Posted inCOVID, Health, News, Politics and Government

Everything you need to know about the major health care bills still alive at the Colorado Capitol

There are officially only two weeks left in the legislative session this year in Colorado, and state lawmakers are continuing to debate several major bills — including ones that could have a significant impact on the state’s health care system. In recent legislative sessions, Colorado lawmakers passed eye-popping, heavily contested proposals to create a historic […]

Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns

Rep. Kennedy: Colorado can have health insurance that pays for quality, not quantity

In my nearly six years as a state representative, I’ve spent more time and energy on health-care reform than on any other topic. I’ve sponsored legislation to improve regulations of free-standing emergency rooms, require cost transparency from hospitals, implement a reinsurance program (which has saved consumers more than 20% on premiums in the individual market), […]

Posted inHealth, News

Marshall fire and omicron surge prompt Colorado to offer special enrollment period for health insurance

By Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health Network A wildfire displaced thousands of Coloradans just as the omicron surge began sweeping through the state, so health insurance was likely not on many people’s minds when the regular enrollment period for the state’s health insurance marketplace ended Jan. 15. But now, because of those twin emergencies, everyone in […]

Posted inHealth, News

Colorado Medicaid contractor reverses course, will no longer try to recoup payments from mental health providers

Colorado mental health therapists will no longer have to pay back money they received for seeing Medicaid patients after a state contractor that had threatened to “recoup” the payments reversed course Wednesday.  Mental health counselors at practices in eight Front Range counties received emails from Colorado Community Health Alliance — the contractor that processes their […]

Posted inCOVID, Health

The rate of people in Colorado with health insurance held steady during the pandemic

The past 19 months, Colorado’s health care system has seen unprecedented convulsion — a pandemic, hospitals filling up with coronavirus patients, doctor’s offices emptying due to patients putting off treatment, untold numbers of people losing their jobs and the health coverage that goes with it. But amazingly, according to a new survey, one thing held […]

Posted inHealth, News

Colorado will be first in the U.S. to require comprehensive health coverage for gender-affirming services

Colorado will become the first state in the country to require certain health care plans to cover comprehensive health services for transgender people, the state and federal governments announced Tuesday. The state will also add two more required benefits for those plans: an annual mental health wellness exam and prescription coverage for treatments that are […]

Posted inBusiness, Health, News, Outdoors

A new strategy in the season ski pass war: medical insurance policies

The season-pass war that has reshaped the resort industry in recent years is getting a new tactic: injury insurance.  Telluride ski area has partnered with Spot, a startup insurance provider to offer $25,000 insurance policies for skiers injured on the mountain. The no-deductible Spot insurance coverage will be included in the price of every lift […]