Health First Colorado suspends contract with MedRide, alleges they participated in fraud

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Officials confirm Colorado's Medicaid program, Health First Colorado, is suspending its contract with MedRide.

MedRide provides Medicaid patients with non-emergency rides to doctors' appointments and other medical services.

In a memo sent to Health First members, officials wrote that services would end on Feb. 7, and advised patients that moving forward they would need to find another way to get a ride.

In a statement sent to KRDO13 late Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson said, "Colorado statute authorizes HCPF (The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing) to suspend NEMT (non-emergent medical transportation) providers to give HCPF time to investigate provider behaviors typically associated with fraud, waste and abuse. This suspension of MedRide meets the criteria in state law for suspension at § 25.5-4-301(16), C.R.S. HCPF previously provided MedRide with opportunities and extensions to come into compliance and to address identified concerns, and they have not done so."

According to documents, directors with the Colorado Medicaid program said claims had been missing member signatures, missing dates and times, or claims that were missing columns.

Non-emergent medical transportation services have faced scrutiny before. Last year, it was uncovered that some of them had been filing false or fraudulent claims.

Those with questions can contact the Member Contact Center at 800-221-3943 (State Relay: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A list of other non-emergent medical transportation providers can be found here.