The Colorado Health Institute released a report today that gives a detailed picture of Colorado’s uninsured populations through a series of 17 maps, an analysis revealing significant statewide variations in demographic and geographic characteristics.

 “The Colorado Eligibility Atlas: Mapping the Uninsured,” focuses on the uninsured Coloradans who are eligible for public insurance programs or for health insurance tax credits through the state’s marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.

The 2013 Colorado Health Report Card - produced through a collaboration of the Colorado Health Foundation and the Colorado Health Institute - launched today with a number of helpful new features.

Now in its eighth year, the Report Card tracks 38 indicators spanning five life stages.

A Colorado Health Institute study to be released Tuesday, February 11, finds that nine regions of the state are struggling to attract and retain enough primary care physicians.

“Colorado’s Primary Care Workforce: A Study of Regional Disparities,” reveals that Colorado has the full-time equivalent of 2,812 practicing primary care physicians, enough for each doctor to care for 1,873 patients.

The 2013 Colorado Health Access Survey, released today, reveals that 741,000 Coloradans – one of seven residents - does not have health insurance.

The percentage of Coloradans without health insurance is 14.3 percent compared to 15.8 percent in 2011 and 13.5 percent in 2009, when the last surveys were fielded. The 2013 data suggest a slight uptick in health insurance coverage, although an improving economy has yet to translate into a robust increase in the number of Coloradans with health insurance.

A report released today by the Colorado Health Institute shows that while Colorado is making progress in efforts to improve the health of residents, parts of the system are falling short.

The Colorado Health Institute today released a report analyzing the demographic characteristics of Coloradans who would become newly eligible for Medicaid insurance coverage if Colorado opts to expand eligibility.

The Affordable Care Act includes financial incentives for states to expand the insurance program for low-income children, parents, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities and the elderly. But the Supreme Court made the decision optional.

The Colorado Health Institute today released its annual analysis of the number of eligible children in the state who aren’t enrolled in the Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) public insurance programs.

About 125,000 Colorado children, or 9.7 percent of all children, didn’t have health insurance in 2011, according to the analysis. This was a decrease from the 132,000 uninsured children in 2010, although the change was not statistically significant.

The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) is marking its 10th anniversary with the publication of a photo book titled “Colorado: A Picture of Health.”

The book shows Coloradans on the front lines of health care - providers, patients, educators, students, volunteers and community health advocates. It covers the state from Montrose to Las Animas, from inner city Denver to the San Luis Valley. And it depicts all ages, from a minutes-old baby to seniors working to stay healthy and vibrant.

Here are some snapshots:

It’s been a busy third quarter at the Colorado Health Institute. CHI’s health policy experts helped to draft Colorado’s State Innovation Models (SIM) Grant request to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. CHI team members made presentations across Colorado, from legislative town hall meetings to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s health care committee, and from the annual meeting of the Colorado Public Health Association to a gathering of students at the Anschutz Medical Campus hosted by the Colorado Area Health Education Center.

Two weeks ago, August 5-11, the nation’s community health centers were recognized during National Health Center Week. This week, August 20-24, is the third annual Safety Net Clinic Week, sponsored by ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center.  

In acknowledgment of both events, and to educate the public and policymakers about safety net clinics in Colorado, CHI has published a series of new tools: