Colorado Receives “B” on Children’s Oral Health

A new report released today by the Pew Center on the States gives Colorado a “B” for the second year in a row on its efforts to provide basic oral healthcare for children. Colorado met 5 of the study’s 8 benchmarks aimed at addressing children’s oral health needs. Read the report and download Colorado’s fact sheet here. 

Providing HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in Rural Colorado

According to CDC reports, while AIDS diagnoses have slowly decreased in metropolitan areas since 1985, moderate increases in nonmetropolitan areas are emerging, reflecting the spread of the epidemic from urban into smaller suburban and non-urban areas. An article in The Rural Monitor (published by the Rural Assistance Center) highlights the work of the Northern Colorado AIDS Project in providing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in rural areas and some of the challenges these communities face. Read the article. 

Upcoming Call for Community Transformation Grants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced the availability of $100 million to support Community Transformation Grants. In addition to smoke-free living, active living and healthy eating, these new grants will focus on high-impact, quality clinical and other preventive services, social and emotional wellness, and healthy and safe physical environments. The funding is available to support evidence- and practice-based community and clinical prevention and wellness strategies that will lead to specific, measurable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates.

CDC will be holding a conference call prior to the deadline for submitting Letters of Intent to apply for funding. The call for the Mountain time zone is May 25, 2011 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (EDT). This conference call can be accessed by calling 1-888-972-9343. The leader for this call is Lori Elmore and the passcode is 8899773. The Letters of Intent are due to CDC on Monday, June 6, 2011. Click here for more information.

New Study Looks at Model for Healthcare Education and Care Delivery for Chronic Disease in Rural Communities

A new study released by Health Affairs highlights Project ECHO, an unique partnership in New Mexico between an urban academic medical center and primary care providers in rural communities. According to the authors, Project ECHO “presents an atypical example of a health care innovation in which the rural sector leads the way” and “affords an alternative model for meeting the needs of rural patients with complex diseases.” Please note this article will be available online and free-of-charge for only two weeks beginning May 19 and will then require a subscription or payment to view. Click here to download the paper.

2011 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

We posted an overview of the 2011 legislative session, highlighting several rural health bills and the FY 11-12 budget. Also check out our final bill list.

CMS Announces New ACO Options and Initiatives

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced new options and initiatives for providers interested in becoming Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  First, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) will support a new ACO model that will be available to providers this summer – the Pioneer ACO Model, which is designed for advanced organizations ready to participate in shared savings. Second, the Innovation Center is seeking comment on the idea of an Advance Payment ACO Model that would provide additional up-front funding to providers to support the formation of new ACOs.  And third, provider groups interested in learning more about how to coordinate patient care through ACOs can attend free new Accelerated Development Learning Sessions.  Read more. 

Technology Helping Rural Communities Address Healthcare Needs

Today’s Denver Post highlights technology being used in clinics and colleges in several rural communities throughout Colorado to connect with healthcare specialists and educators. Read the article. 

Final Bill Tracker Posted

CRHC’s bill tracker is updated through the final day of the legislative session (May 11). We will update and post a complete listing of all the bills that CRHC was tracking this session later in the week.  

Informing Rural Primary Care Workforce Policy: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?

A new report by the Rural Health Research Gateway reviews 51 publications constituting the body of evidence-based research produced by the federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers from 2000 to 2010 which are relevant to the rural primary care workforce. The report looks at research in the following categories: Supply & Demand; Recruitment & Retention; Training Pipeline & Education; Lifestyle & Compensation; Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, & International Medical Graduates; and New Directions for Primary Care. Download the report.

Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for appointments to the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board and are due May 23. With the passage of SB11-200, Colorado now begins work on establishing a health insurance exchange for individuals and small businesses. The Governor’s press release provides additional information about the expertise required to be an eligible applicant. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact Alicia Haywood or 720.248.2748.

Upcoming Health Policy Webinars

The Colorado Health Institute is holding a series of webinars that will begin on May 25 about important health policy issues including publicly funded insurance programs, the private health insurance market, community health profiles, and the state health insurance exchange. Click here to learn more and to register.

State Budget Update

Governor Hickenlooper signed the state budget Long Bill late last week however several budget balancing bills, including bills concerning healthcare services, still require action by the General Assembly. Read more on the state budget in today's Denver Post.

Profiles of Colorado APN & PA Workforce

The Colorado Health Institute has prepared and released profiles of Colorado's advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. Download the reports and learn more about these two professions that play vital roles in our state's rural healthcare workforce.

SB 200 Passes House

SB 200, Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, passed the Colorado House today on a 44-21 vote. Thank you to all who called their representatives. We will keep you updated as SB 200 moves through its final stages of reconciling amendments and going to Governor Hickenlooper for signature. 

CMS Conference Call on May 9 to Discuss ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a conference call on May 9^th, 2011, from 1:00-2:00 pm MDT to discuss proposed new rules for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). This call is intended to help the public understand what CMS, the agency administering the ACO program through Medicare, is proposing to do and to ensure that the public understands how to participate in the formal comment process. The call number is 888-989-4351, conference ID 5320738. Click here for more information on ACOs. 

Call to Action: Contact your State Representative Today

This week, the Colorado House will vote on SB 11-200, a bipartisan bill to establish a Colorado Health Benefit Exchange. A health insurance exchange will help Coloradans across the state who are seeking individual or small group insurance coverage by providing information about health insurance options. SB 200 puts Colorado on a path to develop its own insurance marketplace that will meet the unique needs of all Coloradans.

CRHC supports SB 200 and encourages you to call or email your representative today and ask them to support SB 200. Click here for contact information on all Colorado’s General Assembly members. Click here to identify your elected officials. Thanks!  

Family Physicians Impact Readmission Rates

A new report published in American Family Physician compared the proportion of family physicians and readmission rates in counties across the country. The findings indicate that hospital readmissions and costs for pneumonia, heart attack, and heart failure decrease as the number of family physicians increases. Read more.