Bethany Pray

Opinion: Coverage numbers soar, but affordability remains a serious problem

By Bethany Pray

The Colorado Health Institute’s Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) data released earlier this month shows encouraging evidence that health care policy changes are resulting in more Coloradans getting health insurance coverage. According to the report, the rate of Coloradans without insurance dropped to a historical low of 6.7 percent — or 353,000 people. Meanwhile, a mere 2.5 percent of children are going without coverage. Much of the coverage growth can be attributed to two changes brought by the Affordable Care Act: Medicaid expansion and the availability of subsidized coverage through Colorado’s health care exchange, Connect for Health Colorado.

Dr. Larry Wolk

Opinion: Overdose death rates have tripled since 1990

By Dr. Larry Wolk

Since 2001, Aug. 31 has marked International Overdose Awareness Day. In 2013, thanks to Gov. John Hickenlooper, Aug. 31 also is Colorado Overdose Awareness Day. On this day, we take time to raise awareness of overdoses, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, educate the public on prevention and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends of those who died prematurely because of a drug overdose.