By The Associated Press, originally published by The Coloradoan DENVER — Supporters of universal health care have gathered enough signatures to put on next year’s ballot a plan to make Colorado the first state to opt out of the federal health law and replace it with taxpayer-funded coverage for all. Proponents submitted 158,831 qualified signatures, about… Continue reading Universal Health Care to Appear on Colorado Ballot in 2016

By Joey Bunch for The Denver Post Colorado voters could be asked to make a choice on next year’s ballot: Would you trust an elected state board to govern your medical needs more than private insurers and Obamacare? Initiative 20 would unwind Connect for Health Colorado, the insurance exchange that complies with the Affordable Care Act,… Continue reading Single-Payer Initiative Would Target Health Insurance Exchange

By Eric Galatas for the Colorado News Connection Coloradans are embracing the “medical home” model for health-care delivery, according to a new report from the Colorado Health Foundation. In a medical home, the patient is the focus, and doctors — who traditionally play the “starring role” in clinics — become part of a team of… Continue reading Medical Homes: More Colorado Clinics Take A Team Approach To Good Health

DENVER, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) project is pleased to recognize the significant commitments made by six Colorado health insurers and the state’s Medicaid program to adopt delivery and payment reforms designed to integrate behavioral and physical healthcare. “These commitments represent an important step forward in furthering the goals of… Continue reading Colorado Health Plans make Expanded Commitments to Integrated Care and State Innovation Model

Originally published by The Denver Post The legislative oversight committee for the state health insurance exchange heard Wednesday from brokers, agents and consumers about the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the two-year-old marketplace. Even as the oversight committee heard testimony from some of those directly affected by operational problems and successes at… Continue reading Connect for Health Colorado’s Oversight Committee Gears Up to Provide Greater Legislative Scrutiny

Originally published by Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service. By Michael Ollove, Stateline Fifteen states are betting they can convince more doctors to accept the growing number of patients covered by Medicaid with a simple incentive: more money. The Affordable Care Act gave states federal dollars to raise… Continue reading 15 States Extend Health Law’s Higher Medicaid Payments To Doctors

Calculating the effect that Aurora’s Oz has had on the community can be slippery.

Mommy Care By Aimee Heckel for The Colorado Daily This spa looks different. First is the entry area. Not far from the hot tea station rests a small basket of toys. Down the hallway in the first massage room, you’ll find an adjustable hydraulic massage table, and next to it, a small wicker bassinet. This is… Continue reading Mommy Care

By Electa Draper for The Denver Post Medicaid patients enrolling through the state health insurance exchange are taking too much of its resources, exchange board members said Monday, but state officials propose an even tighter partnership. The federal policy of “no wrong door” was meant to be a single online portal for the uninsured that would… Continue reading Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Officials Clash over Medicaid Role

Originally published by Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service. By Julie Appleby After Pam Durocher was diagnosed with breast cancer, she searched her insurer’s website for a participating surgeon to do the reconstructive surgery. Having done her homework, she was stunned to get a $10,000 bill from the… Continue reading Even Insured Consumers Get Hit With Unexpectedly Large Medical Bills