This time of year offers a chance to reflect. Through the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity and forget to celebrate what and whom we are grateful for. This year, I am personally grateful for close family and friends, and wonderful memories of loved ones no longer with us. These wonderful memories help to shape us and provide direction as we look forward into the future.
Health Care Reform: Change of Administration, Change of Approach?
Jay Want, MD, CMO
The election of Donald Trump was surprising, to say the least. In a victory anticipated by few, a President Trump opens the way for repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and with it many of the provisions meant to stabilize insurance markets and broaden coverage for individuals. The provisions of a replacement strategy are currently unclear, but it's a decent guess to say we will be moving to a system heavier on market competition and lighter on government regulation.
Since 2011, Colorado has avoided a net total
$139 million in costs while improving health outcomes for thousands of residents. The Colorado Accountable Care Collaborative is an innovative program designed to pay providers for the increasing value they deliver while better coordinating care for members.
Okay. By now, you know what an
All Payer Claims Database is, what
types of data releases are available, and that any data released from the CO APCD
must be used to benefit Coloradans. This is an excellent start to understanding what CIVHC does as administrator of the CO APCD but it probably doesn't really illustrate what a cool resource the database is and the incredible projects that it can inform.
CIVHC has long recognized palliative care as a Triple Aim bullseye - creating better health for Coloradans, increasing patient quality of life, and decreasing costs. Despite growing evidence that palliative care is effective in improving quality of life for both patients and their families through pain control, emotional and social support, and constraining costs, insurance coverages for this important type of care is rare.