Colorado
Colorado caregiver provider reacts to new caps on caregiver hours
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The state is planning to put new caps on paid caregiving hours, cutting care per Medicaid member in half.
11 News shared how a Southern Colorado caregiver feels about the changes and also spoke with a provider to hear about the impacts it may face.
Pikes Peak Respite Services provides at-home and community care services to those with developmental delays. CEO Beverly Seemann said it’s not uncommon for the industry to see changes to Medicaid regulations.
The new caps look to reduce how many hours a caregiver can be paid for per Medicaid member, going from 16 hours a day to eight hours a day.
The changes will take effect in the spring or summer, pending federal approval.
Seemann foresees a loss in profit from the changes and plans to hire more staff to continue meeting customers’ needs.
While Seemann isn’t fond of the new caps, she said she understands why it’s happening. The state needs to get its budget under control, and Seemann would rather see Medicaid services reduced rather than become unsustainable.
What Seemann would really like to see, though, is more consistency between state departments regulating her industry.
The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is leading the charge on these new caps. Seemann said different departments have different regulations, which makes it hard to know if providers are in compliance.
“Agencies and families need some more guidance on this. It’s been a huge challenge trying to navigate multiple systems that are not aligned,” Seemann continued. “You’re in compliance with one system, then you can be out of compliance with another, and it’s incredibly disheartening as a business leader.”
The caps are set to start during a health care worker shortage as well. Seemann said she does see a lack of nurses and certified nursing assistants in some areas across the state.
The CEO added that there’s never a good time for change, so she is working to help her clients through the stress they may be feeling.
The state said that, along with fixing its budget, the new caps will help with caregiver burnout. Seemann said caps won’t necessarily fix caregiver burnout, though, adding that it’s a bigger, systemic issue.
“We see caregiver burnout whether there’s caps or not. We see caregiver burnout due to lack of proper support, and whether that’s because maybe a family doesn’t know about services or maybe there is a shortage in their area, whatever the case may be,” said Seemann.
11 News will continue following the latest on these caps and if the change receives federal approval.
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Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
State and federal agencies are starting to reopen public lands, state wildlife areas and a segment of the Colorado River that were closed in light of the Snyder Fire in Mesa County.
Stage 2 fire restrictions — banning all open fire or flames, including charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves — remain in effect as extreme fire danger, spurred on by hot and dry conditions, persists across the region.
The Snyder Fire started on Friday, June 26, when several smaller fires burning on the Colorado-Utah border combined. As of July 7, the fire was 98% contained after burning over 30,200 acres and killing three wildland firefighters.
With fire activity decreasing and containment increasing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management shared their plans Tuesday to reopen lands impacted by the wildfire.
Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that it, alongside the Bureau of Land Management, had lifted the closure for public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River, starting at the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. It also reopened the boat ramp at the Fruita section of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita to downstream traffic.
The state agency’s Horsethief State Wildlife Area in Fruita and the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area also reopened.
The BLM said in a news release that all lands within the perimeter of the Snyder Fire burn area remain closed to ensure public and firefighter safety.
“The burned landscape — including vegetation — remains dynamic and unpredictable as it naturally recovers from the fire impacts. This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the order is rescinded,” the BLM said.
Both agencies also warned that fire danger remains extremely elevated and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place.
A map of current federal and state fire restrictions is available on the Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Fire Restriction Dashboard or by visiting DFPC.Colorado.Gov/sections/wildfire-information-center. The Colorado Trails Explorer (or COTREX) app also has wildfire closure alerts.
Under current conditions, Parks and Wildlife advised the following actions to prevent sparking wildfires:
- Use established rings: Where permitted, only build campfires inside permanent metal fire rings in designated campgrounds.
- Clear nearby debris: Remove all dry grass, leaves and pine needles within a 10-foot radius of any flame.
- Drown and stir: Extinguish fires completely with water, stir the ashes, and ensure the debris is cold to the touch.
- Watch campfires constantly: Never leave a fire or portable stove unattended. If you see an unattended fire, call 911.
- Keep vehicles off brush: Avoid parking or idling cars on tall, dry grass where hot exhaust systems can ignite a fire.
- Secure towing equipment: Ensure trailer safety chains do not drag and spark against asphalt. Check them at every stop.
The BLM added that under its Stage 2 restrictions, smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Gas-powered stoves or grills with a shut-off valve are still allowed in cleared areas under this stage.
Violating Stage 2 fire restrictions by lighting a campfire is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Violators face an immediate citation, a mandatory court appearance, steep fines and potential jail time. Additionally, you can be held financially liable for all fire suppression costs and property damage if the campfire sparks a wildfire.
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