Studies and Reports

The Colorado Health Foundation publishes reports and studies that pertain to one or more of its focus areas: Healthy Living, Health Care and Health Coverage. Some of the reports are produced in coordination with other organizations.

Here's a list of recent reports available for downloading:

School-Based Health Care Initiative: A Mid-Term Evaluation Report Publication date: Winter, 2013 This report outlines mid-term findings from the Foundation's School-Based Health Care initiative, focusing on evaluation methods and grantee feedback. A final evaluation report will be completed in 2014.

"Medicaid Expansion: Examining the Impact on Colorado's Economy" Publication date: Winter, 2013 Prepared by Charles Brown, a policy and economics analyst, this executive summary highlights how Medicaid expansions would impact Colorado's economy. Full Report Executive summary Infographic

Insights: The 2012 Colorado Health Symposium Publication date: Summer, 2012 Subtitled "Health Equity: Bridging the Divides," this 16-page document captures the best moments from the 2012 Colorado Health Symposium. The report includes provocative quotes and compelling data from the Symposium's keynote speakers.

Prevention: Strong Investments in Colorado's Health Publication date: Spring, 2012 Investing in evidence-based public health programs could substantially reduce health costs in Colorado, according to this supplement to the 2011 Colorado Health Report Card. The Report Card itself is available online or through a  downloadable PDF.

Summary Report: The Colorado Blueprint for Promoting Integrated Care Sustainability Publication date: Winter, 2012 This summary highlights the recommendations from the Promoting Integrated Care Sustainability project for moving integrated care to the mainstream of Colorado's health care system. For more details, download the  complete 35-page report.

The Status of Behavioral Health Care in Colorado: 2011 Highlights Publication date: Fall, 2011 Key findings from Advancing Colorado's Mental Health Care's 2011 report are highlighted in this 12-page summary. The report provides a comprehensive assessment and critical analysis of the state's public and private mental health and substance abuse disorders systems. For more details, download ACMHC's complete 228-page report and the final grantee report.

Healthy Food For All: Encouraging Grocery Investment in Colorado Publication date: Fall, 2011 This report outlines policy recommendations to improve access to affordable, healthy food and stimulate economic development in Denver and throughout Colorado. It is authored by the Denver Food Access Task Force, a partnership of leaders from the retail food industry, state and local government, public health, economic and community development sectors, and nonprofit foundations.

Healthy Connections in Colorado: A Primer for HIT Success Publication date: Fall, 2011 In 2007, the Foundation launched its Healthy Connections initiative, designed to accelerate the adoption of health information technology (HIT) systems throughout Colorado. Results from the four-year initiative are detailed in this report.

Insights: 2011 Colorado Health Symposium Publication date: Fall, 2011 A summary of the 2011 Colorado Health Symposium, this report explores some promising solutions that could make a difference in the nation's health.

Health at a Crossroads Publication date: Winter, 2011 This supplement to the 2010 Colorado Health Report Card details how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will likely impact the Report Card's indicators.

Insights: 2010 Colorado Health Symposium Publication date: Fall, 2010 Featuring insights, quotable quotes and observations from plenary and keynote speakers from the 2010 Colorado Health Symposium, this white paper explores the challenge of improving quality while controlling costs in health care.

HITECH Revisited Publication date: Summer, 2010 In 2009, Congress earmarked $19 billion to help health care providers upgrade their technology. Authored by Manatt Health Solutions, this report looks at how those dollars are impacting the health care system.

Special Report: The Need for More Supermarkets in Colorado Publication date: Winter, 2009 Produced by The Food Trust in conjunction with the University of Colorado, this report demonstrates how the uneven distribution of food in Colorado disproportionately affects large numbers of low-income people.

The Future of Colorado Health Care Publication date: Fall, 2009 Compiled by the New America Foundation in collaboration with University of Denver's Center for Colorado's Economic Future, this report provides a statistical glimpse of how health care reform would impact Colorado's economy.

Food Access in Colorado Publication date: Fall, 2009 Increasing access to healthy, fresh and affordable food in low-income, food desert communities will help reduce the rate of chronic disease found among their residents, according to this report.

Connecting HIT Building Blocks Publication date: Summer, 2009 How should Colorado target and use stimulus dollars intended to upgrade its health information technology? This report provides some recommendations.

Health Insurance Benefit Adequacy Publication date: Spring, 2009 Written by Barbara Yondorf of Yondorf & Associates, focuses on Colorado's growing underinsured population and describes benefit design elements that can help ensure adequate coverage.

School-Based Health Centers: Gateway to Healthier Children Publication date: Spring, 2009 This briefing shows how school-based health centers can reduce the number of teens who suffer from costly health problems, help teens manage chronic conditions and positively influence academic performance.

Increasing Enrollment in Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus Publication date: Spring, 2009 With a growing number of Coloradans eligible but not enrolled in public programs, this report describes some success approaches for improving enrollment and outreach.

Healthy Schools: Key to a Healthier Colorado Publication date: Winter, 2009 How can schools can cure many of the ills plaguing Colorado's children and teens while ensuring a healthier future for the state? This report provides some answers.

Health Information Technology in Colorado Publication date: Fall, 2008 A follow-up to a previous white paper, "Health Information Technology: A Strategy for Creating a Healthier Colorado," this report focuses on the progress being made on HIT in the state.

Income, Education and Obesity: A Closer Look at Inequities in Colorado's Obesity Problem Publication date: Fall, 2008 A supplement to the Colorado Health Report Card, this special report examines the growing problem of obesity and the strong connection between obesity and socioeconomic factors.

Obesity: What the Research Shows Publication date: Fall, 2008 The supplement for the Colorado Health Report Card shows how factors like socioeconomic status fit into the equation of the national obesity epidemic.

Health Information Technology: A Strategy for Creating a Healthier Colorado  Publication date: Winter, 2007 An examination into the role health information technology can play on delivering quality, affordable health care to low-income, uninsured populations.