8/11program
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Thursday's program: rural hospitals in Colorado
This week's program will focus on rural hospitals in Colorado. Presenter Chris Tholen is the vice president of financial policy and chief financial officer for the Colorado Hospital Association. Tholen has 18 years of experience in health care finance and strategy that includes an emphasis on government policy, hospitals, physician groups and private insurance. Prior to joining the CHA, he held positions with Kaiser Permanente and the Mayo Clinic.
Nearly one in five Americans call rural communities home. These small towns are where neighbors know each other, listen to each other, and work together towards a common goal. These are close knit communities, great places for people to raise kids, start businesses and be close to family. The local hospital is an economic driver for the community as one of the largest employers, but they face issues as well providing updated services and state-of-the art equipment for ever changing healthcare needs, an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, declining reimbursement rates, and disproportional funding levels. Tholen will talk about the role of rural hospitals and what challenges and opportunities are ahead.
Tholen also will discuss Amendment 69 which will appear on the Colorado ballet in November 2016. If passed, this amendment would establish a “universal health care system” called “Colorado Care” and would create a state government-owned cooperative in which all Colorado residents over the age of 18 would be automatically enrolled as members.