Gov. Jared Polis said Thursday he will reverse the state’s plans to increase reimbursement rates for health care providers who see Medicaid recipients to help address a roughly $750 million hole in the state budget caused by the Republican federal tax and spending bill.

That will save the state about $38 million by forgoing a planned 1.6% rate hike.

Polis also said he will slash spending on higher education (by some $12 million) and grants (like $2 million to tackle health disparities) as part of $252 million in total cuts to help balance the budget this fiscal year, which began July 1. The governor said he is making changes to about 20 budget line items.

“My two commitments in managing these cuts — we’ve kept them both,” he said. “We are not cutting our public schools one dime. K-12

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