health care
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Medicaid spending surge for therapy sessions prompts Colorado to reinstate limits
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Colorado’s health agency will reinstate prior authorization requirements for Medicaid patients’ therapy sessions next year as part of its efforts to control costs, which soared following a state law passed in 2022. That year, the state legislature adopted a bill prohibiting health plans from requiring prior authorization for psychotherapy sessions for Medicaid recipients. While the…
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Colorado prescription board votes to limit cost of rheumatoid arthritis drug
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Colorado became the first state in the nation to set a price cap on a specific medication last week, following a unanimous decision by the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board to cap the cost of a drug used to treat inflammatory conditions. On Oct. 3, the board voted to set an upper payment limit (UPL)…
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10th Circuit partially reinstates fired nursing home worker’s lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccination
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The federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Tuesday that a former nursing home employee can pursue her claim of religious discrimination against her employer for failing to grant a religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Diann R. Bolonchuk alleged she was an 18-year employee of Cherry Creek Nursing Center/Nexion Health when it…
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Federal judge sides against Children’s Hospital Colorado in challenge to Defense Department rule
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A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a challenge by Children’s Hospital Colorado to a new U.S. Department of Defense rule that will reduce reimbursements to the hospital system’s Colorado Springs and Aurora facilities by up to $17 million. U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang determined the department did not exceed its authority under the…
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Federal judge sides against Children’s Hospital Colorado in challenge to Defense Department rule
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A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a challenge by Children’s Hospital Colorado to a new U.S. Department of Defense rule that will reduce reimbursements to the hospital system’s Colorado Springs and Aurora facilities by up to $17 million. U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang determined the department did not exceed its authority under the…
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Colorado awarded $245M for cost savings from state health insurance programs
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Cost reductions from Colorado health insurance programs saved the federal government $245 million in 2023, money which will soon be returned to the state. The U.S. health and treasury departments announced Colorado’s $245 million in pass-through funding on Wednesday – the largest amount Colorado has received, said Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. This is the first…
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Nighthorse Campbell assembles panel to prepare for Health Security Act reforms | A LOOK BACK
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Thirty Years Ago This Week: Discussions were growing heated over the Colorado statutory reforms that would be necessary to comply with H.R. 1200, the federal American Health Security Act. In an effort to help ease the transition, U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell hosted a panel to discuss Colorado’s approach to enacting the required healthcare reform…
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Unvaccinated nurse properly denied unemployment benefits, appeals court says
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A nurse who avoided COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds but refused to sign her employer’s exemption form was properly denied unemployment benefits after the company placed her on unpaid leave, Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday. Although the purpose of unemployment benefits is to compensate workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their…
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8 Western governors to meet in Colorado
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The Western Governors’ Association’s annual meeting is returning to Colorado this month, bringing with it leaders from across the Western United States. Gov. Jared Polis, who chairs the association, will host the three-day event at the Boulder Theater from June 26 to June 28. During the meeting, governors will participate in roundtable discussions on issues…
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Proposal to cap EpiPen costs at $60 clears Colorado legislature
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A bill seeking to cap the price of epinephrine auto-injectors in Colorado passed its final legislative vote on Friday, now only needing the governor’s signature to become law. If signed, House Bill 1002 would require insurance companies to cap out-of-pocket costs at $60 for a two-pack of auto-injectors, better known as the trademark EpiPen, which counters the effects…
