Let your "Rural Voice" be heard!

Colorado Rural Health Center’s Policy & Advocacy Program tracks and assesses healthcare policies and regulations at both the state and Federal level.

In order to assess the general landscape of rural health issues throughout the state, CRHC relies upon you, the rural healthcare provider and consumer, to help shape the CRHC policy and advocacy agenda. Each year, CRHC establishes a set of legislative priorities that the organization will support for the upcoming year.

As a professional in the field, your input is crucial!

Click here to complete the survey.

Please find the latest updates from the Health Benefit Exchange below.

Patty Fontneau blogs about metal tier labels for health plans, which will be discussed at next week’s Outreach and Communications Advisory Group meeting (more info below).

Answers to vendor questions regarding the Provider Directory Services RFI are available here.

SHOP Exchange Manager Jim Sugden blogs about how the Exchange will assist small businesses on the Colorado Health Foundation’s blog Health Relay.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for November 12, 8:30 am. More information is available here.

The Exchange is seeking applicants for several positions; job announcements are posted on our website:

      - The SHOP Exchange Coordinator will provide research and administrative support for implementation and operation of the SHOP.

     - The Documents & Meetings Coordinator will perform administrative functions to support staff, Board and Advisory Group meetings.

      - Outreach Coordinator(s) will engage a variety of communities across Colorado to ensure there is accurate knowledge about the Exchange and effective communication with our partner organizations.

2013 Legislative and Policy Priorities Survey

Colorado Rural Health Center’s Policy & Advocacy Program tracks and assesses healthcare policies and regulations at both the state and Federal level and advocates on behalf of the health needs of rural Colorado. In order to assess the general landscape of rural health issues throughout the state, CRHC relies upon you, the rural healthcare provider and consumer, to help shape the CRHC policy and advocacy agenda.

Each year, CRHC establishes a set of legislative priorities that the organization will support for the upcoming year. As a professional in the field, your input is crucial, so please share your thoughts on legislative and regulatory issues to help CRHC determine priorities for 2013. Responses will be reported in December and used to improve our Policy and Advocacy Program.

Please take a few moments to fill out this short survey by clicking here. It should take no more than 3 – 5 minutes to complete. The survey closes Friday, November 9th.

To learn more about CRHC’s Policy and Advocacy Program and to see CRHC’s 2012 policy priorities, please visit our website.
Click here to take the survey before November 9th!

Please see the latest updates from the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Below.

§  Executive Director Patty Fontneau blogs about defined contributions and assisting small businesses.

§  The SHOP Advisory Group will meet Thursday, Oct. 25, 10 am. More information is available here.

§  The Exchange is seeking applicants for the position of Documents and Meetings Coordinator. More information is available here.

§  The Exchange is seeking applicants for the position(s) of Outreach Coordinator. More information is available here.

§  The COHBE Board will meet on Nov. 12, 8:30 am. More information is available here.

Small Number of Colorado Businesses Use Health Insurance Tax Credit

Just 5 percent of Colorado small businesses are using a tax credit created as part of the Affordable Care Act, meant to encourage small businesses and nonprofits with low average wages to provide health insurance to their employees. To obtain the credit, a small business must have fewer than 25 full-time employees, pay average annual wages below $50,000 per full-time employee, and contribute at least 50% to each employee’s premium. The law provides a tax credit for up to 35% of the insurance premiums now, growing to 50% in 2014.”

According to Rhett Buttle, a spokesman for the Small Business Majority, small businesses don’t know about it. With all the political rhetoric going around about the ACA, folks weren’t focused on learning about it,” The Small Business Authority offers an online calculator for estimating whether an employer will qualify for the tax credit. Read more about the credit from Colorado Public News.

Medscape’s Political Guide for Clinicians

The first in a series of debates between the presidential candidates kicks off tonight in Denver with a focus on domestic policy.  With all the mudslinging of late, it’s tough to know what to pay attention to, especially when it comes to health policies.  To help, Medscape created a primer on the political issues that matter most to clinicians and healthcare professionals.  You can read the primer here, or click here to get more information on the debates.

Census Report Says Uninsured Are Visiting the Doctor Less

The Census Bureau recently released its annual report on how Americans use the healthcare system this month.  The report, which can be viewed here, says the uninsured are visiting the doctor less than they were a decade ago.  Medical utilization services vary by demographic and economic indicators, and not surprisingly, respondents were much less likely to visit a dentist than a medical provider.  Read more comments on the findings written by Sarah Kliff, a blogger for the Washington Post.

States Ask About Partial Medicaid Expansion Options

Several states are querying the federal government on how flexible they can be with their Medicaid eligibility levels starting in 2014, given that the full expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) authorizes states to cover individuals up to 133% of the federal poverty line is now optional under the Supreme Court’s ruling on the law. For states that decide not to participate in the expansion, those above 100% of poverty potentially still could qualify for federal subsidies to buy private coverage through the law’s health insurance exchanges. Read here about what kind of flexibility, if any, states will have in expanding Medicaid up to 100% FPL.