The state paid insurers at least $7.3 million, consisting of approximately $3.8 million in federal funds, for services for deceased Colorado residents.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood had announced that its Early Intervention Colorado program planned to put a four-hour-a-month cap on services that children can receive.

Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers want to cap state insurance payments to hospitals, but providers say they're already operating in the red.

The audit estimated that Colorado paid insurers at least $7.3 million, including both state money and about $3.8 million in federal funds, which the state might have to return. The payments were made on behalf of nearly 9,000 deceased Coloradans, according to the report.

Republicans have proposed lowering the federal share of costs for Medicaid expansions, which could reshape the program by gutting one of the Affordable Care Act’s major provisions.

The changes would impact potentially thousands of children, especially those from low-income families who are on Medicaid.

Therapy sessions for young children with disabilities could be pared back as Colorado officials look for ways to cut costs in the state’s Early Intervention program.

A powerful legislative committee on Thursday sought to reverse some planned cuts to Colorado’s Early Intervention programs, which provides free therapies for young children with delays.