This latest scandal with Health First Colorado pulling the plug on MedRide's contract is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rampant waste and fraud plaguing our state's bloated Medicaid system. We're talking about a non-emergency transportation provider that's been caught submitting claims riddled with missing signatures, bogus dates, and incomplete records—red flags that scream incompetence or outright deceit. And this isn't some isolated slip-up; it's echoing the massive fraud ring exposed last year in the same sector, where crooks bilked taxpayers out of millions through fake rides that never happened, leaving real patients in the lurch and honest drivers stiffed.

Kudos to the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing for finally enforcing the law under § 25.5-4-301(16), C.R.S., and suspending MedRide effective February 7. They gave this outfit multiple extensions to clean up their act, but excuses ran out—good riddance. It's a stark reminder that when government hands over unchecked cash to middlemen in these entitlement programs, the incentives are all wrong: providers game the system for quick bucks, bureaucrats drag their feet on oversight, and everyday Coloradans foot the bill through higher taxes and premiums.

The real victims here? Low-income folks relying on these rides to get to doctor's appointments, now scrambling for alternatives while the state scrambles to list backups. Call the Member Contact Center at 800-221-3943 if you're affected—they're open weekdays till 4:30 p.m. But let's be clear: This mess underscores why Colorado needs ironclad reforms, like stricter audits, real-time claim verification tech, and tying provider payments to proven results, not just promises. No more extensions for bad actors; protect the vulnerable by cracking down on the grifters first. Our Medicaid dollars should go to actual care, not lining the pockets of fraudsters—time for accountability that sticks.