Colorado Medicaid program settles lawsuit over lack of mental health care for children

Colorado must hire an outside consultant to examine its mental health services for children after a class-action lawsuit claimed the state’s policies are resulting in kids getting stuck in hospital emergency rooms and institutions. Under the terms of the settlement of the 2021 case, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing did not admit to violating federal or state laws but agreed to pay for an outside examination of its Medicaid policies. The consultant will review department data and individual case files to uncover flaws in the government...