Celebrating Expanded Access to Affordable Health Insurance Coverage for Colorado's Most Vulnerable |
|
Ross Brooks, CEO, patient
First, we celebrate the implementation of the Colorado Option, which passed the Colorado legislature in 2021, due in large part to the leadership of our state elected officials, partners, patients, and staff. The Colorado Option is a state-specific health coverage plan that increases health coverage enrollment and lowers health care costs, making insurance more affordable and accessible for nearly 10,000 Coloradans starting in 2023. It is designed to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities by providing new coverage options for Coloradans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) projects that the Colorado Option “is expected to lower premiums by an average of approximately $132 per person per month (or 22%).” To read more about the Colorado Option, click here.
In 2022, the Colorado legislature passed additional legislation to provide Medicaid coverage to undocumented pregnant women and their children through House Bill 22-1289, called “Cover All Coloradans.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Cover All Coloradans into law on June 7, 2022. Under the law, pregnant undocumented people who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid and the Children’s Basic Health Plan (CHP+) would be provided full health insurance coverage for up to a year following a child’s birth. Undocumented children will be eligible until they turn 18. We celebrate the leadership of our state elected officials, partners, patients, and staff for helping to pass this essential legislation. For more on Cover All Coloradans, click here.
|
|
Matt Percy, MD, Co-Chief Medical Officer, Rifle Site Medical Director
I last wrote an update for our November 2021 newsletter on COVID vaccines. At that time, I was excited about initial booster doses being approved for all ages as well as the impending approval of a vaccine for children ages 5-11. In the eight months since we have had several new waves with Omicron variants, but also made even more progress on the vaccine front, with vaccines now available for anyone six months and older and second boosters available for the highest risk people. The latest dominant Omicron subvariants in the US are the most contagious yet, and we are likely not reporting many cases due to increased use of home antigen testes. We are, however, thankfully also seeing lower incidence of severe illness and death. This is due to a combination of immunity from vaccines and prior infection in the general population as well as new therapeutic options aimed at preventing severe disease in high-risk COVID positive patients. The single best thing you can do to protect yourself from severe COVID remains to get and stay up-to-date with your COVID vaccine.
I will summarize the latest vaccine recommendations, sorted from youngest to oldest.
|
|
Explore a Career at Mountain Family |
|
Dana Peterson, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Director of Human Resources
At Mountain Family, we don’t merely talk about health . We live it. Why? Healthier, happier employees improve both their own lives and those of everyone around them. It raises the social success, efficiency, and energy of the whole organization.
Here at Mountain Family, you can enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle in Colorado's Rocky Mountains from world-famous ski slopes and stunning hiking trails to Gold Medal waters. Plus, taking advantage of company-wide incentives to live a healthier life are easier when your work is located in one of our great communities. We have locations in Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Edwards, and Avon.
In addition, do you want to become a certified medical assistant (MA) and medical interpreter (Spanish) at no cost to you? Ask us about our new program funded by Rocky Mountain Health Foundation.
We are a team on an important mission to improve the health of our community by providing equitable and affordable medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare for all. Explore a career at Mountain Family Health Centers and view current job opportunities.
|
|
Thank You for Making an Impact Through Our
"Health For All Fund"
|
|
Jan Jennings, Director of Development
At Mountain Family, we improve the health of our community by providing equitable and affordable medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare for all. We could not do it without your valuable support.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Health For All Fund this past year. Our Health For All Fund provides support of our essential integrated medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare that we provide at four hub sites in Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Edwards along with care at five school-based health centers. We also have provided over 17,000 COVID vaccines and booster shots to individuals, with over 3,600 vaccines to students in the Roaring Fork Valley.
We are pleased to report that over 170 donors stepped forward with contributions of $437,000, including $100,000 in matching funds from the 2020 Rescue Fund of the Aspen Community Foundation. We applaud each and every individual, including our staff and our board, and the following organizations who renewed their support of our Health For All Fund: The Colorado Health Foundation, Alpenglow Foundation, Alpine Bank, FirstBank, RA Nelson LLC, and more. Thanks to all for your generosity.
|
|
For more information on giving:
Jan Jennings
Director of Development
(970) 928-1606
|
|
Please Join Us in Welcoming Our New Healthcare Providers |
|
We are delighted to welcome new providers to Mountain Family and extend our care to children, adolescents, adults, and families, providing integrated medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare services at our four hub sites in Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Edwards. Our five school-based health centers also provide essential primary care in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Avon.
