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Colorado premiums will rise by 6% on top of existing hikes after Trump ends CSR subsidy payments
DENVER – Health insurance premiums being offered by insurers in Colorado in 2018 will go up by an additional average of 6 percent – beyond the increases already in place – because of President Trump’s decision to stop making cost-sharing reduction subsidy payments.
The state’s insurance commissioner, Marguerite Salazar, made the announcement Friday afternoon, and like Gov. John Hickenlooper, called Trump’s decision “cruel and irresponsible.” Continue reading
Colorado insurance commissioner warns Trump health care order could spell end of employer coverage
DENVER – Colorado’s insurance commissioner said Thursday afternoon that President Trump’s executive order aimed at solving his promise to repeal and replace the federal health care law will “cause problems” for the state’s health insurance market and warned it could end employer-provided coverage in the state.
“Expanding association health plans and short-term health insurance without [Affordable Care Act] protections will fracture the individual and small group markets,” Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar said. Continue reading
Lamborn and Buck vote against disaster relief package, citing concerns over debt write-off
DENVER – Two of Colorado’s Republican congressmen voted Thursday against a disaster relief bill that will send $36 billion in aid to Puerto Rico and other places ravaged by recent hurricanes, as well as to programs aiding the firefighting efforts in the U.S. West.
The House of Representatives approved the aid package Thursday in a 353-69 vote. Reps. Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn both voted against the package, as did 67 of their Republican colleagues. Continue reading
Denver mayor opposes green roof ballot initiative, says it ‘goes too far too fast’
DENVER – Mayor Michael Hancock is opposed to an initiative Denver voters will decide on in November that would require many newly-built large buildings in the city to have a “green roof” of sorts installed.
Last month, the Denver Elections Division approved the Denver Green Roof Initiative ballot petition after verifying the group had gotten the correct number of signatures to put the measure on November’s ballot. Continue reading
Cuban immigrant who won pardon from Colorado governor might be released from ICE custody
DENVER – The Cuban immigrant who won a pardon from Gov. John Hickenlooper for an armed robbery conviction that was aimed at helping his deportation case could soon be out of federal immigration custody and free to remain in the U.S.
A Department of Justice immigration judge terminated removal proceedings against Rene Lima-Marin late last week, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Continue reading
“Las Vegas Part 2”: Man accused of threatening 7 employees of popular Denver startup Ibotta
DENVER – A Brooklyn man is accused of threatening at least seven employees at a Denver-based company with “a Las Vegas repeat” after the company suspended his account over fraudulent use.
FBI agents arrested Victor Casillas Tuesday night in Manhattan, according to John Marzulli, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York. Casillas is set to make his first federal court appearance Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn Federal Court, Marzulli said. Continue reading
With a ‘coward’ shooting down on people, so many were heroes, says Thornton principal shot in Vegas
THORNTON, Colo. – Todd Riley and his friend were buying drinks at the bar near the main stage of the Route 91 Harvest Festival outside the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas Sunday night when he heard what he thought were fireworks.
The Century Middle School assistant principal and father of three had decided earlier this year that he and his fiancé, Dawn, and a group of friends would head out to Vegas for the festival, one of country music’s biggest events each year. Continue reading
Bennet, Gardner cosponsoring legislation to restore CHIP funding through 2022
DENVER – Both of Colorado’s U.S. senators are cosponsoring a bill that would extend federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through 2022 and make some changes that give states more flexibility in working with the program.
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing said Monday it anticipates Colorado will run out of its federal funding left over from the past fiscal year for CHP+, the state CHIP program, by January if Congress doesn’t move to extend the funding. Continue reading
Partisan fighting continues to kick off Colorado special session; Senate committee kills measure
DENVER – Republicans in a Colorado Senate committee kicked off the first special session in Colorado in five years by killing one of two measures brought forth by Democrats aimed at fixing a bill-drafting mistake that left several special districts in the state without the ability to collect on a state marijuana tax.
On a party-line vote, the Senate Transportation Committee struck down the first measure, continuing to push Republicans’ stance that the special session is unnecessary and that the tax fix needs to be sent to voters. Continue reading
Colorado’s CHP+ program has funding through January, but state says Congress needs to act quickly
DENVER – Colorado officials say the health insurance program for children and pregnant women has enough federal money left over to remain operational through the first month of the year, but warn the money could be gone after that if Congress does not act to restore funding in the next couple months.
Funding for the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ran out Saturday when Congress failed to act to restore funding for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Continue reading