Colorado Checkup: March 29, 2023

As Colorado Reels From Another School Shooting, Study Finds 1 in 4 Teens Have Quick Access to Guns
By Markian Hawryluk The study analyzed Colorado kids’ responses to how quickly they could get their hands on a loaded gun without their parents’ knowledge. More than 1 in 10 said they could do so within 10 minutes.

Colorado Bill Would Encourage, But Not Require, CPR Training in High Schools
By Helen Santoro Colorado is one of 10 states without a law requiring CPR training for high school students, but proposed legislation that recently passed the state House would only strongly urge schools to teach this lifesaving skill.

Covid Aid Papered Over Colorado Hospital’s Financial Shortcomings
By Markian Hawryluk Financial pitfalls at the nation’s highest-elevation hospital serve as a cautionary tale as rural hospitals emerge from the pandemic on shaky ground.

Medicaid Health Plans Try to Protect Members — And Profits — During Unwinding
By Phil Galewitz States are turning to the big health insurance companies to keep Medicaid enrollees insured once pandemic protections end in April. The insurers’ motive: profits.

Biden Administration Urged to Take More Aggressive Steps to Relieve Medical Debt
By Noam N. Levey Consumer and patient advocates push for new federal rules to protect Americans from debt collectors and force hospitals to make financial assistance more accessible.