health
Colorado expected to receive at least $300 million through opioid-crisis settlement — if local governments approve the deal
The tentative settlement, announced Wednesday, would bring to nearly $400 million that could come to Colorado through opioid litigation
Colorado’s new COVID guidance for schools: Masks not required, quarantine rules relaxed
Some Colorado school districts have already announced they won’t require masks next year, while in others, officials said they were weighing their options and waiting for state guidance
Colorado’s reinsurance programs will continue to keep health costs low, governor says
Individuals buying on the exchange are expected to save more than 24% next year compared with what they would pay if they had to purchase coverage without the reinsurance program
Rural ambulance services in mountain communities are in jeopardy as volunteers age and expenses mount
In rural America, it’s increasingly difficult for ambulance services to respond to emergencies. One factor is that emergency medical services are struggling to find young volunteers to replace retiring EMTs
Douglas County proceeds with its pursuit of a new health department after pandemic battles with Tri-County
The county started considering forming a new public health department several months into the COVID-19 pandemic
How a rural Colorado town without a pharmacy is crowdsourcing to get meds
With no local access to prescription drugs, Walden residents are taking advantage of anyone’s trip to bigger cities to pick up medications for the rest of the town
Colorado is on track to vaccinate at least 70% of its adult residents by July 4, governor says
The announcement comes as Colorado on Friday awarded the third of five $1 million sweepstakes prizes to someone who has received at least a first dose of coronavirus vaccine
Colorado lawmakers wage multifront assault on high drug costs
While none of the efforts alone would result in broad-based, deep cuts, state officials estimate the combined impact of the various measures could save Coloradans between 20% and 40% in out-of-pocket costs
U.S. regulators approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12
Shots could begin as soon as a federal vaccine advisory committee issues recommendations for using the two-dose vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds
117 Colorado nursing homes with COVID outbreaks received both fines and financial assistance from the federal government
1,103 residents died at Colorado nursing homes that had outbreaks, paid fines and pocketed bonuses in 2020, 9Wants to Know found
FDA expected to OK Pfizer vaccine for youngsters ages 12 to 15 within a week
Pfizer isn’t the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine
Colorado governor drops mask mandate for indoor spaces where at least 80% of people are fully vaccinated
Masks are no longer required for gatherings of nine people or fewer in Colorado
Colorado to offer walk-in coronavirus vaccinations at three sites
The dozens of other vaccination sites in Colorado will continue to operate on an appointment-only basis
Colorado is in its fourth coronavirus wave as more contagious variants become dominant among cases
“More than 50% of positive cases that are occurring in the state are now due to variants of COVID-19,” Dr. Rachel Herlihy said
Colorado will open coronavirus vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older starting on Friday
The state was planning to open vaccine eligibility to the general public starting in mid-April. Colorado will join at least 12 other states across the country that have already expanded eligibility to the general population or will do so by the end of the week.
In the Denver Health emergency department, patients and caregivers are scarred by a brutal year
Patients’ wounds hinted at links to the pandemic. So did the emotional damage to workers.
Colorado will loosen its coronavirus dial system next week, allow bars to reopen across much of the state and end personal gathering limits
Colorado is also removing its limit on personal gathering sizes, though CDPHE notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still strongly recommends avoiding larger gatherings and crowds to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Park County’s only primary care doctor retired 8 years ago. A replacement still hasn’t been found.
It’s a stark example of the persistent difficulty in recruiting young talent for the daunting workloads facing Colorado’s most isolated medical outposts.
Nonprofit launches $1 million TV ad buy against Colorado Democrats’ public health insurance option proposal
Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, whose members include hospitals and private insurance companies, spent nearly $5 million in 2020 to attack a similar measure abandoned after coronavirus struck
