Updated CRHC Bill Tracker Posted

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Boosting the U.S. Healthcare Workforce

A new article in Health Affairs by John Iglehart discusses the challenge of addressing the nation’s healthcare workforce shortages, suggesting that any efforts will require federal funding and creative solutions from Congress and the White House.

Stories Needed in Support of Insurance Expansions

As posted on CRHC’s bill tracker, HB11-1025 is a bill to repeal the Hospital Provider Fee. The Colorado Hospital Association is leading efforts, in collaboration with other organizations including CRHC, to oppose HB11-1025. Since its passage two years ago, the Provider Fee has helped increase access to healthcare for medically underserved Coloradans and reduced the amount of uncompensated care provided by hospitals without drawing on Colorado’s General Fund. To protect the Provider Fee, as well as current and future coverage expansions, please share your story if you have benefitted from expanded coverage (or will benefit from future expansions) by emailing Alicia Haywood at ah@coruralhealth.org.  As a reminder, the expansions include: increase Medicaid eligibility for parents from 60% to 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL); increase CHP+ eligibility for children and pregnant women to 250% FPL; option for people with disabilities to buy into the Medicaid program up to 450% FPL; and allow eligibility for adults without dependent children up to 100% FPL. 

Updated Bill Tracker Now Available

Click to read CRHC's updated bill tracker.

Update on federal health reform

In March 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. Since that time, states began planning for implementation and some also filed lawsuits challenging ACA’s constitutionality. 

The 112^th Congress that convened in January has weighed in. Last month, the US House of Representatives voted to repeal ACA and has charged several committees with working on a replacement bill. The US Senate will also vote on repealing ACA, as early as this week. The repeal vote in the Senate is not expected to pass and the President has pledged to veto repeal legislation. Both political parties do agree that certain provisions in ACA, specifically a tax-filing requirement on small businesses, should be eliminated but disagree on how to pay for the fix.

Despite Congressional votes, it seems that the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately decide the ACA's final outcome. In response to lawsuits filed against ACA, two federal judges have already ruled it partially or wholly unconstitutional, but two others have upheld the law. These lawsuits have been appealed and it could take 1-2 years before the cases reach the Supreme Court. Many states, including some that filed lawsuits, are continuing their implementation efforts (read about Colorado’s work to date) while others are re-evaluating their efforts. In the meantime, ACA provisions continue to roll out.   

What happens next? We’ll find out together…

Impact of health reform on uninsured Coloradans

The Colorado Health Institute’s new issue briefs highlight the impact of health reform on reducing the number of uninsured Coloradans and identify groups that may not readily benefit from efforts to expand health insurance coverage, specifically “medically vulnerable” Coloradans and families with mixed insurance status. 

Strong rural representation among Hickenlooper’s senior staff

An article in today’s Pueblo Chieftain details that more than half of Governor Hickenlooper’s senior staff come from rural Colorado, including Department of Health and Public Environment Executive Director Dr. Chris Urbina from Pueblo and Health Care Policy and Finance Executive Director Sue Birch from Steamboat Springs. 

Update to state bill tracker

CRHC's bill tracker has been updated for the week. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.

2011 Policy Institute Update

A group of Coloradans traveled to Washington DC this week to attend the National Rural Health Association’s Policy Institute to learn more about the federal health policy landscape and how it impacts rural Colorado. Seven members hit the Hill on Tuesday to meet with our two Senators and seven Representatives (including new members Scott Tipton and Cory Gardner), educating our lawmakers about issues facing rural healthcare providers and consumers in their districts and asking for their support in sustaining critical programs. While funding levels are still being negotiated, all Colorado lawmakers expressed support for rural health providers and programs and understand the need for programs that promote a strong healthcare workforce and ensure access to care for our rural residents. They also asked for help in keeping their district and DC offices updated on local issues and concerns (check out CRHC’s website for how to contact your elected officials). A very special thanks to the Policy Institute participants who took these important messages to our lawmakers on behalf of rural Colorado.

