Health
Colorado Democrats announce plan to protect abortion rights in light of Supreme Court case
Democratic lawmakers in Colorado plan to introduce legislation next year that would protect abortion access in Colorado in light of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade precedent. At a rally in front of the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday, lawmakers said they would introduce legislation early next session […]
Protesters rally at Supreme Court as justices hear landmark abortion case
WASHINGTON — Lucia Ruta remembers a time when abortions were illegal. A native of Washington, D.C., she says she received an abortion in a back alley when she was 16, in the 1960s. “The doctor told me that if I made as so much a whimper, he was going to stop and kick me out,” […]
Rep. Neguse introduces bill to expand access to mental health care
A bill introduced Tuesday by Rep. Joe Neguse aims to expand interstate access to mental health resources by making it easier for patients to connect to care regardless of where they live. “Our response to the pandemic has helped us develop robust telehealth systems and has shown us that patients don’t have to be in […]
Proposed Colorado laws address intersection of mental illness, crime
Next year, Colorado lawmakers will consider several bills that would change how the criminal justice system treats mentally ill people. The General Assembly’s Legislative Council — a panel of top Democrats and Republicans in the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives — approved five bills proposed by a committee tasked with studying the treatment of people […]
All the groups urging Gov. Jared Polis to implement a statewide mask mandate
As the holidays approach and the number of COVID-19 deaths surpasses 9,000 in Colorado, more and more public health groups and medical leaders are pressuring Gov. Jared Polis to implement a statewide mask mandate for indoor settings — but he appears reluctant to follow that advice. One of the first to do so was the […]
Colorado orders more at-home COVID-19 tests
Recently, Colorado has seen high demand for the free, at-home COVID-19 tests that it ships to residents for free. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last purchased 2 million Abbott BinaxNOW rapid at-home tests in September. On Thursday, CDPHE announced it would buy another 500,000 BinaxNOW tests from eMed Labs, for expected delivery […]
When these women needed abortion care, they turned to Colorado
With states like Texas imposing abortion restrictions, and concern that more will follow, a greater number of out-of-state women are coming to Colorado to seek abortions. Historically, women have come from all over the country to Colorado, which is sometimes called a “safe haven“ for abortion, to get abortion care. Maleeha Aziz is one of […]
‘Monumental strain’ on Colorado hospitals from COVID-19 spread prompts emergency measures
The COVID-19 situation in Colorado continues to worsen, as the state now ranks fifth in the nation for new infection rates and hospitalizations reach new peaks this year. It has caused Gov. Jared Polis to implement tactics to help hospitals that are reaching or exceeding capacity, such as two executive orders he signed over the […]
Colorado launches ‘I Matter’ mental health program for youth
Colorado children can now undergo up to three free mental health counseling sessions through a program announced by the governor’s office on Wednesday. The “I Matter” program is a response to a worsening mental health crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is funded by $9 million from the Polis administration’s Colorado Comeback roadmap. “We […]
How billing turns a routine birth into a high-cost emergency
This story was originally published at khn.org. Caitlin Wells Salerno knew that some mammals — like the golden-mantled ground squirrels she studies in the Rocky Mountains — invest an insane amount of resources in their young. That didn’t prepare her for the resources the conservation biologist would owe after the birth of her second son. […]
For Coloradans, health literacy more important than ever
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions across the country, and Colorado has not been spared. Most health insurance companies have waived COVID-19 related costs, but the state’s complex health care system and uncertainty around medical care during the pandemic has created a noticeable increase in surprise bills for many Coloradans. Even before the pandemic, […]
Congress needs to eliminate harmful billing practices
Recent years have been hard for Americans across the country. With a string of tragic weather events like Hurricane Ida and the Colorado bomb cyclone, many Americans will be out of a job and turn to short-term, limited-duration health insurance, or STLDI, plans to have some level of health coverage during their period of unemployment. […]