Coloradans are proudly among the healthiest and most active people in the nation. But that’s not to say that access to health care, a foundation of community health and wellness, always comes easy. Especially in rural areas like the Western Slope, significant barriers persist.
Many residents are accustomed to long drives and longer wait times to see a doctor, difficulties finding a primary care provider and few options for mental health, maternal health and other vital services.
The Legislature has worked hard to improve access to high-quality health care for all residents. No matter where a person lives, the color of their skin, who they love or how much they earn, they should be able to get the best possible medical care when and where they need it.
We made progress this year with the Improving Perinatal Health Outcomes Act, expanding maternal health programs, especially for minority and marginalized women and the Prior Authorizations Requirements Alternatives Act, putting more control over health care decisions in the hands of physicians and patients.
We also increased funding to the Rural Colorado Health Care Workforce program, expanding opportunities for health care workers to start careers in rural Colorado. I am proud of the victories Colorado has delivered for hardworking families, though more can be done.
It’s clear that when it comes to making health care more affordable and accessible, we see no quick fixes. Our health care system is complex and deeply integrated. Health needs and the challenges answering them vary significantly from county to county, especially in a state as diverse as ours.
I urge our federal lawmakers to bear that in mind, particularly now as some members of Congress are pushing enormous cuts to patient care in the form of slashing reimbursements to local hospitals.
Our hospitals are a critical access point to our health care. Emergency departments ensure individuals and families can get medical attention any time – day or night – every day of the year because crises don’t wait for an “open” sign. Emergency services are just a fraction of the life-saving services hospitals offer; NICUs, trauma centers, burn units and inpatient mental health beds are often only available 24 hours a day through a local hospital.
What’s more, no matter the circumstances, our hospitals are indiscriminate; they treat every individual who comes through their doors.
In rural communities, the needs hospitals meet are even more pronounced. About 38% of Colorado counties are maternity care deserts; 54 counties are considered mental health shortage areas. One in five Coloradans said they could not get the mental health care they needed last year, and though about three in five Latino residents experienced a mental health issue, nearly 30% postponed seeking help.
Colorado’s hospitals help fill these gaps, ensuring that expectant mothers can safely deliver their babies and that individuals experiencing mental health crises get into a continuum of care. They are equipped to provide complex, coordinated care to address even the most serious conditions, and indeed they do. On average, hospitals’ patients arrive sicker, require longer stays, and are more likely to be older, lower-income and to have put off preventative care.
Improving health care access in Colorado will require holistic solutions. We cannot cut our way to better care on the backs of hospitals.
I encourage Washington leaders to support our hospitals, work toward full-picture solutions and avoid top-down cuts to patient care. By doing so, we will make health care more accessible and more affordable, in Colorado and across the country.
Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, is serving her fourth term representing La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, and San Juan counties. She has been a journalist and teacher.