CRHC Bill Tracking Tool

The 2011 Legislative Session is in full swing. CRHC is getting its bill tracking tools in place for the session, focusing on legislation that impacts access to healthcare in rural Colorado. Click here to read a bill summary. We will be updated this list as often as possible and will post updates to The Rural Voice. As in previous years, CRHC will take positions on certain bills, may be in the process of considering a position, or remain neutral. We may also be monitoring bills, tracking its progress and reserving the option of taking a more active role at a later time.

CRHC's priorities for the upcoming session will focus on educating policy makers about the importance of Rural Health Clinics and Critical Access Hospitals as part of the healthcare safety net, promoting efforts that support and better identify the healthcare workforce, and advocating on behalf of rural Coloradans to ensure everyone in the state has access to healthcare services. Read CRHC’s 2011 Policy Priorities. Stay tuned to The Rural Voice for opportunities to weigh in on these issues, including attending hearings and contacting your legislators.

U.S. House votes to repeal Affordable Care Act

Late this afternoon the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Senate leadership has indicated they will not take up the measure. Read a summary of news reports on the vote by Kaiser Health News. 

An editorial by former rural state governors Kathleen Sebelius (current Health and Human Services Secretary) and Tom Vilsack (Agriculture Secretary) highlights some of the rural-focused provisions of the Affordable Care Act. 

Health Insurance Exchange Governance Brief

Colorado’s Health Reform Implementation Board with Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved and the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative hosted ten community forums across the state to share information on health insurance exchanges and gather input from stakeholders. A new report lays out the most consistent perspectives shared during the forums about governance and authority in creating an exchange in Colorado.

Colorado’s 68th General Assembly has begun

The Colorado State Legislature began the first day of the 2011 session on Wednesday, January 12. The Colorado Rural Health Center will be tracking bills throughout the session and providing you with opportunities to contact your elected officials to let them know how legislation may impact our rural communities. We will also be providing a bill tracking chart on our website in the coming days. Don’t forget that you can also visit the Colorado General Assembly website for audio/video broadcasts of proceedings. 

How the Affordable Care Act Strengthens Primary Care

A new brief by The Commonwealth Fund looks at the provisions in the Affordable Care Act that improve primary care. Initiatives including expanding and training the primary care workforce, improving provider reimbursement and patient incentives for primary care services, and supporting innovative approaches to delivering care. 

National advisory committee reports on rural health and human services issues

The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services is a 21-member citizens' panel of nationally recognized rural health experts that provides recommendations on rural issues to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Committee’s 2010 report examines home and community based care for rural seniors, rural primary care workforce, and rural health care provider integration.

Participate in a Webinar on Engaging with Policymakers on Thursday, January 13

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is hosting a free webinar “Preparing to Engage with Legislators and Policymakers” on Thursday, January 13 from 12:00-1:00 pm. The webinar will provide instruction on communicating with elected officials and assist those planning to attend the Policy Institute in Washington DC later this month. Click here to register online or contact Stephanie Hansen at steph@nosorh.org for additional information.

Hickenlooper appoints cabinet members

In recent days, Governor-elect Hickenlooper announced several appointments to his cabinet. Sue Birch was named executive director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Ms. Birch is currently the CEO of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in Steamboat Springs. Other key health-related appointments include Dr. Chris Urbina as executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Reggie Bicha as executive director of the Department of Human Services. Read more about these and other appointees. 

Healthcare story project to launch in 2011

CRHC, in partnership with the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU) and ClinicNET, received funding from The Colorado Trust and The Colorado Health Foundation for a three-year public will building project. The project, Colorado HealthStory, is an effort to record and collect personal stories about individual's access to healthcare across Colorado. Read the Public News Service's interview with Gretchen Hammer, Executive Director of CCMU, about the project.

Whether a painful experience, a journey of healing, or even details about managing a chronic condition, Colorado HealthStory wants to record it. The storytellers will receive a CD of their stories for their personal records, and copies will be retained in the Colorado HealthStory archives. Recording will begin in Spring 2011. Contact Alicia Haywood at ah@coruralhealth.org with questions.

New year, new healthcare provisions

Several components of federal health reform go into effect on January 1, 2011, including prescription drug discounts for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and a temporary increase in Medicare payments for primary care services and to general surgeons in health professional shortage areas. Read about the 2011 provisions.