health care
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Colorado legislature pushes AI rules targeting health care, therapy and chatbots
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With just days left in the 2026 legislative session, Colorado lawmakers are rushing a trio of artificial intelligence bills to Gov. Jared Polis, aiming to set rules on artificial intelligence in the areas of health care, therapy and consumer-facing chatbots. As technology advances at breakneck speed, lawmakers have been scrambling to establish regulations, particularly regarding…
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Colorado eyes licensure, new oversight body for autism therapy providers
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A panel of Colorado legislators on Wednesday approved a bill establishing a new regulatory body and licensure requirements for professionals who provide therapy for children on the autism spectrum, as well as for the facilities in which they work. House Bill 1425 creates the Colorado Behavior Analyst Board within the Department of Regulatory Agencies and…
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Democrats want Colorado colleges to provide abortion medication
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A bill proposing to require Colorado colleges and universities to provide abortion medication services cleared a legislative committee on Thursday. Advocates said the measure — which exempts religious-based institutions but applies to public, private, and community colleges — will improve access to abortion, while opponents argue it would force educational institutions to take a side…
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Colorado legislators drove up cost of Medicaid program
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Some of Colorado’s spending woes in Medicaid can be traced to lawmakers who had approved new or expanded programs in the last few years, driving up state costs to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Just three measures passed in the past five years, for example, would cost the state more than $80…
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Colorado lawmakers approve $150,000 ibogaine study bill targeting PTSD and addiction
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The Colorado House Health and Human Services Committee advanced a bill that would create a $150,000 research pilot program to study the safety and effectiveness of ibogaine, a psychoactive compound that claims to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid addiction, and other mental health conditions. The bill ultimately passed on a 12-1 committee vote, with Rep.…
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Colorado voters to decide whether to ban gender surgeries for minors
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Colorado voters will decide this November whether to prohibit gender surgeries for minors and bar public funding or insurance coverage for procedures that alter children’s biological sex characteristics. The measure qualified for the ballot amid a push by the federal government to halt such surgical procedures and hormonal treatment, a move that has begun to…
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Colorado Medicaid probe uncovers millions of dollars in alleged transport fraud ring
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Colorado Medicaid officials detected $25 million in abnormal billing over just four months two years ago — a surge that prompted a new state law and the suspension of dozens of providers in what authorities now describe as an organized fraud ring. State and federal prosecutors have since charged two transportation providers in separate indictments,…
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A crash course in the insanity of American health care costs for the average Coloradan | Hal Bidlack
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My regular reader (Hi, Jeff!) might have noticed I have missed a couple of columns recently. These absences stem from a bit of a medical crisis in the family. A couple weeks ago, my youngest, who in addition to running a water testing laboratory, has ridden horses for more than 30 years and is a…
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Colorado lawmakers target ‘ghost networks’ to expand access to mental health care
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A few years ago, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance conducted a “secret shopper” survey on health insurance plans across six states, including Colorado. Of the 120 providers called, one-third were either inaccurately listed in the carrier database, out of service, or did not return the call. Only half of all calls to providers in…
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Colorado budget writers put Medicaid caregiver pay cuts on hold
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The Colorado General Assembly’s budget decision-makers have put proposed pay cuts on hold for people who care for a family member with a disability who receives Medicaid. The Joint Budget Committee made the decision after hours of testimony from family caregivers and several advocates. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has been struggling…