Colorado news roundup: State scaling back Medicaid after underestimating numbers, cost

Sobering news for people who can't afford health insurance. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup. Today's story in The Denver Post includes comment from Colorado Center on Law and Policy Health Care Program Director Elisabeth Arenales.

Colorado news roundup: School funding lawsuit a preview of fall election

The difference: In the fall election, voters will have a choice to stop irresponsible cuts to schools. Read The Durango Herald's editorial, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Elder economic security: Household income declines by nearly half for households age 65 and older

Colorado's median household income for householders age 65 and older was $37,284 in 2009, or just more than half the median household income of householders in their "peak earning" years of 45 to 64. That rapid drop in income as folks get older has important implications for ensuring Colorado's elders have income that's adequate to meet their needs.

For more insights on the true cost of living for elders in Colorado, including estimates for each of the state's 64 counties, check the Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Colorado.

Colorado news roundup: Part II of DU tax study drops Wednesday

Kinda going out on a limb here, but we figure it will find the state needs more revenue. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: 30k kids in El Paso County considered 'food insecure'

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Bright Colorado tax measure qualifies for ballot

Now it's up to the voters. Read the latest developments, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Colorado Medicaid system plagued by delay

Trouble with the computer system that manages Colorado's public benefits has been going on since the system launched in 2004. Learn about the Colorado Center on Law and Policy's work on the issue on our website. Find the latest developments, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Six school districts at risk of financial crisis

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Rising enrollment in food stamps helps to counter effects of the Great Recession

Enrollment in the food stamps program in Colorado (formally known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) rose 28 percent from 2007 to last year, mirroring trends across the nation, according to an analysis The Urban Institute released today. The analysis finds states with big increases in unemployment during the Great Recession also had big increases in food stamp enrollment.

There are lots of ways to unpack the numbers on rising enrollment in public benefits programs like SNAP. On the one hand, Colorado's enrollment increase is much lower than that recorded in most other states. The national increase during that time was 69 percent. On the other hand, more than half of Coloradans who are eligible to receive food stamps are not enrolled in the program. Colorado ranks 49th among the states for the proportion of residents who are eligible but not enrolled in food stamps. Find details in our annual look at jobs and economic security, the State of Working Colorado.

Here's a look at the change in food stamp enrollment across the nation.

Also, The Urban Institute's fact sheet includes data through only 2010, while the number of Coloradans enrolled in food stamps has continued to rise since then. As noted in the latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch, "The increase in usage during the recession and into the recovery is more than 85 percent, an increase that signals a large number Coloradans continue to experience economic hardship."

Elder economic security: Some income benchmarks fall far short of measuring the true cost of living for elders

The cost of living for a two-person elder household in Colorado is nearly double the average Social Security benefit for elders here, assuming the couple is in good health and has a mortgage.

For more insights on the true cost of living for elders in Colorado, including estimates for each of the state's 64 counties, check the Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Colorado.

Colorado news roundup: Bright Colorado tax plan picks up steam

We don't agree with The Denver Post editorial board's take on the Bright Colorado tax measure, but we're glad they noticed the broad and deep support the measure has attracted across the state. Read the Post's take, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Broken school funding system at heart of Lobato case, columnist says

Read about it, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

The nuts and bolts of tax amnesty

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute won a big victory during the 2011 legislative session when a law passed requiring more transparency and accountability around tax credits, exemptions and deductions. Senate Bill 11-184 is an important step toward understanding how the tax code, just like conventional government spending, is used to advance policy goals. Conducting studies costs money, though, and the money to pay for the study will come from a small slice of a limited tax amnesty the state government is offering this fall.

Two documents released today offer important details on tax amnesty.

Colorado Tax Amnesty FAQ
Colorado Civil Tax Penalties and Interest 

They're definitely worth a look if you or someone you know owes back state taxes.

Colorado news roundup: Congressman wants ballots printed only in English

Disenfranchising non-English speakers. It's political red meat, and bad policy. Read about it, along with all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Economy taking a toll on kids

New measurements of child well being raise some difficult questions for Colorado. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Colorado Education Association gets behind ballot proposal

Read the CEA's statement supporting the Bright Colorado initiative on the organization's website. Check out the news coverage, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Elder economic security: How the Elder Index compares to other income benchmarks

The cost of living for a single Coloradan age 65 and older in good health and with a home mortgage to pay is nearly three times higher than the official federal poverty guideline.

For more insights on the true cost of living for elders in Colorado, including estimates for each of the state's 64 counties, check the Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Colorado.

Colorado news roundup: School funding on trial in Colorado

The Denver Post has some valuable context for the school funding trial. Find it along with links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Health Benefit Exchange board chooses chair

It's Gretchen Hammer of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved. Board members said they picked Hammer in part to improve public perception of the board and some members' ties to the insurance industry, an issue we've raised questions about in our weekly Health Law and Policy Update newsletter. Read about Hammer's appointment, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Colorado community health centers expect to add 5,000 jobs

Another important effect of health reform. Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Public housing on the decline and in desperate need of repair

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Elder economic security: True cost of living for elders in Colorado much higher than most income benchmarks

For single elders in good health, the statewide Colorado Elder Index is $17,664 for homeowners without a mortgage, $21,828 for renters and $28,260 for homeowners with a mortgage. This represents the living expense costs (housing, health care, transportation, food and miscellaneous) for elders age 65+ in Colorado. The Elder Index is much higher than other commonly used income benchmarks.

For more insights on the true cost of living for elders in Colorado, including estimates for each of the state's 64 counties, check the Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Colorado.

Colorado news roundup: Colorado has 4th lowest casino tax rate

Add it to the list of taxes in Colorado that are among the lowest in the nation. Find details, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Udall going forward with balanced budget amendment

Kathy White, deputy director of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, explained why a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would be unwise in a July 24 commentary on The Denver Post's website. Read the latest developments with Sen. Mark Udall's proposal, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Assessing effects of the debt ceiling debate

Find two takes on the issue, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Major education groups support measure to stop school cuts

The momentum is building. Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Supporters submit ballot petitions to reinvest in education

It's a big step forward for the Bright Colorado campaign. Read the news release on our website. Find coverage from state media outlets, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Medicaid and CHP+ – Healthcare for the neediest

In recent years, Colorado has seen consistent and substantial caseload growth in Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), public health insurance programs that cover low-income parents, pregnant women, children and persons with disabilities. Enrollment growth in those programs accelerated during the 2007 recession and continues to well-outpace population growth. Half-way through fiscal year 2010-11, total Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment had grown by 27,000, with the programs serving a total of 624,000 Coloradans. As the effects of the recession reverberate, those programs continue to be crucial in providing health and security for vulnerable Coloradans.

In Colorado, Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment does not fully represent need. Many Coloradans are eligible but not enrolled (EBNE) in these programs. In 2008, 31 percent of eligible adults were not enrolled in Medicaid (26,000 EBNE adults). The same year, 29 percent of eligible children were not enrolled in either Medicaid or CHP+ (115,000 EBNE kids).38


Colorado’s sizeable eligible but not enrolled populations are partially a result of problems with the state’s system of administering medical assistance programs. The Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), the computer system used to administer many of Colorado’s assistance programs, is a major contributor to the problem. Introduced in the middle of the past decade, CBMS has consistently failed to deliver timely application processing, and has exhibited unreliable performance. Colorado needs to improve CBMS and its administration of assistance programs to ensure that eligible families get the help they need when they need it.
 
For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Colorado news roundup: Lawsuit on education funding begins trial

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.