Measuring the Progress of Health Reform with the Colorado Health Access Survey

"Over the next few years, state and federal health reform will bring significant change to Colorado’s health care landscape. Employers will see new incentives and responsibilities to provide health insurance coverage to their employees. Medicaid will expand to include more Coloradans. Some Coloradans will be buying health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, and the types of insurance plans available will likely be different than in years past. As new health reform policies are implemented, it will be important to understand what’s working — and what isn’t. The Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) is a survey of health care coverage, access and use in Colorado administered every two years. It can help you answer questions about your region, such as: How many Coloradans are uninsured or underinsured, statewide or by region? How many Coloradans are buying health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado? Where are Coloradans getting their health care? What barriers do they face?

You can learn more about how the CHAS tracks health reform in Measuring the Progress of Health Reform with the Colorado Health Access Survey. You can also visit the CHAS website to review publications on topics such as the uninsured in Colorado, oral health access, and how Medicaid enrollees access and use health care. In addition, we offer customized data profiles that can help you answer specific questions you may have about health care coverage, access and use in Colorado. We are happy to make the CHAS data readily available to you and talk with you about any specific requests you may have. For more information, please contact Jeanine Draut at The Colorado Trust, or call Rebecca Crepin at the Colorado Health Institute at 720-382-7086 for more information." [Source: The Colorado Trust]

2013 Legislative Session Overviews

Click here to read the Colorado Health Institute 2013 Legislation in Review.
Click here to read the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved 2013 Colorado General Assembly Session Overview.

PEAK View June 2013

Click here for the last information about PEAK including June Enhancements Overview & Impacts and June Trainings. [Source: Colorado Peak]

ACA Implementation Newsletter

Click here to read the latest ACA Implementation Newsletter from HCPF. "This twice a month publication provides updates on and opportunities to participate in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This newsletter is designed for county partners and other eligibility workers and stakeholders who will be impacted by the Affordable Care Act’s changes to the Medicaid program." [Source: HCPF]

Latest Updates from Connect for Health Colorado

• The Health Plan Advisory Group will meet Monday, June 3, at 10:30 am. Learn More. 
• The Board IT & Implementation Committee will meet Monday, June 3, at 2:00 pm. Learn More.
• The Board will meet Monday, June 10, at 8:30 am. Learn More.
• The Outreach and Communications Advisory Group will meet Wednesday, June 12, at 3:00 pm. Learn More. [Source: Connect for Health Colorado]

AHRQ Highlights Resources Available for Mental Health

"In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Effective Health Care Program (EHC) Program is highlighting mental health resources to help health care providers work with patients to find the treatment options that are best for them." [Source: AHRQ]

Colorado Health Institute SNAC Learning Lab materials now available

The Colorado Health Institute's recently hosted SNAC Learning Lab was the first of the 2013-14 Access to Care Track. The discussion centered on “the ripple effect” - how Medicaid expansion, the launch of the Connect for Health Colorado health insurance marketplace and the introduction of the Colorado Health Insurance Cooperative (Colorado Health Op) will affect the safety net, with a particular focus on the issue of “churn”. The group explored implications for patients, providers, policymakers and the philanthropy community.

The Colorado Health Institute team has posted materials from the meeting here and  will post a summary of the discussion in the second of a new series, Food for Thought: Updates from the Safety Net Advisory Committee (SNAC), in the next few weeks. (You can read the first Food for Thought, which summarizes the April SNAC Lab discussion of specialty care, here.) [Source: CHI]