‘Underground’ Network of Specialists Helps Colorado’s Uninsured

An "underground network" of specialists in Denver is providing low-cost or free medical care to some of Colorado's 710,000 uninsured residents, but participating doctors choose to remain anonymous out of fear of "being overwhelmed" by patients, the Denver Post reports. Citing falling government reimbursements, the University of Colorado Hospital, the state's "biggest safety-net provider," has reduced the number of uninsured patients it sees for "advanced medical services" by 10% to 20%. In response, community health clinics have formed their own "ad hoc network" of specialists who are willing to supply free or low-cost care to the uninsured to make up for the cuts, the Post reports as part of a series on care for the uninsured.

Building a Network
Currently about 50 specialists are signed on with the Colorado Community Health Network, a statewide association of community health centers, which refers clinic patients with "complex medical problems that are beyond the capabilities of" the clinic providers to volunteer specialists. So far, 450 uninsured patients have been successfully treated by the network since 1999, but many patients are on a waiting list for services. A "surprisingly low" number of specialists have joined the network, according to one volunteer ort