It’s been a busy third quarter at the Colorado Health Institute. CHI’s health policy experts helped to draft Colorado’s State Innovation Models (SIM) Grant request to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. CHI team members made presentations across Colorado, from legislative town hall meetings to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s health care committee, and from the annual meeting of the Colorado Public Health Association to a gathering of students at the Anschutz Medical Campus hosted by the Colorado Area Health Education Center.

Two weeks ago, August 5-11, the nation’s community health centers were recognized during National Health Center Week. This week, August 20-24, is the third annual Safety Net Clinic Week, sponsored by ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center.  

In acknowledgment of both events, and to educate the public and policymakers about safety net clinics in Colorado, CHI has published a series of new tools:

Contact: Deborah Goeken, Director of Strategic Services

Phone: (720) 382-7094 

The Colorado Health Institute has released a number of new analyses that highlight health policy in the state. CHI’s recent work has included publications, webinar presentations, regular blog posts by CHI analysts, a weekly post by CEO Michele Lueck and our 2011 annual report. Here are the highlights.

Publications:

What are some opportunities for health care cost containment, and how does care coordination fit in? What were the key themes of the 2012 session of the Colorado General Assembly, and what's in store for 2013? How will an aging population affect Colorado’s state budget and health care workforce? 

Apr 16, 2012 - Marla Williams, president and chief executive officer of Community First Foundation, has joined the board of directors of the Colorado Health Institute (CHI).

Williams joined Community First Foundation in November 2010 to serve as president and CEO. The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life by increasing community generosity and involvement.

Formerly she was a partner with the law firm of Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, where she represented nonprofit clients in all aspects of their business.

Feb 13, 2012 - The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) has named Linda Reiner, director of planning and evaluation at Caring for Colorado Foundation, to its Board of Trustees.  She brings expertise in health, health policy and care delivery to the CHI board.

Jan 12, 2012 - The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) today released Legislative Opportunities and Trends 2012, an overview of health policy issues expected to be addressed by the Colorado General Assembly during this session.

Jan 10, 2012 - 2011 was a memorable year in Colorado’s health policy world. The state’s closely-watched health insurance benefits exchange took its first steps, the legislature wrestled with a greater demand for health care services even as the budget dwindled, and community-wide attention to healthier lifestyles took center stage.

From COHBE to CORHIO, from LiveWell to lessons learned, from Accountable Care Collaboratives to the All-Payer Claims Database,  health care policy proved to be one of Colorado’s hottest topics. 

Dec 12, 2011 - A new analysis by the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) estimates that Colorado will need to add between 83 and 141 primary care providers – physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants – to care for the estimated 510,000 Coloradans who will become insured under federal health reform beginning in 2014.

CHI is answering, for the first time in Colorado, the question of how the influx of a half million newly insured residents between 2014 and 2016 will affect Colorado’s health care delivery system.

Dec 8, 2011 - By 2030, nearly one in five Coloradans will be age 65 and older – 1.3 million people. Most of them will need some form of long-term care because of a physical or mental disability or condition. And many will turn to Medicaid for help. How can Colorado ensure the best possible care for its older population while holding down spending?