The proposed 2008 federal budget includes millions of dollars for the Department of Health and Human Services in the areas of bio-surveillance, electronic health records and chronic care management.
The suggested $118 million would go to the office of the national coordinator for health information technology within HHS. The level is the same as requested for 2007, but has not yet been acted on by Congress. Currently, the office is funded at the 2006 level of $61 million under a continuing resolution.

Colorado employers are reporting higher health plan costs than the rest the nation, according to a survey released by the Lockton Benefit Group.
The survey, while not scientific, is an “indication of the general employee benefit trends,” Lockton officials said.

The Pikes Peak Mental Health Group has earned the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Health Organization’s gold seal of approval, marking the 31st year that the group has maintained accreditation.
“We seek accreditation for Pikes Peak Mental Health because we want to provide our community with the best possible care and we view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence,” said Morris L. Roth, president and CEO of Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group.

A statewide group is working to create a plan to fight chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the fourth leading cause of death in Colorado.
The Colorado COPD Coalition — made up of medical professionals, research scientists, industry representatives and patients — was formed by the American Lung Association of Colorado, and is sponsored by the cancer, cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease grants program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

A program that trains people to work with adolescents who are at risk for suicide has received a $400,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Known as Project Safety Net, the three-year program is operated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

HMO membership dropped below 1 million during the third quarter of last year, according to the latest HMO quarterly filings with the Colorado Division of Insurance.
HMO membership was about 990,287 — down from 2,049,247 at the end of June 2006. Colorado Access no longer participates in the acute care portion of the Medicaid program, leading to the decline.

Uninsured Colorado residents can determine whether they are eligible for public or low-cost private health insurance through a free, online reference guide, Colorado Health Care Options Matrix, provided by the Foundation for Health Coverage Education.
The brochure, available at www.coverageforall.org, also is useful for social workers or health care professionals who are trying to find insurance for their clients, or for small business owners who want to help employees find insurance options. The guide can be viewed, downloaded and printed, free of charge.

Five local programs that help the disadvantaged have received contract renewals for 2007 from the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. Funding for the Department of Human Services programs was provided through federal, state and country resources.
The Women’s Resource Agency Inc. was awarded $30,000 for its Transitions Self-Sufficiency Program. The program helps low-income and TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) participants with personal and professional development services so they can reach and maintain self-sufficiency.

United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention have ranked Colorado 16th among states with the healthiest population.
The state ranked 17th last year.

Coloradoans say that improving the health, education and well-being of children are the most important issues facing the federal and state government, according to a poll of registered voters commissioned by the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Colorado Medical Society.