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LAKEWOOD, Tuesday March 5, 2024 - Prevent fraud this tax filing season with advice from the Color

LAKEWOOD, Tuesday March 5, 2024 - Prevent fraud this tax filing season with advice from the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR), Taxation Division.The Division offers the following tips to help ease taxpayers’ minds as they prepare to file state income tax returns. The top security tips are:Carefully choose a tax preparer.Be prepared for paper checks. Colorado income tax refunds that are requested to be direct deposit may be converted to paper checks instead to combat fraud.CDOR may mail correspondence to verify Taxpayer Identity.CDOR may delay refunds in efforts to detect and prevent refund fraud. Be aware of tax scam alerts via phone call, text messaging or email. Prevent personal identity theft. Use Revenue Online. File returns and communicate to DOR using the state's free tax filing web service. Revenue online is a great, legitimate resource when it comes to communicating with DOR.Coloradans who believe their tax identification number has been stolen and someone has filed a Colorado tax return under their Social Security Number (SSN), should first report the suspected identity theft to local law enforcement and then the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI is available 24 hours per day via their Identity Theft & Fraud Hotline at (855) 443-3489.The Taxation Division wants to prepare Coloradans with the necessary information to prevent tax fraud this tax filing season and encourages taxpayers to follow the IRS guidelines in order to ensure a refund is filed correctly.Call the Taxpayer Helpline at (303) 205-8262 for additional assistance Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.For more information please visit our website at the Tax Fraud Prevention web page.

LAKEWOOD, Monday, February 12, 2024 — Taxpayers can now file income tax returns for 2023 and the

LAKEWOOD, Monday, February 12, 2024 — Taxpayers can now file income tax returns for 2023 and the Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division has a few tips to make the process easier and help Coloradans receive their returns as quickly as possible.How to fileOnline - The Taxation Division encourages Taxpayers to file electronically, either through Revenue Online, or one of the many third-party vendors who offer certified electronic income tax filing products, to cut down on processing time and the potential for errors as well as issues in transit.By mail - This method is for Taxpayers who may not be comfortable using online platforms. Instructions about filing State income tax are available on each form.The tax filing deadline for tax year 2023 is April 15, 2024; however, the state offers an automatic six month extension for filing as long as payment obligations are satisfied by April 15.“The Department is ready to process state income tax returns,” said Brendon Reese, Taxation Senior Director. “We are committed to processing returns and refunds for Colorado taxpayers in a timely and professional manner. We know many are eager to receive their refunds as quickly as possible.”Up-to-date information, including the status of state income tax refunds, is at Tax.Colorado.gov – just click on the “Where’s My Refund” banner.Taxpayers can call the Taxpayer Helpline by phone at (303) 238-7378, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. To physically visit a Service Center for help, please schedule an appointment.Taxpayers who need low or no-cost help filing state income tax returns should visit Tax.Colorado.gov/Community-Tax-Help for additional resources. 

