Boulder-Based Fountain Wellness Expands Mental Health Access With Medicaid Coverage

A private mental health and addiction therapy practice with offices in Fort Collins is now accepting Colorado Medicaid, expanding access to treatment services for low-income residents across Northern Colorado.

Fountain Wellness announced October 13 that it will accept Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, for mental health and addiction therapy services. The family-owned practice, founded by sisters Nicole and Christina Bleau, provides treatment for adolescents and adults experiencing addiction, trauma, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring disorders.

The practice operates offices in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction, offering both in-person sessions and statewide teletherapy services. For clients who prefer nontraditional settings, Fountain Wellness provides in-home sessions and outdoor therapy options.

Addressing Provider Shortages in Northern Colorado

The decision to accept Medicaid addresses longstanding access barriers in Larimer and Weld counties, where residents have historically faced fewer Medicaid-accepting behavioral health providers compared to urban Denver metro areas. Fort Collins offers relatively better access due to larger clinics and community mental health centers, but rural and suburban areas throughout the county have consistently reported fewer psychiatrists, psychologists, and addiction specialists enrolled with Health First Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.

Wait times for appointments, particularly for psychiatry and addiction specialty services, have sometimes exceeded several months in Northern Colorado, compared with major urban areas. Smaller private practices have historically been less likely to accept Medicaid because of lower reimbursement rates and administrative burden, contributing to regional disparities.

"By accepting Colorado Medicaid, we're making it possible for more people to access the care they need, without financial barriers standing in the way," said Nicole Bleau, Founder and Business Operations Manager. "Our goal has always been to make therapy accessible, compassionate, and empowering for every person we serve."

Medicaid Coverage and Eligibility

Colorado Medicaid covers mental health and addiction treatment for eligible residents statewide. Adults ages 19 through 64 qualify for basic Medicaid coverage with income at or below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, approximately $20,120 annually for single adults or $41,400 annually for families of four, according to federal poverty guidelines.

The state program covers individual, family, and group psychotherapy in both in-person and telehealth formats, psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, medication management, intensive outpatient services, inpatient psychiatric care, and crisis services. For addiction treatment, covered services include screening, brief intervention, individual and group substance use disorder counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and residential and outpatient rehabilitation subject to medical necessity.

Colorado Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health services range from approximately $92 to $105 per 45-minute individual therapy session, $28 to $38 per participant for group therapy, and $125 to $140 for psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, according to the 2025 Colorado Behavioral Health Care Provider Manual.

Effective July 2025, certain higher-level care services now require prior authorization by the Regional Accountable Entity, including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.

Local Application Process

Larimer County residents can apply for Health First Colorado online through the Colorado PEAK website, in person at Larimer County Human Services at 2555 Midpoint Drive in Fort Collins, or by phone at 1-800-221-3942. Weld County residents can access services through Weld County Human Services. Applications typically require documentation of income, residency, citizenship status, and household information, with processing taking up to 45 days.

Mental health crisis services remain available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for Northern Colorado residents experiencing behavioral health emergencies.

Beyond Individual Therapy

Fountain Wellness emphasizes community connection as part of recovery programming. The practice hosts support groups and sober wellness outings designed to help clients reconnect with themselves and others, build meaningful relationships, and develop lifelong wellness skills.

The practice's licensed clinicians provide culturally responsive, LGBTQIA2S+ affirming treatment using evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, neurofeedback, and specialized therapeutic modalities.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, residents can visit the practice's website at fountainwellnesstherapy.com or contact the practice at 720-310-8731.