health

Employment dynamics have a direct effect on health insurance coverage because most people obtain their health insurance through their workplace. In 2002-04, about three-fourths (441,000 people) of working-age Coloradans (age 18-64) who were uninsured reported working at some point during the previous calendar year.

Issue Brief explaining effects of the recent economic recession and Colorado???s TABOR Amendment on funding for Medicaid and other health programs in the state.

Issue Brief explaining effects of the recent economic recession and Colorado???s TABOR Amendment on funding for mental health programs in the state.

Issue Brief explaining effects of the recent economic recession and Colorado???s TABOR Amendment on funding for public health in the state.

The next governor and legislature should thoroughly review eligibility levels and reimbursement rates for Colorado???s health care programs to ensure more families benefit from health programs as they work toward self-sufficiency.

The next governor and legislature should look for opportunities to streamline the way health care is organized, delivered and financed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire health care system. Colorado should also increase its outreach and public awareness campaigns to make sure more people who are eligible for Medicaid or the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) actually enroll.

Colorado should increase funding to local public health departments so they can continue to provide immunizations and prenatal care, monitor communicable diseases and help provide visiting nurse services.

The next governor and legislature should thoroughly review eligibility levels and reimbursement rates for Colorado???s health care programs to ensure more families benefit from health programs as they work toward self-sufficiency.

The governor and legislature should continue to dedicate more resources to the Colorado Indigent Care Program to expand community-based health care.

We need to find ways to bring down the cost of coverage between jobs so that more middle class families can afford to continue coverage when they leave a job. One approach may be to make Colorado???s health care tax credit permanent and refundable, so workers can recover some of the costs of retaining health coverage between jobs.