Tool compares hospital inpatient payments to identify low-cost providers, reducing health benefit costs for businesses and employeesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 6, 2024Media ContactMarc WilliamsPublic Information Officer720-626-0801 (Cell)Denver, CO - Following the release of our statutorily required hospital transparency reports yesterday, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) launched its Payment Variation Tool — the first public tool of its kind in the nation — to help employer groups, insurance purchasers and business leaders save money on health insurance. The new tool uses claims data to compare hospital inpatient payments statewide and identify low-cost providers by filtering medical procedure codes. It offers crucial insights into what drives the cost of hospital care, which is the largest component of Coloradans’, employers’ and the state’s health care spend.“Colorado’s nation-leading efforts, like Reinsurance, the Colorado Option and Prescription Drug Affordability Board, are saving Coloradans money on their health care. Now this tool will build on that important work, lowering costs for employers and businesses, and increasing access to the healthcare Coloradans need,” said Governor Jared Polis.“The release of our Payment Variation Tool, coupled with many other price transparency efforts, are all part of our focused effort to help save Coloradans and employers money on health,” said HCPF Chief Financial Officer, Bettina Schneider. “The development of these analysis tools and reports create  a suite of complementary research that both supports and evolves this important work.”HCPF also developed a Good, Fair, and Poor rating system to measure Colorado hospitals’ adherence to federal price transparency rules. This effort follows legislation passed and signed by Governor Polis over the previous two sessions (HB22-1285 and SB23-252). HCPF’s Hospital Price Transparency Posting Evaluation Report includes a scorecard from an evaluation of 101 Colorado hospitals between August and September 2023. The scorecard frames how well hospitals comply with state and federal price transparency rules. These rules are intended to drive more competitive and affordable hospital prices to benefit Coloradans and employers.“The federal government implemented important regulations to require hospitals to tell the public what they are actually charging their consumers,” said Professor Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Colorado is ahead of other states with state legislation and reports like this one that make sure hospitals do just that.”Overall, 59% of all Colorado hospitals have a “Good” quality rating for how they make their hospital pricing information available. That is about a 33% increase from the price transparency data retrieved in November 2022. HCPF is providing technical assistance to help hospitals rated “Poor” improve their price transparency efforts. HCPF will also use the public posting of hospital prices to populate an upcoming price comparison tool. That additional tool will further assist in identifying outlier prices, while propelling more collaboration with hospitals to lower those outliers and save people money on health care.“Hospital affordability is critical to employers across the country, as it is a major driver of overall health care premiums, which have become an increasing financial burden on American workers and their families,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, President & CEO, Purchaser Business Group on Health. “Colorado’s hospital transparency reports and their payment variation tool offer employers valuable insights that will help PBGH, insurance carriers, and employers negotiate better hospital prices thereby lowering premiums.”Visit HCPF’s Hospital Reports Hub to view all of this year’s pricing transparency reports, along with previous HCPF hospital reports and other resources. About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus, and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. These health care programs now cover about one in four Coloradans. For more information about the Department, please visit hcpf.colorado.gov.

