Annual Reports | Colorado Health Institute

Our History

Since our founding in 2002 by visionary organizations seeking to ensure that Colorado’s health policy was grounded in sound evidence and trusted data, the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) has evolved from a small hub for data and analysis to a strategic consultant and convener for innovative efforts to improve health and health equity. Along the way, we incubated important organizations, like Connect for Health Colorado, partnered with state agencies to inform their strategic planning and evaluation efforts, and convened public health agencies to support a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While CHI has always worked to advance health in Colorado, our perspective has broadened – encompassing data and systems; access to care and barriers to care; policy makers, providers and payers, and organizations that address social factors that influence health.

As we continue to evolve, we remain committed to the values that brought us to today — accessibility, collaboration, curiosity, equity, and integrity — and our vision that all Coloradans have what they need to be healthy.

Timeline of CHI and Colorado's Health History

The health care landscape has changed significantly, and CHI has been both a driver and an evaluator of that change.

2002

The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) is founded by The Colorado Trust, Rose Community Foundation, and Caring for Colorado Foundation.

2003

CHI facilitates the advisory committee on the federal waiver to expand Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus coverage for children.

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2004

CHI issues its first policy brief: The Jury’s Out: Monitoring the Shift from No-Fault to a Tort Auto Insurance System in Colorado.

2005

CHI publishes about topics including the small group insurance market, Medicaid’s prescription drugs list, and childhood immunization rates.

2006

CHI sponsors Colorado Health Care and the Promise of HIT: Making the Case for a Colorado RHIO (regional health information organization), a symposium about electronic health records exchange.

2007

CHI incubates the electronic health records exchange that becomes CORHIO.

2008

Blue Ribbon Commission on Healthcare Reform tackles health care affordability.
Public Health Improvement Act takes effect.
CHI produces Faces of the Safety Net series, profiling clinics and organizations across the state.

2009

CHI introduces the Colorado Household Survey, the precursor to today’s Colorado Health Access Survey.
The Center for the Study of the Safety Net at CHI launches.

2010

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is signed into law. CHI analyzes the likely effects of the ACA on Colorado’s health workforce.
CHI facilitates the Colorado Alzheimer’s Coordinating Council.

2011

Colorado legislature creates a health benefits exchange.
The Colorado Trust releases the first Colorado Health Access Survey, with analytical support from CHI.
CHI publishes a landmark report about the ACA, A Half Million Newly Insured: Is Colorado Ready?
CHI incubates the state’s health benefits exchange (Connect for Health Colorado).

2012

Colorado voters legalize marijuana.
CHI launches Safety Net Advisory Committee (SNAC) labs to explore innovations in the state’s safety net.
CHI celebrates its 10th anniversary and publishes a book, A Picture of Health.

2013

Colorado legislature expands Medicaid eligibility.
CHI releases the 2013 CHAS with funding from The Colorado Trust; the survey sets the baseline for assessing the effects of the ACA.

2014

Major provisions of the ACA take effect.
First legal recreational marijuana sales.
CHI’s analysis, Early Lessons from Legalized Marijuana, gains national attention as other states consider following Colorado’s lead.

2015

CHI begins facilitating the Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service (CHORDS), expanding users and contributors.
The 2015 CHAS documents historic gains in insurance coverage.

2016

Colorado voters turn down a universal health coverage initiative.
CHI publishes a roadmap establishing the priorities of Metro Denver Partnership for Health (MDPH).
Regional Health Connectors begin work, led by CHI and Trailhead Institute.

2017

CHI leads dozens of town halls to explore Colorado effects of a potential ACA repeal.
CHI publishes The Route to the RAEs (Regional Accountable Entities) highlighting new Medicaid structures.

2018

CHI conducts a statewide needs assessment for primary prevention, an analysis of buprenorphine provider availability, and an assessment of the state’s early childhood mental health needs and resources.

2019

CHI creates statewide strategic plans for primary prevention and substance use recovery and creates a needs assessment of Colorado's early childhood system; leads drafting of a blueprint for allocating opioid lawsuit settlements; publishes a climate and health index and housing equity report.

2020

CHI convenes MDPH, which leads the metro area’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHI analyzes the surge in telemedicine during the early pandemic.
CHI ramps up work on social health information exchange.

2021

CHI updates the Colorado Health IT Roadmap.
CHI continues facilitating MDPH’s COVID-19 response and documents disparities worsened by the pandemic through the 2021 CHAS.

2022

CHI formally launches Acclimate Colorado, a climate and health portfolio.

2023

CHI partners with the Trailhead Institute, the Montana Public Health Institute, and the Public Health Institute at Denver Health to provide technical assistance to public health agencies in the Mountain West region through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant.
CHI publishes its Health and Climate Policy agenda and develops a first-of-its kind Climate Preparedness Roadmap for the State of Colorado.

2024

CHI launches the Colorado Lotus Project and Colorado Belonging Barometer, groundbreaking reports that demonstrate innovative data techniques and approaches to health and well-being.