$13.7 million bonus to state for increased Medicaid enrollment

Colorado will receive a $13.7 million performance bonus from the Department of Health and Human Services for increasing children's enrollment in Medicaid. To qualify for the bonus, Colorado had to show it implemented at least five of eight recommended enrollment simplification policies and that it met a target for increasing enrollment. Read more about the performance bonuses and Colorado's efforts.

Work on health insurance exchange in Colorado continues

One component of federal health reform is the development of health insurance exchanges, organizations that individuals and small businesses can use to shop for insurance plans and to access federal subsidies. A recent Denver Post article provides an overview of Colorado's efforts to develop an exchange and the steps that lie ahead in 2011.

Securing High Quality Health Care in Rural America: The Impetus for Change in the ACA

The Affordable Care Act calls for the development of a National Health Care Quality Strategy and Plan that will affect millions of healthcare consumers and providers in rural areas and across the country. A new report by the Rural Policy Research Institute, Securing High Quality Health Care in Rural America: The Impetus for Change in the Affordable Care Act, focuses on rural considerations that should be addressed in this quality strategy to ensure full participation by and inclusion of rural providers and communities.

Study maps need for kids’ doctors in rural areas

Today’s Denver Post highlights a recent study that shows the need for pediatricians and family practitioners in rural areas. The study found that while the number of pediatricians and family physicians have outpaced increases in the U.S. child population, the distribution of primary care doctors for children is uneven. Using national data to calculate the per-child supply of working pediatricians and family physicians in geographic regions, low-supply regions were mostly rural. Read the article.

December Revenue Forecast

The Office of State Planning & Budgeting  and the Colorado Legislative Council Staff released their budget revenue forecasts today. Both forecasts indicate that Colorado’s economy is recovering slowly and neither report indicate much change from the September forecast. Revenues are forecast to increase slightly, providing enough General Fund revenue to fully fund budgeted appropriations in FY 2010-11, but revenue will be $137.0 million short of the amount needed to fully fund the 4.0 percent reserve required by law. The loss of one-time federal stimulus funds, particularly $67.2 million in Medicaid funds, may increase this amount to $204.2 million. FY2011-2012 continues to present significant fiscal challenges, with estimates up to a $1 billion shortfall due to increased enrollment in state programs and reduced federal stimulus funds. Read the OSPB and CLCS reports. 

Register for NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington DC, January 24-26

Join rural healthcare providers and advocates in Washington DC at NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute from January 24-26. Meet Colorado’s Congressional members and learn about important federal issues that will impact rural health. Discount registration ends on December 27. Learn more and register online.

President signs bill to delay Medicare cuts

President Obama signed legislation that delays for one year a cut in Medicare payments to physicians that was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2011. Advocates and lawmakers hope to take advantage of the one-year delay to develop a sustainable solution to the Medicare payment formula.

State releases health reform implementation road map

The Governor's Office has prepared an initial assessment of the work completed and the tasks ahead as Colorado addresses health reform and the Affordable Care Act. Implementing Health Care Reform: A Roadmap for Colorado identifies key issues and opportunities for Colorado and provides information for all Coloradans to better understand the many pieces of federal health reform legislation and the state's role in implementing them.

Congress approves 12-month Medicare ‘doc-fix’, rural provisions extended

Today the House approved the Senate’s plan to avoid a scheduled 25% cut in physician Medicare payments, extending current payment rates until January 1, 2012. The approved legislation also extended several provisions in Medicare that benefit rural providers. Read NRHA’s report on the agreement and rural provisions.

Congress reaching agreement on avoiding Medicare cuts

Republican and Democratic Senate leaders have announced a plan that eliminates the 25% cut in Medicare physician payments that is scheduled for January 1 and extends current rates for a year, giving Congress time to work on a sustainable solution. The plan still needs to be approved by Congress and signed by the President. Lawmakers are proposing a tightening of the rules on tax credits in the healthcare law to finance this measure. Read more.

Colorado drops to 13th in health rankings, high geographic health disparities found

As reported in today’s Denver Business Journal, Colorado fell five places to 13th among states in the latest edition of America’s Health Rankings. The annual rankings, published jointly by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, placed Colorado ahead of most other states for its low rates of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular death, and preventable hospitalizations but found the state to be lagging behind others in immunization coverage and with high geographic health disparities. Check out the state rankings and learn more about the measures. 

CMS Hosting Listening Session on December 10: Health Care Delivery System Reform

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a listening session on Friday, December 10 from 9:00-11:00am on Health Care Delivery System Reform, co-hosted by Health and Human Services Regional Director Marguerite Salazar and CMS Regional Administrator Jeff Hinson. The session will be at The Children’s Hospital in Aurora and will highlight three areas: The Accountable Care Organization Shared Savings Program; The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; and The Federal Coordinated Health Care Office. Participants will learn what CMS is doing in these three areas and also have an opportunity to make oral statements. 

Seating is limited and will be based on a first come, first served basis. Those interested in attending must register no later than close of business on Wednesday, December 8th. Click here to register. For more information go to CMS's website or contact the CMS Denver office at 303.844.7130.