triage resources and delay care.” This predicament has prompted state lawmakers to propose Senate Bill 290, which aims to create a stabilization fund for struggling safety-net providers. If passed, the bill would allocate $25 million to various health centers serving low-income and uninsured Coloradans, with a goal of reaching $200 million over two years.
Sen. Kyle Mullica, who sponsors the bill, emphasized the urgency: “If these clinics close, patients will be forced into emergency rooms, exacerbating the crisis.” Backed by the Colorado Hospital Association, which pledged $40 million to support this initiative, the bill recently passed the Senate with overwhelming support.
While this legislation seeks immediate relief, another effort, House Bill 1174, proposed by Rep. Kyle Brown, aims for a long-term solution by adjusting insurance reimbursement rates for state employee plans. Both bills address the underlying issues of rising uninsured patient numbers, but time is of the essence as health care infrastructure in Colorado faces unprecedented strain.
Kuenzler highlighted the dire situation, stating the need for immediate and long-term solutions to support vulnerable patients in the state.
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Photo credit www.denverpost.com
