Health

Colorado's senior citizens now have well-defined protections against abuse, thanks to the signing of Senate Bill 111 by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

This law creates a new class of protections for "at-risk elders," those Coloradans 70 and over. Currently, many caretakers are encouraged to report suspected abuse, but they are not required to do so.

The new law makes a number of changes to the Adult Protective Services system. Provisions in the law were recommended by the Elder Abuse Task Force, which was created by the legislature in 2012.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, in signing the law that expands Medicaid eligibility, has ensured that Colorado will be a healthier place in years to come.

The expansion of health insurance coverage means that many more Coloradans will get the care they need at the right time and in the right place. The governor signed Senate Bill 200 on Monday.

The 2013 legislative session made extraordinary progress in expanding opportunities for more Coloradans.

In our January preview of the session, we described how legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle outlined broad goals and emphasized the role of public policy in expanding opportunity. During the session, they delivered. The result is one of the most productive and far-reaching sessions in memory.

The 2013 legislative session made extraordinary progress in expanding opportunities for more Coloradans. The legislature enacted several measures that the Bell and others have been working on for almost a decade.

Our end-of-session edition of The Opportunity News reviews many of those accomplishments, with a focus on the Bell's major bills.

Click here to read our end-of-session wrap-up

Starting this week, the Colorado health insurance exchange has a new name and website – "Connect for Health Colorado" and www.connectforhealthco.org.

The website is designed to help people understand how the new exchange will work, how it affects different populations and to answer questions about health insurance and the operation of the exchange.

Coloradans can begin using the exchange to shop for health insurance on Oct. 1, 2013; the insurance will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

Colorado is beginning to see the "silver tsunami" – a dramatic increase in the number of residents 65 and older. In fact, by 2030, the number of 65+ households will more than double.

Because of the cost of long-term care for seniors, this growing population poses a serious challenge for the state as well as individuals and their families.

By Will Hearst
Montrose Daily Press

Dozens of citizens and area health care professionals found their way to a Montrose Memorial Hospital conference room Friday to learn more about the Affordable Care Act in a presentation hosted by the Montrose County League of Women Voters.

Presenter Robert Semro, a policy analyst for the Bell Policy Center, said the new policy is now the law of the land, but patients, as well as health care providers, insurance companies and employers, can expect more changes.

Expand Medicaid Eligibility

­­­­Senate Bill 13-200

Robert Semro, policy analyst
Testimony to the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee
April 23, 2013

My name is Robert Semro, and I am a policy analyst with the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and advocacy organization founded on progressive values and dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Wade Buchanan
The Bell Policy Center
303-297-0456, ext. 221

Carol Hedges
Colorado Fiscal Institute
720-379-3019, ext. 221

Bell Policy Center, Colorado Fiscal Institute file amicus
in case challenging Taxpayer's Bill of Rights

Family Care Act of 2013

House Bill 13-1222

Kathleen Hallgren, public policy fellow
Testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
April 11, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to address this committee.