Jeff Bontrager joined the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) as a research analyst in March 2005. Throughout his tenure at CHI, Jeff’s analytic activities have focused on estimating the size of Colorado’s uninsured and underinsured populations and their sociodemographic characteristics. As a senior research analyst, Jeff also has contributed to a wide array of CHI projects including the development and implementation of the 2008-09 Colorado Household Survey, analysis of children’s health insurance status in Colorado and CHI’s compendium of Web-based county data indicators. Jeff programs SAS statistical software to conduct most analyses and works closely with CHI constituents to respond to information requests, write issue briefs, make presentations and provide technical expertise for a variety of advisory groups.
In January 2009, Jeff assumed leadership responsibilities as the program manager for CHI’s new Center for the Study of the Safety Net. In this role, he coordinates CHI’s data collection and analyses related to monitoring the changing dynamics of Colorado’s health care safety net. Focus areas include policy, safety net staffing, revenue sources, recessionary and other external factors affecting the safety net and demand for safety net services from the uninsured and other vulnerable Coloradans. Jeff continues to serve as coordinator of CHI’s Safety Net Indicators and Monitoring System (SNIMS).
In his previous position as data quality manager and project manager at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Jeff coordinated the data collection activities of a number of health services research projects within the Division of Health Care Policy and Research. In 2004, Jeff completed a National Academy of Social Insurance internship at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in Rockville, Maryland, concentrating on long-term care research.
A native of Denver, Jeff earned a master of science in public health degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 2004. Jeff concentrated his graduate work on health care policy and health coverage issues, focusing his thesis on Colorado’s underinsured. He earned a BA in psychology from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana.
Outside of CHI, Jeff devotes time as a coordinator and volunteer with the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Denver homelessness program. He supports Denver’s vibrant theatre and music scenes as both a patron and participant, occasionally singing with the Colorado Symphony Chorus and putting his amateur acting skills to work on the stage. On a sunny day, Jeff can be spotted on Denver’s bike paths or Eldora’s ski slopes. An avid fan of maps, travel, history, classical music, independent rock and the Denver Broncos, Jeff enjoys taking full advantage of the many opportunities that living in Colorado affords.