Colorado Hospitals’ Net Operating Income Drops 50% in 2022, Reserves Largely Better than Pre-PandemicCommunity benefit investments total $1.1 billion FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 5, 2024Media ContactMarc WilliamsPublic Information OfficerColorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing720-626-0801 (Cell)Denver, CO - Today, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) continues its national leadership in hospital financial and pricing transparency, accountability, and analytics with the release of four statutorily required hospital transparency reports. These reports provide policymakers, businesses, health care purchasers and communities with critical insights that drive the cost of hospital care — the largest component of Coloradans’, employers’ and the state’s health care spend. These reports also illuminate how hospitals, individually and in the aggregate, have navigated the immediate and lingering impacts of the COVID19 pandemic.“Hospitals are critical pillars within the communities they serve. They also represent the largest component of insurance premiums paid by Coloradans and employers,” said Kim Bimestefer, HCPF executive director. “2022 was an aberration with the downturn in hospital investment returns, supply chain inflation, and staffing agency wages which impacted overall workforce expenses. Though frontline workforce wages have increased meaningfully, we are asking hospitals to continue to moderate their price increases as they have over the last few years, recognizing the direct impact their prices have on the cost of health care to Coloradans and employers.”“The reports released today will help the state, employers and communities collaborate with hospitals to save people money on health care, prioritize ‘in-lieu-of-tax dollar' community investments, address outlier hospital financials, and the immediate and lingering impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. It also helps tackle industry challenges like the health care workforce shortage or mitigating unfunded care.” said Bettina Schneider, HCPF Chief Financial Officer.The 2024 Hospital Financial Transparency report includes data from 2022 when operating expenses grew 10.4% from 2021 while patient revenue grew 5.9% and operating income decreased by $981.0 million or 50.0%. This reflects a sharp pivot from 2014-2021 reporting periods when patient revenue growth was substantially higher than expense growth. Other key insights include:Net operating income for Colorado hospitals was $1.9 billion, $1.3 billion, and $2.0 billion in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, before declining to $981 million in 2022.Net income, which includes investment income, for Colorado hospitals was $2.3 billion, $1.8 billion, and $3.4 billion in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, before declining to $336 million in 2022.Increased labor costs, including an alarming chapter of contracted labor expenditure up 247.6% from 2019, in addition to inflationary pressure.Uncompensated care costs rose 12.5% or $60.5 million between 2021 and 2022 to a total of $544.0 million, primarily driven by increases in charity care. Charity care is a main component of uncompensated care, and represents health services that hospitals do not expect to receive payments in full, or in part, because a hospital has determined, with the assistance of the patient, the patient’s inability to pay. Specifically, charity care costs made up $325.8 million, or 59.9% of total uncompensated care costs in 2022. Between 2021 and 2022, charity care costs increased by 10.8% or $31.9 million.Table 10 Operating Net Income by Peer Groups (in millions)YearLargeMediumSmallTotal2019$1,816.8$121.9-$25.5$1,913.22020$1,267.3$38.0-$8.8$1,296.52021$1,617.8$285.8$58.6$1,962.32022$893.6$107.2-$19.6$981.3Table 11 Net Income by Peer Groups (in millions)YearLargeMediumSmallTotal2019$2,083.3$155.8$46.3$2,285.42020$1,662.8$53.5$127.0$1,843.32021$2,837.7$358.7$228.4$3,424.82022$255.2$39.5$41.4$336.1Despite the shift seen in 2022, numerous indicators show much of Colorado’s hospital industry is healthy, except for the state’s rural hospitals and the state’s largest safety net hospital, Denver Health, disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and the influx of migrants. The report shows: Net patient revenues are returning to trends seen before the pandemic. Net patient revenue grew from $12.1 billion to roughly $21.3 billion between 2014 to 2022, an increase of 75.5% and an average annual increase of 7.3%, or $1.1 billion per year. Between 2021 and 2022, net patient revenue increased by 5.9%, or $1.2 billion.In 2022, the median hospital reserve for Colorado was 183 days cash on hand, meaning hospitals could operate without additional revenue for about six months. This compares to pre-pandemic 2019 reserve levels of about five months, at 149 days.Children’s Hospital Colorado, UCHealth and Intermountain Healthcare systems had days cash on hand of 299, 325 and 343 respectively, in 2022.In the Denver region, Denver Health Medical Center has the lowest days cash on hand with only 87 days cash on hand in 2022. While the stock market has rebounded through 2023, 2022 investment losses were significant; the impact to hospitals’ overall profits is concurrently significant, as investment returns for some hospitals historically equal or exceed patient service profits.“Our active dialogue and negotiations with community hospitals are paramount to achieving our goal of driving affordable health insurance coverage and increased care access to the communities we serve,” said Anne Ladd, CEO, Peak Health Alliance, a leading purchasing alliance operating throughout Western Colorado. “I was proud to testify in support of House Bill 23-1226, knowing that today’s reports would provide transparency into each hospital’s financials, illuminating who is rebounding, who is struggling and who is charging employers and families the highest rates. This information enables us to negotiate a more appropriate reimbursement for those who have to pay the hospital bills.”The Community Benefit report shines light on what and where tax exempt hospitals are investing their community benefit dollars. This reporting enables communities to see if their hospitals are investing in what their communities have identified as a health need in lieu of paying taxes. During hospitals’ fiscal year 2021, Colorado hospitals’ Community Benefit investment rose 13% to $1.09 billion - a $125 million increase from the previous fiscal year, directed into the below categories:55% was directed into social determinants of health (SDOH), including housing, food, transportation, interpersonal violence, education, and job opportunities. This is a reporting increase from only 7.8%, in 2020, being directed toward SDOH, reflecting greater diligence in reporting and a change in action/focus.Reporting also shows corresponding reporting shifts in other areas. For example, in 2020, 55.3% of community benefit dollars were invested in health behavior/risks, while 2021 reporting shows 5% spent on programs addressing health behaviors/risks. These changes reflect more diligent reporting from hospitals in community benefit spending categories.24% into charity care (includes free or reduced-cost health care services)HB23-1243 took effect in August 2023 and requires more specific, community benefit reporting categories which will help HCPF connect community investment spending directly to community identified needs starting in 2025.“The laws enacted in Colorado around Medicaid expansion, price transparency, and community benefit have advanced federal policies operationally to benefit patients,” said Patricia A. Gabow, MD, Lown Institute Board chair and past 20-year CEO of Denver Health. “Importantly, the report tells us that we have more work to do in several areas, particularly on defining and measuring the community benefit provided by not-for-profit hospitals in relation to the benefit of their tax-exemption.”Additionally, the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) was created as a result of the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise Act of 2017. The CHASE reduces uncompensated care for hospital providers and the need to shift those costs to private or commercial payers by increasing reimbursement to hospitals and by reducing the number of uninsured Coloradans. The CHASE increases net payments to hospitals by collecting a healthcare affordability and sustainability fee from hospitals which then receives federal matching dollars to increase Colorado Medicaid as well as Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) payments to hospitals.Together, these higher public program payments enable hospitals to reduce cost-shifting to Coloradans and employers covered by private or commercial payers. Before the CHASE fee, hospitals were receiving about $0.54 cents on their dollar of costs for care provided to Medicaid patients, measured in 2009. In 2022, hospitals received $0.81 on their dollar of cost of care for Medicaid patients, far and above the $0.70 on the dollar of cost of care for Medicare patients. The 2024 CHASE Annual Report also illustrates that the CHASE provided $464 million in increased reimbursement to hospital providers, which helped fund health insurance coverage through Colorado Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for more than 622,000 Coloradans - with no increase in Colorado General Fund expenditures.To view all of this year’s reports, along with previous HCPF hospital reports and other resources, please visit HCPF’s Hospital Reports Hub. About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus, and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. These health care programs now cover about one in four Coloradans. For more information about the Department, please visit hcpf.colorado.gov.

