Before I came to work for Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC), I thought of databases in the most archaic fashion. Growing up, we had the classic monochromatic set of encyclopedias that most 90’s kids used for school research projects, or as step stools or flower-pressing devices. This Read more
The last few months have been some of the most intense and rewarding I’ve experienced during my time at CIVHC. January kicked off a legislative session where more policymakers than ever reached out to use the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) to inform discussions related to pending legislation. Read more
June 30th marks the end of my first full fiscal year at CIVHC. I started in March of 2018, just as the year-end activities were ramping up. At that time, I was struck by how many ways CIVHC and the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) support different stakeholders. Read more
This is the first in a brief series about the process of making changes to the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) Rule and Data Submission Guide (DSG). In September 2019, CIVHC will begin collecting information about Alternative Payment Models (APM) and Prescription Rebates from the payers who submit Read more
The moment of impact takes my breath away. Even now, over a year removed from that icy and snowy morning, the slick sidewalk, and seemingly slow-motion fall, my stomach heaves and my lungs contract when I recall the crunch when I hit the concrete. I had never felt pain like Read more
The US health care system is incredibly complicated and it seems to add insult to injury that most of us have to learn an entirely new language just to be able to keep up. In this series, we will be taking on the language barrier and defining some of these Read more
There is something special about learning a new piece of technology, a feeling of unlocking potential and an excitement at mastering interfaces. Last year I bought myself an Apple watch and found myself at the start of a new learning curve with capabilities and screens and notifications to figure out. Read more
There are many small things that we do today that can have a big impact on us later in life. From signing up for the 401k at work to taking the stairs every day, little actions can add up. We could say the same thing to self-insured employers about submitting Read more
Dear Colorado Health Care Payers, As it so frequently happens, the hustle and bustle of life can distract us from what truly matters. While we strive to make it through our busy days, we sometimes forget to stop and say the important things. That is why I am taking a Read more
I’ve been in health care for over 20 years, but until several years ago I had no idea what opioids were, what they were doing to our society, and the complexity of the problem. I never really paid much attention to when and how many opioid prescriptions I was personally Read more