We hosted the 2023 Colorado State of Reform Health Policy Conference recently, bringing together thought leaders, legislators, and policy experts into multi-silo conversations about the future of healthcare in the state. Too often, those with good ideas for reforming healthcare don’t have a solid understanding of how the legislative process works. Those who understand politics … Read more
The Topical Agenda for our 2022 Colorado State of Reform Health Policy Conference is now live! State of Reform gathers health care and health policy executives—each working to improve the health care system in their own way—into a united conversation in a single space. At this conference, we’ll explore politics and policy in … Read more
Two companion bills, House Bills 1031 and 1290, which support wheelchair users, are expected to become law soon. Both pieces of legislation come as wheelchair users throughout Colorado are struggling with resolving mechanical issues in a timely manner due to a lack of support systems. HB 1031, which requires wheelchair manufacturers to provide … Read more
Cathy O’Neil and her firm will support the DOI’s implementation of a law that restricts the use of consumer data by insurers. Last summer, Governor Polis signed Senate Bill (SB) 21-169 – Restrict Insurers’ Use of External Consumer Data – into law, which protects Colorado consumers from insurance practices that result in unfair discrimination on … Read more
Appointed in January of 2022, Dr. Morgan Medlock is an emergency psychiatrist and addiction specialist with a passion for people and health equity. She previously served as the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Crisis and Emergency Services for the Washington, D.C., Department of Behavioral Health. She also serves on the faculty of the Massachusetts … Read more
Dianne Primavera is the Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and leads the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care and the Office of eHealth Innovation. She was formerly a state legislator and the CEO of Susan G. Komen Colorado. In this Q&A, Primavera discusses her work in the legislature, future efforts at the Office of … Read more
The Colorado Legislature introduced a bill on Wednesday that would officially create the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). House Bill 1278 codifies the rules of the administration in the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to, “increase efficiency, transparency, and ease of access for behavioral health services,” said Michelle Barnes, executive director of CDHS. On Friday … Read more
The Combined Hospital Transfer Center (CHTC), a statewide collaboration between hospitals and health systems across Colorado that was developed in 2020 and activated at two points during the COVID-19 pandemic to address rising hospitalizations and capacity challenges, was deactivated [on Tuesday]. During the recent activation for the surges of Delta and Omicron cases, the CHTC … Read more
Colorado’s Combined Hospital Transfer Center (CHTC) recently moved to its lowest tier of activation—tier 1—after moving down to tier 2 the week prior. This is in response to the significant fall in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the state in the past month. “The transfer center folks’ hair was on fire for a while. The reliance on … Read more
The Colorado Department of Human Services has launched the Colorado Rural Interpreter Skills Enhancement (RISE) Project. The program recruits and trains American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to work in rural areas that often have little to no access to quality interpreting services for needs such as medical appointments, legal or work settings and school events. … Read more