Report recommends sunsetting Colorado Indigent Care Program and bolstering Primary Care Fund to help more Coloradans get careFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 1, 2024Media ContactMarc WilliamsPublic Information Officer303-866-3144Denver, CO - The Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) program helps uninsured and underinsured patients with incomes up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) access discounted health care at participating hospitals, Community Health Centers and other safety net clinics. While CICP is not health insurance, it has been a financial vehicle for participating providers to recoup some costs for medical services provided to eligible patients.The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s (HCPF) 2024 CICP report underscores the importance of primary care and hospital safety net programs but also forecasts substantial changes to sustain the safety net and provider reimbursement. The report shows CICP continues to experience a steady decline as more people enroll in Medicaid, especially since Colorado expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act in 2014. Currently, only an estimated 40,000 Coloradans receive discounted health care at participating clinics and hospitals each year through the CICP compared to a peak of about 225,000 Coloradans prior to Medicaid expansion. Recently, 11 clinics and two hospitals have left CICP.“As health care coverage and financing policies have changed, so too have safety net programs,” said HCPF’s Special Financing Division Director, Nancy Dolson. “The time is right to make additional changes and to do so thoughtfully to ensure access to care remains while reducing administrative burdens for providers and patients alike.”Funding for CICP participating clinics was eliminated in fiscal year 2021-22. HCPF recommends sunsetting the 40-year-old CICP while enhancing the Primary Care Fund and addressing unintended administrative challenges under hospitals’ financial assistance requirements. HCPF’s recommendations would infuse additional funding into the Primary Care Fund to support access at Community Health Centers and other safety net clinics for patients with incomes up to $36,450 per year for an individual compared to $29,160 per year for an individual today.“Colorado’s safety net programs have changed over time to better meet the needs of Coloradans,” said HCPF Executive Director, Kim Bimestefer. “Given other safety net programs now in place, HCPF appreciates the collaboration of the General Assembly to enact these recommendations to preserve access to care for low-income Coloradans and reduce administrative burdens for providers and patients.”For hospitals, HB21-1198 created minimum standards for all Colorado hospitals’ financial assistance programs, referred to as Hospital Discounted Care. Through this law, hospitals are required to screen low-income, uninsured patients for public health coverage program eligibility including Medicaid. Sunsetting the CICP and making needed changes to the Hospital Discounted Care requirements will reduce administrative and billing burdens CICP hospitals experience while participating in multiple safety net programs. If HCPF’s recommendation to sunset CICP is approved, the Hospital Discounted Care requirements will bridge access to care for lower income patients.“We are calling for these changes because if the untenable status quo remains, more clinics and hospitals are likely to end participation in the CICP while patients will face confusion navigating multiple programs and requirements to access care,” said HCPF Chief Financial Officer, Bettina Schneider.  About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus, and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. These health care programs now cover about one in four Coloradans. For more information about the Department, please visit hcpf.colorado.gov.

