Headlines Wednesday November 5, 2025
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Education Funding, Centennial Medical Supplies Fraud, Colorado Class Action Suit Over Arthritis Drug KGNU News
Education Funding
Governor Jared Polis’ 2026-2027 budget proposal was introduced on Friday. The proposal increases statewide K-12 education spending by $276 million and fulfills funding promises made by lawmakers that came about during this year’s legislation session.
The state’s universal preschool program would get a small budget increase, and higher education institutions would be allowed to raise in-state tuition by the projected rate of inflation, according to Chalkbeat. Colleges and universities would also be allowed to increase tuition for in state and out of state students.
Polis’ proposed state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year is $47.9 billion which is a 5.2% increase from this year’s $43.9 billion budget.
The plan is to phase in the state’s new funding formula within seven years. This includes 30% of the $500 million needed to update the formula. Meanwhile Polis’ proposal also maintains changes to how the state will calculate enrollment for the purpose of the budget.
The Joint Budget Committee will take Polis’ proposal during the new legislative session to craft the spending proposal. The legislative session won’t begin until January.
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Centennial Medical Supplies Fraud
The Better Business Bureau, or BBB, posted an advisory about complaints it has received from the Denver company Centennial Medical Supplies. Since mid-September, more than 30 people have left BBB reviews alleging that Centennial Medical Supplies billed their insurance for products like catheter supplies they never received.
According to the Denver Post, billing for medical equipment has become a significant source of income for scammers, and the true number of fraudulent claims against Centennial may be higher, as not everyone catches mistakes in their bills, particularly when they are fully covered by things like Medicare.
Colorado Class Action Suit Over Arthritis Drug (CCNA)
A pharmaceutical company is suing Colorado over a first-in-the-nation price cap on a popular arthritis drug. In the lawsuit, drugmaker Amgen claims action by the state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board conflicts with federal patent laws.
The drug in question, called Enbrel, was capped at about $31,000 per year. The Denver Post reports insurance companies in Colorado previously paid an average of more than $50,000 for each patient using the medication.
Amgen also sued the state last year after it first declared the drug unaffordable. A federal judge threw out that case.
DIA Concerned Over Government Shutdown Worker Shortage
Amid the continuing government shut down, Denver International Airport is reporting a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers, and flights may be affected. Air traffic controllers are among the government workers working without pay, as the shutdown continues, becoming the longest federal government shutdown in US history.
In an FAA advisory Tuesday, Denver air traffic controllers reported a “staffing trigger” from 1-5 p.m. The Denver Post reported that no significant disruptions were caused, with 128 flights delayed and three cancelled as of 6 p.m., but that the airport may start a traffic management program, like a ground delay, because of the staffing shortage.
