Pueblo County backs letter asking state to reinstate and pay suspended Medicaid transportation providers

The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners voted May 15 to authorize a letter urging state health officials to reinstate enrollment for suspended nonemergency medical transportation providers in Pueblo County and to pay legitimately billed invoices for services those providers already delivered.

County Attorney Cynthia Mitchell described the request during the meeting: "There have been several Medicaid transportation service providers in Pueblo County that have had their role enrollment suspended and also have not been paid by the state for services that they have provided," she said, explaining the proposed letter would be sent to the state's Health Care Policy and Financing office, Policy and Compliance, and Finance divisions.

Commissioners said they were sympathetic and agreed the county should advocate for providers who are compliant with federal, state and local laws. One commissioner said some providers had been swept up in investigations despite passing reviews and were now at financial risk because they continued to provide services without payment. Another commissioner noted the critical nature of nonemergency medical transportation to community members and supported asking the state to release funds to providers.

Following discussion, a commissioner moved to approve item 3(a); another commissioner seconded, and the motion carried. The meeting record shows the board's action was to approve the resolution authorizing the letter of support; no additional motions or follow-up tasks were specified in the transcript.

The county did not record a vote tally in the transcript beyond the motion carrying. The transcript also did not specify individual provider names, the number of providers affected, or the dollar amount of unpaid invoices; those details are not specified in the meeting record.