(DENVER) – Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced eight new appointments and three reappointments to the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC). A Governor-appointed, public-private partnership, the CWDC advises, oversees and integrates the work of the Colorado talent development network to meet the needs of employers and workers across the state.The CWDC is also excited to welcome Jonathan Liebert as its new chair."I am honored to begin my role as Chair and welcome our newest members,” said Liebert. “Their contributions will undoubtedly broaden the Council's impact, solidifying stronger connections with industry partners, local businesses, and communities statewide."Newly appointed members include:Rob Andrews of Denver to serve as a representative of workforceAndrew Bercich of Lone Tree to serve as a representative of businessAnn Cesare of Colorado Springs to serve as a representative of businessBeth Cobert of Denver to serve as a representative of businessMarla Jones-Newman of Parker to serve as a representative of businessAnthony Lugard of Montrose to serve as a representative of businessScott Mangino of Denver to serve as a representative of businessDavid Thurow of Grand Junction to serve as a representative of businessReappointed members to serve a second term include:Seth Harvey of Colorado Springs to serve as a representative of businessJonathan Liebert of Colorado Springs to serve as a representative of businessKarla Nugent of Lafayette to serve as a representative of business"We welcome the newest members of the CWDC and are excited for what we will accomplish together,” said Lee Wheeler-Berliner, managing director of the CWDC. “The viewpoints and connections that our new and reappointed members bring are invaluable and will enrich our work across the state, and I am eager to collaborate with each of them as we move into 2024.”The CWDC is grateful to the outgoing members (listed below) for their contributions to the state of Colorado and our communities.Ann Marie BragaDenise BurgessKevin CorySteve FechheimerDanielle KirkpatrickFrannie MatthewsHeather TerenzioLawrence WagnerAbout the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC)The vision of the CWDC is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. The CWDC’s mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow. The CWDC acts on behalf of the governor and the Colorado legislature on policy matters related to all programs and activities funded by WIOA. The Governor-appointed members serve as the state workforce investment board. The CWDC office staff support the Council, the BEL Commission, and the State Rehabilitation Council. The Council champions TalentFOUND, the Colorado talent development network, and is charged with aligning the efforts of economic development, education, workforce development, government, and business stakeholders at the local, regional, and state levels. The CWDC publishes the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report each year, which identifies the areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent.### 

LAKEWOOD, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 — Colorado drivers kept the Division of Motor Vehicles busy reviewing personalized license plate applications in 2023.The DMV approved over 60,000 personalized plate applications in 2023, almost doubling the amount approved in 2022.

LAKEWOOD, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 — Colorado drivers kept the Division of Motor Vehicles busy reviewing personalized license plate applications in 2023.The DMV approved over 60,000 personalized plate applications in 2023, almost doubling the amount approved in 2022.