CHI Takes A World View

CHI is taking a world view this week.

Amy Downs, Senior Director for Policy and Analysis, will participate in “Pathways to Healthier People and Societies,” a clinica that is part of Denver’s Biennial of the Americas.

Clinicas are peer-to-peer workshops that bring together thought leaders on a wide range of topics. Each three-hour clinica is designed to produce a platform for action that contains recommendations for next steps.

The health session, which is focusing on improving the physical and mental health of people around the world, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 17, at Limelight at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

We’re busy with state-level health issues as well.

On Monday, Amy, CEO Michele Lueck and Research Analyst Tamara Keeney presented research on health care costs to the Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care. Jeff Bontrager, Director of Research on Coverage and Access, is scheduled to make a presentation to the Legislative Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee Wednesday at the Capitol.

Other presentations saw CHI analysts hitting the road. Jeff and Senior Analyst Anna Vigran traveled to Glenwood Springs to give a presentation to the West Mountain Regional Health Alliance. And Joe Hanel, senior communications expert, and Policy Analyst Allie Morgan are heading west to Rifle to make a presentation to Club 20 on Thursday.

Speaking of the state, we are excited about a new research brief that uses Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) data to delve into health insurance rates at a ZIP code level. The paper, “Location, Location, Location: Health Insurance by ZIP Code in Colorado,” answers which 10 ZIP codes are the best for health insurance and which 10 are the worst.

CHI has also created an interactive story map that allows viewers to click on their ZIP codes to see how they stack up when it comes to health insurance.

In case you missed it, a CHI fleece jacket and a six-pack of beer from the Denver Beer Company go out to Annie Taylor, a program assistant at Caring for Colorado Foundation. Annie was one of 17 people attending a CHI panel discussion in March in advance of the King vs. Burwell health reform case before the U.S. Supreme Court who predicted the court’s decision correctly, down to the vote and the judges on each side. (Justices Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan in favor, with Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito in dissent.)

We drew Annie’s name from the 17 correct entries.