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Cost of Care is Down Says State Medicaid Director

An Interview with Catherine Strode

untitledOver one million Coloradans are now receiving their medical care through enrollment in the Medicaid program. That figure represents 20 per cent of the state’s population. In an interview with Catherine Strode, the Director of Medicaid, Gretchen Hammer, explains how the cost of care is being contained with the rising enrollment rates.
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‘Value Ideology Differences’ Marked the 2015 Session Says Speaker of the House Hullinghorst

An Interview with Catherine Strode

DickeyLee“It’s been lots of fun.” That’s how Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, characterizes the role she played during the 2015 legislative session. In an interview with Catherine Strode, State Representative Hullinghorst (D-10) acknowledged that fewer bills were passed this Session as compared to last, but says she is proud of the legislature’s bipartisan work results.
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An Interview with Andrew Romanoff – Mental Health America of Colorado

An Interview with Catherine Strode

The Work of Mental Health America of Colorado Is Personal for Andrew Romanoff

Former four-term State Representative and two-term Speaker of the House, Andrew Romanoff, took over the helm this month of Mental Health America of Colorado (MHAC).  As its new president and CEO, Romanoff will steer MHAC’s efforts to make Colorado a leader nationally in addressing mental health disorders and its movement to end the stigma of mental illness.  In an interview with Catherine Strode, he explains how the battle against the stigma of mental illness has become a personal one for him, and, for his family.

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Mandatory Juvenile Sentences Challenged by Judiciary Chair

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Daniel_KaganMandatory Juvenile Sentences Challenged by Judiciary Chair
State Representative Daniel Kagan (D-3), Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is challenging the mandatory sentences in Colorado for juvenile convicted of first degree murder. Representative Kagan has introduced a bill to set a new range of sentences for juveniles convicted of Class I Felonies. Under current Colorado law, juveniles found guilty of first degree murder face the sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
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Implementation of Colorado’s SIM Grant Gets Underway

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Implementation of Colorado’s SIM Grant Gets Underway
The implementation of the SIM grant (State Innovation Model) was initiated this month by Colorado SIM Director, Vatsala Pathy, under the Office of the Governor . Colorado received the 65 million federal cooperative agreement  to implement a health delivery system that integrates primary care and behavioral health care services.
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Hospitals Need ‘Retail Mindset’ Says UCHealth CEO George Hayes

An Interview with Catherine Strode

c58789a1a678e008abcb50f4_190x266Hospitals Need ‘Retail Mindset’ Says UCHealth CEO George Hayes
For the past 30 years, George Hayes has been involved in the administrative and operational duties of running hospitals. Prior to assuming his current position, President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital (UCHealth), he served as President and CEO of the Medical Center of the Rockies for ten years.
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Overweight Kids, Lean Adults: ‘The Colorado Paradox’

An Interview with Catherine Strode

c35eacf13c0572c880373f02_200x175 Overweight Kids, Lean Adults: ‘The Colorado Paradox’
Shepard Nevel, who recently assumed the role of LiveWell Colorado’s Chief Executive Director, is engaging the private and business sectors in his leadership role of promoting healthy eating and active living and reducing obesity in the state. He says in addition to being a public health issue, obesity is also becoming an issue related to job creation and economic growth.
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Healthier Colorado’s Director Says Group Can Be ‘Transformative

An Interview with Catherine Strode

bde049ca37fa60c4aafd718b_186x280 Healthier Colorado’s Director Says Group Can Be ‘Transformative
The advocacy group Healthier Colorado launched this week under the leadership of newly appointed Executive Director Jake Williams. Williams kicks off the organization’s efforts with a state wide tour over the next two months, meeting with a geographical diversity of stakeholders.
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Senator Calls Drug Audit of Youth Corrections ‘Disturbing’

An Interview with Catherine Strode

0b641a56ceab3d9136dd746d_144x216 Senator Calls Drug Audit of Youth Corrections ‘Disturbing’
State Senator Lucia Guzman (Senate District 34), uses the words ‘disturbing’ and ‘alarming’ to describe the reactions of members of the Legislative Audit Committee to the findings of a recently released audit on the use of medications in Colorado youth corrections facilities. Senator Guzman, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, has studied national trends in the juvenile justice system.
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