Key Takeaway:
- Medicaid (Health First Colorado) fully covers a wide range of behavioral health services— including therapy, substance use treatment, medication support, case management and housing‑related services—ensuring Coloradans can access care without financial barriers.
- WellPower delivers this complete continuum of Medicaid‑covered care across Denver, helping individuals navigate benefits and connect with comprehensive, whole‑person support.
Coloradans rely on Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program, to access essential behavioral health care—ranging from therapy and substance use treatment to housing supports and psychiatric rehabilitation. At WellPower, we gladly welcome Medicaid members, and we’re committed to making that care accessible, high‑quality and rooted in dignity, strengths and the belief that every person can thrive.
As Colorado’s largest community mental health center, WellPower has served hundreds of thousands of people across Denver for more than three decades with mental health, substance use and whole‑person support services. Medicaid plays a critical role in ensuring individuals and families can receive these services without financial barriers.
Medicaid covers a wide range of costs associated with behavioral health services, including outpatient therapy, psychiatry and medication-assisted treatment for alcohol and other substances.
In partnership with Health First Colorado, WellPower delivers a continuum of behavioral health services to more than 20,000 people each year, across 30+ clinics and nearly 200 community locations.
Below is an overview of how Medicaid works in Colorado—and the comprehensive support WellPower provides to Medicaid members in our community.
Medicaid in Colorado: A Foundation for Behavioral Health Care
Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health services in the United States, serving as a lifeline for individuals seeking therapy, psychiatric support and substance use treatment.
In Colorado, Health First Colorado helps people access vital behavioral health services such as:
- Outpatient therapy and counseling
- Medication management
- Substance use treatment
- Crisis services
- Inpatient and outpatient programs
- Psychiatric rehabilitation
- Case management and care coordination
Health First Colorado outlines Medicaid-covered behavioral health benefits—including individual and group therapy, substance use treatment, medication services and rehabilitative supports—ensuring that Coloradans of all ages can receive care tailored to their needs.
WellPower proudly accepts Health First Colorado and works closely with members to understand benefits, navigate enrollment and connect with care.
Behavioral Health Services at WellPower Covered by Medicaid
WellPower offers a broad range of Medicaid-covered services. Our approach is grounded in whole-person care—recognizing that mental health is interconnected with housing, access to food, employment, physical health and community support.
Below are the key services Medicaid covers and which WellPower provides to adults, children and families.
Therapy and Counseling
Medicaid covers outpatient therapy for individuals, families and groups.
At WellPower, these services include:
- Individual and family therapy
- Group therapy
- Evidence-based modalities, such as trauma-informed care and skills-building supports
Therapy is core to our mission of helping people build resilience, emotional well‑being and connection. WellPower provides therapy across Denver at traditional clinics, schools, community centers and through telehealth—expanding access for Medicaid members who face mobility, transportation or scheduling barriers.
Substance Use Treatment
Substance use treatment is a Medicaid-covered benefit, including assessment, outpatient counseling and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Health First Colorado recognizes the importance of integrated care for substance use disorders and WellPower is deeply committed to supporting recovery.
Through our substance use treatment services, we provide:
- Individual and group counseling
- Relapse prevention
- Harm reduction education
- Recovery-focused case management
- Integrated mental health and substance use support
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment combines medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to help people reduce cravings, manage withdrawal and sustain long-term recovery.
At WellPower, MAT services may include:
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone
- Other clinically appropriate medications
- Ongoing counseling and care coordination
These services are fully covered by Medicaid and available at several WellPower locations.
Intensive Outpatient Services
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) offer structured, frequent therapy sessions for individuals who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy provides, but who do not need inpatient care.
Medicaid generally covers intensive outpatient treatment and WellPower’s continuum of care includes higher-intensity services that support stabilization and recovery.
IOP services may include:
- Multiple therapy sessions per week
- Group skills-building
- Substance use treatment supports
- Structured care planning and monitoring
These programs help people strengthen coping skills, interrupt crisis cycles and transition to ongoing outpatient care.
Case Management
Case management is a crucial Medicaid-covered service for people who need help navigating behavioral health systems, community supports and daily-life needs.
At WellPower, case managers support people with:
- Connecting to housing resources
- Accessing food, transportation and health benefits
- Coordinating care between physical and mental health providers
- Building independent living skills
- Navigating criminal justice or social services systems
Case management ensures individuals receive seamless, coordinated care that addresses their broader life circumstances.
Housing Services
Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of behavioral health outcomes. Medicaid covers certain housing-related supports, particularly care coordination, rehabilitation and tenancy-sustaining services.
WellPower provides:
- Permanent supportive housing programs
- Housing navigation
- Peer support for individuals transitioning from homelessness
- On-site behavioral health and case management supports
Our work in supportive housing is central to helping people regain independence and stability.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Psychiatric rehabilitation through our programs like NextChapter and the Resource Center helps people build the skills needed to live independently, maintain employment, engage in relationships and participate fully in community life.
Medicaid covers rehabilitative services such as:
- Skills training
- Medication management
- Community-based supports
- Functional assessments
At WellPower, psychiatric rehabilitation is integrated into many programs, supporting people as they pursue education, work, wellness and meaningful daily activities.
How to Access Medicaid-Covered Services at WellPower
Getting started is simple. People with Health First Colorado coverage can:
- Call us at (303) 504‑7900
- Visit wellpower.org/medicaid to learn more about Medicaid-covered services and eligibility
- Request a phone call from us online if you are 18 or older, live in Denver and have Medicaid
- Receive help navigating insurance, benefits and next steps
We will ask a few questions to understand needs, previous treatment, insurance coverage and any accessibility considerations, then guide individuals to the right services.
Removing Barriers and Powering Well‑Being
Behavioral health is essential to every person’s well‑being and Medicaid ensures people can access the care they need, without the burden of high out‑of‑pocket costs. As a safety‑net provider, WellPower is committed to serving everyone—regardless of financial circumstances—and Medicaid is foundational to that mission.
Our services honor the inherent dignity, strengths and resilience of every person we serve and our approach is rooted in compassion, expertise and the belief that recovery is always possible.
At WellPower, we meet people where they are—with therapy, medication support, substance use treatment, housing services, case management and psychiatric rehabilitation—so they can move toward a life filled with meaning, stability and well‑being.
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