A summary of budget cuts proposed Tuesday by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter:
— Eliminate increases for prison academic and vocational training programs, reducing the programs’ ability to serve an additional 2,000 offenders.
— Eliminate a pilot program for 200 parolees who need mental health and substance abuse treatment.
— Accelerate parole for eligible offenders who have achieved parole goals.
— Reduce rates for Medicaid providers by 1.5 percent.
— Lower the cap on non-medical transportation services to 2 trips per week from the current average of 3.3 trips per week.
— Cut pharmacy reimbursement rates.
— Eliminate the Function Family Therapy Program providing services to youths at risk of out-of-home placement.
— Close 59 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, including the Children’s, Adolescents and Geriatric units, and transfer patients to community facilities.
— Close the Nursing Facility at Grand Junction Regional Center and move 32 “medically fragile” patients from the state operated Grand Junction Regional Center to community nursing facilities. One hundred twenty-five beds will remain in Grand Junction.
— Suspend the Aid to Needy and Disabled, State Only Program, which provides interim financial assistance to persons awaiting federal assistance.
— Impose a $10.50 fee for gun purchase background checks.
