HMOs on the examining table
Northern Colorado trails larger areas in acceptance of managed care, but several factors are changing that
Northern Colorado has jumped at breakneck speed into the HMO revolution.
Health-maintenance organizations, the ultimate in managed care, have targeted Larimer and Weld counties for expansion, hoping to capitalize on a burgeoning population and an increased desire by employers to hold down health-care costs.
“I think there’s definitely a movement of more interest and intent of HMOs to get into the Weld County and Larimer County areas,´ said James Humphrey, executive director of NorthCare, a provider-sponsored preferred provider organization based in Greeley. NorthCare offers care from 400 physicians and 13 hospitals in northern and eastern Colorado.
Humphrey said managed care — which reduces health-care costs by negotiating volume discounts with doctors, hospitals and specialists — has not been prevalent in Northern Colorado. But such trends normally travel from large metropolitan areas such as Denver to more rural areas, he said.
That’s what’s happening now. At least two new HMOs are being formed to serve the Northern Colorado market, and others are expanding here from the Denver area.
Here’s what’s happening:
n HSI Health Plans Inc. of Fort Collins is launching HealthLink HMO, which could serve 19,500 members in Northern Colorado within three years.
n Colorado Access begins operating Dec. 1 and will serve Medicaid patients of 20 Front Range community health clinics, including the Sunrise Community Health Center in Greeley.
Northern Colorado trails larger areas in acceptance of managed care, but several factors are changing that
Northern Colorado has jumped at breakneck speed into the HMO revolution.
Health-maintenance organizations, the ultimate in managed care, have targeted Larimer and Weld counties for expansion, hoping to capitalize on a burgeoning population and an increased desire by employers to hold down health-care costs.
“I think there’s definitely a movement of more interest and intent of HMOs to get into the Weld County and Larimer County areas,´ said James Humphrey, executive director of NorthCare, a provider-sponsored preferred provider organization based in Greeley. NorthCare offers care…
Start your subscription to BizWest, The Business Journal of the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado, TODAY!
Online access PLUS print versions of all Bizwest publications
One month subscription includes:
- 1-month online access to BizWest.com which includes unlimited news stories, archived story access and interactive versions of monthly business journal.
- 1-month subscription to BizWest & all of the publications in print version.
- 1-year access to daily email newsletter & breaking news alerts.
Online access for one year.
One month subscription includes:
- 1-month online access to BizWest.com which includes unlimited news stories, archived story access and interactive versions of monthly business journal.
- 1-year access to daily email newsletter & breaking news alerts.
Online and print versions of all Bizwest publications PLUS premium access to BizWest Datastore for one year.
One year subscription includes:
- 1-year online access to BizWest.com which includes unlimited news stories, archived story access and interactive versions of monthly business journal.
- 1-year subscription to BizWest & all of the publications in print version.
- 1-year premium online access to unlimited downloads from the BizWest Datastore!
- 1-year premium online access to the Breaking Ground website!
- 1-year access to daily email newsletter & breaking news alerts.
Premium access to the BreakingGround site plus online and print versions of all BizWest publications.
One year subscription includes:
- 1-year online access to BizWest.com which includes unlimited news stories, archived story access and interactive versions of monthly business journal.
- 1-year subscription to BizWest & all of the publications in print version.
- 1-year premium online access to the Breaking Ground website!
- 1-year access to daily email newsletter & breaking news alerts.
Premium access to the BreakingGround site plus online and print versions of all BizWest publications.
One month subscription includes:
- 1-year premium online access to the Breaking Ground website!
- 1-month online access to BizWest.com which includes unlimited news stories, archived story access and interactive versions of monthly business journal.
- 1-month subscription to BizWest & all of the publications in print version.
- 1-year access to daily email newsletter & breaking news alerts.