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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Tracking effectiveness of Colorado’s Public Option health coverage

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024   

Colorado's standardized health-insurance plan, known as the Colorado Option, is changing how consumers interact with insurance, according to a new report tracking the plan's development since 2013. Today, an increasing number of Coloradans are choosing the plan, largely because of its value.

Erica Pike, director of policy and government relations for the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, explained many insurance plans offered after the Affordable Care Act was rolled out in Colorado did not cover comprehensive preventive services, which frustrated doctors.

"And so, looking for a way to incentivize and design a plan that centered primary care was something that we were really hopeful for," she said.

After lawmakers passed House Bill 1232 in 2021, the Colorado Option was developed with extensive input from consumers, insurers, health providers, rural communities and other stakeholders. In addition to offering preventive care, other primary goals for the new plan were to make insurance easier to understand and more affordable, and to improve health outcomes for historically disadvantaged communities.

Jen is a consumer with diabetes who was cited in the report compiled by the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. She said choosing a Colorado Option plan made the most sense, in part because Continuous Glucose Monitoring coverage was available with a zero-dollar co-pay in the schedule of required benefits.

"It covered the most prescriptions, and did not require step therapy for Ozempic. And it indicated that I would probably, with prior authorization, be able to stay on the insulins I was on," she said.

This year, more than 93,000 Coloradans enrolled in Colorado Option plans, more than doubling last year's enrollment and representing more than a third of all enrollments through Connect for Health Colorado. More insurers are also offering plans, providing much-needed competition in 12 counties.

The Colorado Division of Insurance is scheduled to hold public hearings on the plans later this year if insurers do not meet premium reduction targets, and will evaluate the plan's progress in both affordability and health equity in 2026.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

Health and Wellness

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Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …


Environment

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Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state …

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More than 2,400 delegates gathered in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention and delegates from around the country, including …

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