Kaiser Permanente Colorado will no longer serve as a Medicaid provider in its northern, southern and mountain service areas of the state, effectively ending coverage for 2,500 patients, The Denver Post reports.
The health plan provider ended Medicaid coverage last month. Kaiser said it notified the affected beneficiaries of its decision on June 30. It will continue to offer Medicaid coverage in the Denver-Boulder area.
Kaiser said its decision is a result of its desire to see Medicaid and the second phase of the state's Medicaid Accountable Care Collaborative succeed.
"This was a difficult decision, but we feel it is the best way we can support the new program at this time," Kaiser Permanente Colorado told Becker's Hospital Review. "We will closely monitor the progress of Phase 2 and re-evaluate our participation in Medicaid on an annual basis."
The Accountable Care Collaborative was established to coordinate physical and behavioral health for Medicaid recipients.
Kaiser, which has about 670,000 members in Colorado, is working with the state to help affected patients find Medicaid providers.
Editor's Note: This article was updated at 12:57 p.m. to include a statement from Kaiser Permanente Colorado.
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