Colorado Medicaid – Explained
Medicaid benefits can be confusing – here is a brief explanation of your Medicaid coverage.
Center for Resilience Strategies is credentialed with Colorado’s Medicaid program – aka “Health First Colorado”.
Medicaid is a state-funded health insurance program – think of Medicaid as a “type” of insurance. Colorado Medicaid is actually split up into what are called Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) – think of them as separate insurance companies responsible for administering and managing your health benefits. These companies cover different sections of Colorado.
As of July 1, 2025, there are 4 Medicaid RAEs, aka payers. Each company administers the benefits for its indicated counties (refer to the image below).
How is my Medicaid “company” (RAE) determined?
When you apply for Medicaid, it asks some basic demographic questions such as address. Then it asks you about your Primary Care Physician (PCP). If you have a PCP you regularly see who accepts Medicaid, and you enter their information, your Medicaid company is based on the county of your PCP. This could mean you live in Boulder County, but if your doctor is in Denver County, your Medicaid will be with Colorado Access.
If you do not set a PCP at the time of application, your company is determined by your home address, and you are randomly assigned a PCP (and RAE).
What companies (RAEs) does CRS accept?
CRS accepts RAEs 1, 3, and 4 (Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA), & Colorado Access). All of our providers can accept Health First Colorado/Medicaid for all of these RAEs.
Is there a difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
Yes, these are two completely different insurances. Medicare is coverage for older adults aged 65+, or individuals of any age who have a disability.
Our practice is currently out of network with Medicare; however, as of July 1, 2025 our contracting application is in process.
How much do my sessions cost through Medicaid?
Your counseling and therapy sessions typically cost $0. In rare cases, your plan may include a small fee for your sessions, depending on your coverage (such as CHP+ plans). As a new client, we will verify your benefits and provide you with this information upfront.
We are unable to accept out-of-pocket payments from Medicaid members for all “covered services,” including outpatient therapy. Accepting payments puts your eligibility for Medicaid coverage at risk.
How many sessions does Medicaid cover?
Under active Medicaid, you are entitled to unlimited outpatient counseling sessions. Higher levels of care and other services may require prior authorization.
If you have questions about your Health First Colorado/Medicaid coverage and how it affects your services at CRS, please reach out to our billing specialist.
billing@crscounseling.com
720-647-6700
Medicaid Resources
Apply for Health First Colorado/Medicaid
Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA)