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Enough Is Enough
A new empahsis of the Justice Commission to involve congregations across the state in combating Domestic Violence. To learn more, click here.
Colorado Council of Churches Announces Important Progress in Health Care Reform Initiative
Under the leadership of Becky Updike, the Colorado Council of Churches is entering the second year of health care reform work through a project called Colorado Voices for Coverage (See CVC web-site at www.coloradovoices.org). This year CCC will continue to work to influence state and federal leaders to create health care reforms that increase accessibility, affordability, efficiency, and transparency of the health care system for all people.
As stated in the Colorado Council of Churches Justice Commission’s Public Policy Statements, health care resources are often rationed based on ability to pay rather than on need. We believe the faith community is called to support and participate in health care reform as a matter of social justice and in the interest of the greater good, and that improving health care for all is especially important and relevant given our current state and national economic challenges.
Throughout the coming year, your congregation will have opportunities to become informed on this vital issue as the Colorado Council of Churches joins with its three partner organizations to build public will by providing faith/scripture based education materials, holding events and forums statewide, and engaging in public policy advocacy around health care reform. Communities of faith and interested individuals are invited to join these efforts by contacting Colorado Council of Churches at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Colorado Council of Churches and Its CVC Partners Release a New Colorado Health Care Affordability Study
The report, done in conjunction with The Colorado Center on Law and Poverty, is based on input from nearly 100 budget workshops held all over Colorado where approximately 1000 families were surveyed. To learn more about the findings and for access to the full study, click here.
CVC and Colorado Council of Churches Celebrates the Signing of House Bill 1293- Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act!
We wanted to let you know that Gov. Bill Ritter has signed House Bill 1293, the Health Care Affordability Act. This bill expands health care coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans at no cost to taxpayers.
The Colorado Council of Churches and CVC have been strong supporters from the beginning, and we consider this one of the most important pieces of health care legislation in recent years. The state will generate $600 million a year through a hospital provider fee, and that will be matched by $600 million in federal Medicaid funds.
That $1.2 billion will support Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus and improve hospital reimbursement rates for services provided through Medicaid and the Colorado Indigent Care Program.
The bill will help people who most need the coverage, but the broader goal of the bill is to help control health care costs. Two of the most significant drivers of costs are uninsured patients and inadequate reimbursement of Medicaid expenses -- both of which result in cost-shifting and higher rates.
The Health Care Affordability Act will reduce the number of uninsured and increase hospital reimbursement rates. The resulting cost savings will benefit consumers, businesses and providers.
Understanding COBRA Premium Assistance
The new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides premium assistance to help involuntarily unemployed workers purchase their former employer's COBRA or other continuation coverage. Under the Act, for up to nine months, eligible unemployed workers will need to pay only 35 percent of the total premiums to continue the health coverage that they had through their jobs, and the federal government will reimburse employers or health plans for the remaining 65 percent of premium charges.
To learn more about who is eligible for this assistance and for more information, click here to view a consumer guide (courtesy of Families USA).
Helping Military Personnel Readjust To Being Home from Iraq
An excellent resource for pastors ministering with returning military personnel and their families that has been developed by Caroline Walles, of the Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska. The Colorado Council of Churches is pleased to make this pastoral aid available on our website. Click here to read the article.
Colorado Kids 1st License Plates & Rally Day
For more information about Colorado Kids 1st license plates and to access Kids 1st Rally Day suggestions, please click here.
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Conflict Resolution month is October, 2009. For more information and resources for your congregation, click here.
Rev. Dr. James Ryan on Fox News 31
Rev. Dr. James Ryan appeared on Fox News 31 to discuss capital punishment.
Click to view the story. |