To schedule an appointment, please call (970) 945-2840 or visit our website for more information to find a provider.
|
|
 |
Katie Forman, LCSW
Glenwood Springs Integrated Health Center
Katie Forman received her Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work in 2015. She moved to the Roaring Fork Valley and began working for Mountain Family in 2021 as a behavioral health provider. Prior to moving here, she lived in Lakewood, Colorado and worked as a therapist for CU Boulder and Denver Health. Continue
|
|
|
|
Adriene Fedde, MD
Basalt Integrated Health Center
Dr. Adriene Fedde joined Mountain Family in 2022. She was raised on a farm in southeastern Colorado and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado. Dr. Fedde served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger prior to entering medical school. Continue
|
|
|
|
|
McKenzie Rieder, CPNP-PC
School-Based Health Centers
McKenzie grew up on the front range and lived in several different places, including Boston and Nicaragua, before deciding to move back to Colorado with her family. She earned her Master of Science in nursing from Boston College in 2018 and has been working in pediatrics ever since. Continue
|
|
|
|
Lindsay Williams, RDH
Basalt Integrated Health Center
Lindsay Williams grew up in Montrose Colorado and earned her Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely in May 2022. Her goal is to improve oral and overall health, be a resource to her patients, and provide quality care. Continue
|
|
|
|
Since 1978, Mountain Family has had a lasting belief: we believe healthcare is a human right. We improve the health of our community by providing equitable and affordable medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare for all.
You can join Mountain Family in securing this legacy of care.
By remembering Mountain Family Health Centers with a gift in your will, trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy, you can leave a legacy and:
- Help perpetuate healthcare for all for future generations
- Join our Legacy Society
- Save taxes
Thank you for considering making a gift above and beyond your lifetime.
|
|
"Take care of the patient, and everything else will follow."
– Thomas Frist, MD
|
|
|
|
Mountain Family Awarded Strawberry Days
1st Place Non-Profit Float in Glenwood Springs
|
|
The theme for this year’s Glenwood Springs Strawberry Days Parade was “125 Years of Awesomeness – Think All Things Strawberry Days!” Our staff chose to celebrate the ‘50s era of Strawberry Days on June 18, 2022 by dressing up as characters from the movie, Grease. Our Edwards Site Practice Director, Amanda Canete, led the staff in weekend float designs and build-outs while also procuring costumes. The morning of Strawberry days, staff arrived at 7 am to finish the float, get dressed up, and practice some dance moves for the parade. Everyone is incredibly excited that in our first time as an organization in the parade, we also took home 1st Place Non-Profit Float. There was a great turn out from staff and wonderful showing of our community to celebrate the big day. We are already looking forward to next year.
|
|
Congratulations to Our Award Winners |
|
|
Exemplary Care Provider Award: June 2022 |
|
Audrey Fisher, DDS
Rifle Integrated Health Center, Mobile Dental Van
"I recently had the pleasure of comanaging a complicated dental patient with Audrey Fisher, DDS. I had cared for this patient at the beginning of my career at MFHC, and Audrey was kind enough to come in and see the patient. She speaks so calmly and compassionately that the patient immediately relaxed when she realized we could all work together to communicate and solve this issue. The patient was treated for pain at her follow up with Audrey and after a few treatments we were able to get the infection under control. Audrey is always willing to help and do more, and her dedication to Mountain Family is much appreciated."
-Anneliese Heckert, DO, Co-Chief Medical Team Officer, Glenwood Springs Site Medical Director
|
|
Mariposa Award: June 2022 |
|
Nataly Meraz, RN, BSN
School-Based Health Centers
"To say that Nataly is a crucial member of our team is an understatement. She proves to be a leader, mentor, and patient advocate daily, whether is it spending time educating our team, going the extra mile for a patient, or challenging the status quo. Nataly approaches each day with dedication and passion. She does this due to a combination of excellent clinical and organizational skills, empathy, and a keen sense of humor. It is my pleasure to support her Mariposa nomination."
-Kendra Nagey, CPNP-PC, School-Based Health Centers Site Medical Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
