Needy still suffering delays in receiving state health, food assistance
Massive delays continue to plague the state benefits system for Medicaid, food stamps and other assistance, obstructing hundreds of thousands of residents and prompting a new contempt of court call by legal advocates for the poor.
In some categories, the roadblocks have worsened despite years of attempted fixes. Tens of thousands of clients a month are suffering illegal delays on 71 percent of Child Health Plan Plus re-enrollments and 44 percent of initial adult Medicaid applications, the contempt filings claim.
With state and county caseloads bulging from the recession, the delays affected more than 248,000 people seeking to start or extend medical benefits in an 18-month period from 2009 to mid-2010.
While applicants may eventually receive back benefits, they miss vital food aid during the gaps and watch doctors, clinics and pharmacies refuse them care for lack of insurance.
Read the rest of the story at the Denver Post website.
Members of the Colorado Springs Fire Dept. and investigators from the Colorado Springs Police Department congregate outside a room at the Chief Motel where a body was discovered Sunday morning. Firefighters were called to a fire at the motel and upon entering the room found a dead body on Sunday, January 23, 2011. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) Photo by JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE