Tweet Nothings

Love was in the air at the Colorado Health Institute last week. On Twitter, hundreds of health policy wonks nationwide participated in #HealthPolicyValentines to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a nerdy twist. CHI, of course, couldn’t resist joining in the nerdy fun.

A sampling of our contributions:

“You are SIMply amazing.” – Research Analyst Tamara Keeney

“It would take a 1332 waiver to repeal my love for you” – Director of Finance and Administration Tim Dunbar

“You’re the only essential benefit I need.” – Senior Communications Expert Joe Hanel

“I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you did – I’ll guaranteed issue you my heart.” – Policy Analyst Allie Morgan

With Valentine’s Day tweeting behind us, we’re looking forward to a week of presentations and new website content.  

Michele Lueck, President and CEO, and Jeff Bontrager, Director of Research on Coverage and Access, will deliver a presentation to lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon as part of our 2015 Lunch and Learn series. The Promise of Health Care Integration: SIM, Scope of Practice and Shaping the Future will give legislators an overview of efforts to integrate behavioral health and primary care in the state, why these initiatives are happening and decisions that legislators will face in the future.

Senior Analyst Anna Vigran is also giving a presentation this week. Anna will co-present with Allison Grace Bui of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to the Community Health Assessment class at the Colorado School of Public Health on health data that is available for Colorado and where to find it.

Research Analyst Nina Roumell has both a new insight and a new blog out today. Nina’s blog – Making Cents of the Budget – is an overview of the health care items in President Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget, including several items aimed at reducing Medicare spending. The insight – School Clinics See More Medicaid Clients, Fewer Uninsured Kids – takes a look at the changing payer mix at Colorado’s school-based health centers. You can read that here.