A new report out of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care (OSPMHC) was released last week highlighting the impacts of high health care costs on everyday Coloradans.
The report found those with chronic conditions in Colorado have a lower quality of life due to costs and identified disparities across racial groups in both financial and emotional stress due to health care costs.
Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, director of OSPMHC said:
“As a cancer survivor, I know how stressful it can be to navigate the healthcare system while managing a chronic condition. This report highlights the very real emotional, physical, and financial hardships that the cost of health care can have on our communities and neighbors. My hope is that this report will be a call to action for our partners around the state.”
OSPMHC was created by Gov. Jared Polis in 2019 to “identify and implement policies that will reduce health care costs while expanding access to quality care in every corner of Colorado.” Headed by Primavera, the office will study what drives health care cost increases and identify ways to make health care more affordable in the state.
Right now, the focus is on lowering costs for those with chronic health conditions, according to the report. The report states that those with chronic health conditions spend more money managing their health care than people without chronic health conditions due to the increased number of emergency room visits, inpatient stays, outpatient visits, and prescription drugs. Those costs compound the more conditions one has.
Nationally, those with five or more chronic health conditions accrue $18,000 in total health care spending compared to $2,000 for those without chronic conditions. This creates financial toxicity for patients, which describes the “detrimental impacts of health care costs on quality of life, mental and physical health outcomes, and personal finances.
The report said OSPMHC plans to elevate the issues of financial toxicity to create solutions for the 61.5% of Coloradans living with chronic disease who are at risk. The report said:
“There is a pressing need to address the underlying drivers of high health care costs and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients, as they impose significant burdens. It is incredibly difficult for Coloradans to navigate a complex and inaccessible health care system while managing chronic diseases, with detrimental financial and emotional consequences.”
The report also said not all populations are equally affected by the cost of chronic disease management. A survey for this report was conducted in the Spring of 2021 to determine the impact of health care costs on certain populations across the state.
In the survey, they found that people of color were more likely to have higher rates of chronic diseases than white Colordans. Black, Hispanic/Latix, Asian, and American Indian/Alaska Native Coloradans also experience increased rates of individuals living below the federal poverty line. The report said:
“Discriminatory policies and systemic racism has resulted in people of color enduring disproportionate rates of poor health outcomes. Ultimately, these health disparities tied to structural inequities accumulate across the life span, impacting health outcomes and health utilization rates later in life.”
The report gives potential opportunities to assist Coloradans facing financial toxicity. OSPMHC recommends enhancing consumer health literacy education through culturally competent outreach efforts through trusted messengers. This aims to help ensure patients have access to accurate information on providers and services in their area.
OSPMHC also recommends the use of a standardized financial toxicity tool to identify those at risk. The report said:
“[We should be] furthering access to services and resources by establishing a centralized, comprehensive approach to care coordination as well as social and financial services provision and creating and implementing a uniform financial toxicity screening tool.”