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Good morning, Colorado!
Before we get to our round-up of news, I want to remind you that we are publishing the winners of our teen essay contest this week so make sure to grab a newspaper and to check out our website. The contest is one way we sought to hear from teens directly on the issue of youth suicide in Colorado. On Sunday,
Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the country, but health outcomes vary widely by county
My colleague Aldo Svaldi reports that while Douglas County is the healthiest county in the state, rural areas (excluding ski resort towns) have lower health scores and shorter life spans.
The report comes from a SmartAsset study, which ranked 48 of Colorado’s counties by examining behaviors, such as binge drinking and smoking, along with health insurance coverage, longevity and access to a doctor.
Aldo found that residents in wealthier counties tend to live longer than those in poorer areas, partly because they have better access to care. You can read more here.
Health must-reads
- A proposed bill would make it a felony for doctors to inseminate patients with their own sperm or eggs without permission. Colorado is just one state to ban the practice after it
- Last year, the state became the first in the nation to limit insulin prices, but some people have paid more than the law’s creator intended. So Rep. Dylan Roberts is planning to introduce a bill to fix the “loophole.”
- The Colorado Hospital Association has filed a lawsuit to block the early collection of $40 million hospitals agreed to pay to fund a program to cut insurance costs. The state created a reinsurance program last year.
- Jan. 9 is the most dangerous time of the year — for Colorado workers, that is.
- The influx of electric scooters across the U.S. means the number of injuries from them have also increased.
A look at Colorado’s public option
Colorado’s legislature is back in session, which means lawmakers are gearing up for a fight over the state’s plan to create a public health insurance option, reports Saja Hindi. Last year, legislators ordered two state agencies to draft a proposal with recommendations for a public option plan. The final report was released in November, and now it’s up to lawmakers to decide what to include in a bill to create the program.
Meg Wingerter delved into the public health insurance option and answered any questions you might have. For example, despite its name, the public option — also called a “state option” — is not state-funded. Instead, state agencies have proposed that private insurance companies administer the plan.
Read more here.
Here’s what I’m reading
- After she was diagnosed with dementia, a woman signed a directive that instructs caregivers to withhold hand-feeding and fluids at the end of life. But now she’s — Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post.
- A judge seems inclined to support the — The New York Times
- Health officials determined that the death of a Colorado man — CPR
- Airborne toxins may have — The New York Times.
Have a story tip or other feedback? Email me at jseaman@denverpost.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at . And don’t forget to become to The Post!
See you in two weeks!
Jessica
