Cost-saving elements of health reform begin rollout

Good morning. Here's a look at news reports from around the state on issues of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy for Thursday, May 6, 2010. Listing here does not imply endorsement of the content.

HEALTH POLICY
The Denver Post: Shared health visits get patients more time with doctors
Jeff Wilson saw a doctor recently about his high cholesterol — and five other patients with the same problem came to his appointment.

Grand Junction Sentinel editorial: Piloting health reform
The $12 million federal grant announced this week to spread health care information technology on the Western Slope actually comes from the federal stimulus bill approved last year, not from the just-passed health care reform bill. But it is representative of one of the things we like about the health care reform legislation: pilot programs to test potential cost-saving ideas.


FISCAL POLICY
Denver Daily News: Work share measure backed
A bill that would allow employees whose hours are reduced to claim some unemployment benefits was given initial approval yesterday by the House.

Pueblo Chieftain: University would raise tuition if given authority
Colorado State University-Pueblo would likely hike tuition by the maximum allowed under a bill passed by the state Senate on Wednesday.

Aurora Sentinel editorial: Douglas Bruce and company need to come clean on who’s behind ballot questions
As state lawmakers through the ages here in Colorado have discovered and rediscovered, nothing in regards to the people’s business doesn’t benefit from transparency and openness. Tax protester Douglas Bruce and his cohorts need to learn the same thing.

Salida Mountain Mail: Salida seeks budget shortfall remedies
With Salida sales tax revenue in steady decline, city personnel are looking for areas in which to cut spending to remedy a budget shortfall of about $365,000.

The Associated Press via KMGH: Fort Collins Schools To Lay Off Teachers
The Poudre School District announced Wednesday it will cut 139 teaching and other school jobs because of budget cuts. The state's ninth-largest school system says it has to cut $12 million from next year's budget.


ECONOMY
Loveland Reporter-Herald: Loveland sees sales tax revenue rebound
A one-month upward bump in sales tax revenue in Loveland, after 20 months of falling down a flight of stairs, is good news.


ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
Summit Daily News: Summit County sees spike in social services demand
Food stamps caseload increases 442 percent in five years.