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Colorado set to eliminate most copays for Medicaid patients

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

Coloradans who rely on Medicaid — the public health insurance for the state’s lowest-income individuals and children — will no longer need to pay nearly all copays under changes passed by the General Assembly. Patients would still need to cover copays for non-emergency emergency room visits. Currently, Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program, charges copays of $10 per day for inpatient hospital services, $4 for outpatient hospital services, $2 for primary care and $1 per day for radiology services, such as non-dental X-rays.The state would still pay providers for their services. In all, the department estimates the changes will eliminate copays for some 3.6 million services annually.The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing cited several studies warning that copays “as little as $1 can lead to delayed care, pill-splitting, unfilled prescriptions, and more expensive utilization.”“People struggle to afford the cost of heal...

“A very active allergy season”: Colorado doctor shares tips to help ease the suffering

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

It’s the return of allergies in Colorado and it’s shaping up to be an active season this spring after a winter that brought lots of snow across the state. Denver7’s Jason Gruenauer spoke with Dr. Mark Montana, Medical Director at CareNow Urgent Care and shared what allergy sufferers are seeing and offered treatment tips to help ease the sneezing and watery eyes.Jason Gruenauer, Denver7: Dr. Mark, I got to ask you, what is the latest on this year’s allergy season?Dr. Mark Montana, Medical Director CareNow Urgent Care: That’s a really good question, Jason. And I think this year is going to be a very active allergy season, we had such a great winter with all the snow and moisture. And all that moisture means a good spring and growing season. We’re already starting to see that. So we’re seeing quite a few of our patients who are complaining of allergy symptoms. Right now, as we move into spring.Jason Gruenauer: An interesting kind of correlation there – between t...

Editorial: The $800k DougCo settlement is the price of school district secrecy and cover-ups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

A new era of secrecy and cover-ups has infected Colorado school districts. Board members shield records from public scrutiny, hide important discussions from the public in executive sessions, and meet secretly one-on-one to cut deals via emails, text messages, and verbal agreements.And in this climate of growing disregard for the Colorado Open Records Act and Colorado Open Meetings Law, lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it more difficult to challenge a school district that fails to properly disclose closed-door meeting topics. Public districts are already operating too much like private businesses; they don’t need encouragement from lawmakers too.The $832,733 paid out to fired Douglas County Superintendent Cory Wise is the best possible case to be made for school board members to get their acts together and start acting like elected officials representing the public in a transparent and open manner. Taxpayers will foot this bill to cover school board membersR...

Cloud seeding catching on amid Rocky Mountain drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

LYONS, Colo. — Garrett Cammans and his brothers sometimes don’t talk about their toughest moments on the job in the cloud seeding business, like the time when one of them got stuck in deep mountain snow and had to hike out alone in the dark.“They’re going out into some pretty remote and rural areas,” Cammans said. “And there have been a few close encounters with wildlife we don’t like to discuss at the family dinner table.”RELATED: Can cloud seeding bring more water to the drying Colorado River Basin?But snow — as much as possible — is at the heart of the Cammans family business, Utah-based North American Weather Consultants, which holds cloud seeding contracts throughout the U.S. West, centered in the Rocky Mountains.Lately, business is up. Amid two decades of drought, cloud seeding — using airplanes or ground equipment to waft rain-and-snow-making particles into clouds — is on the rise in the Rockies.Colorado has added three new programs in the last five years. W...

Helicopter crew assessing fire burning on 1,400 acres in southeastern Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

A 1,400-acre fire burning grasslands and brush along the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado Wednesday morning drew firefighters from multiple agencies with air support.The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon amid hot, dry and windy conditions west of Lamar and north of John Martin Reservoir, forcing the closure of U.S. Highway 50, which on Wednesday morning had reopened, Bent County Sheriff Jake Six said, confirming dispatcher reports that the blaze was still burning.Air tankers on Tuesday dropped water on the flames and a helicopter crew on Wednesday morning was assessing the fire.The fire did not damage buildings and no injuries were reported, Six said. The cause of the fire remains uncertain, he said. “Fire investigators are on scene today.”

Ralph Yarl making stunning recovery, family lawyer says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

By MARGARET STAFFORD and JIM SALTER (Associated Press)KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ralph Yarl was shot at point-blank range in the head by a white homeowner but miraculously survived the bullet to his skull, the attorney for the family of the Black teenager said.As Yarl, 16, recovers at home, the 84-year-old owner of the Kansas City, Missouri, home where Yarl mistakenly went to pick up his brothers faces his first court appearance Wednesday. Andrew Lester is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He could face life in prison if convicted. Lester does not yet have an attorney listed, according to Missouri’s online court reporting system.“Do you all understand that this 16-year-old boy was shot at point blank range in the face?” Merritt asked the crowd of about 150 supporters Tuesday at a downtown rally. “A bullet traveled from (Lester’s) gun less than 5 feet into his upper temple, penetrated his skull, and they scraped bullet fragm...

UN says India to be world’s most populous nation by mid-2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

By KRUTIKA PATHI (Associated Press)NEW DELHI (AP) — India is on track to surpass China by mid-2023 as the world’s most populous nation, United Nations data said Wednesday, raising questions about whether a booming, young Indian population will fuel economic growth for years to come or become a liability.While India’s 254 million people between ages 15 and 24 is the largest number in the world, China is struggling with an aging population and stagnant population growth. That has sparked expectations that the demographic changes could pave the way for India to become an economic and global heavyweight.India’s young citizenry could drive the country’s economic growth for years to come, but it might just as easily become a problem if they aren’t adequately employed. Economists have cautioned that even as India’s economy is among the fastest-growing as its population rises, joblessness has also swelled.Tech giant Apple, among other companies, hop...

DEA chief faces probe into 'swampy' hires, no-bid contracts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

A federal watchdog is investigating whether the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under chief Anne Milgram improperly awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to hire her past associates, people familiar with the probe told The Associated Press.Among the contract spending under scrutiny by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General is $4.7 million for “strategic planning and communication” to hire people Milgram knew from her days as New Jersey’s attorney general and as a New York University law professor – at costs far exceeding pay for government officials.At least a dozen people have been hired under such contracts, including some in Milgram’s inner circle handling intelligence, data analytics, community outreach and public relations — work often requiring security clearances and traditionally done by DEA’s own 9,000-person workforce.Also under scrutiny is $1.4 million to a Washington law firm for a recent review of the DEA’s scandal-plagued foreign operations...

Presale Codes for Boy George and Culture Club The Letting It Go Show Tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

If you come and go, you come and go — then there’s an upcoming show that you might very well want to go to: Boy George and Culture Club are going on a big ‘ol tour dubbed the “Letting It Go Show” Tour. The 80s new wave mainstays will be hitting 25 cities in the trek, with support from special guests Howard Jones and Berlin. The tour launches on June 24 in Plymouth, UK before making their way stateside on July 13 to West Palm Beach, FL, eventually wrapping with three dates here in Southern California — August 19 in San Diego and August 25 and 26 at the Hollywood Bowl — see below for all dates. Passwords and presale codes for the Boy George and Culture Club The Letting It Go Show Tour tickets are as follows:Presale codes for Boy George and Culture Club The Letting It Go Show TourPresale tickets for Boy George and Culture Club The Letting It Go Show Tour go on sale today, April 19 and we’ve been told the following presale codes and passwords may work...

Trey Lance trade scenarios: Why would 49ers move on with Purdy health uncertain?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:13 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Trading away Trey Lance seems like a preposterous idea for a team that just ran out of quarterbacks to dash last season’s Super Bowl bid.A week away from the NFL Draft, other teams are at least inquiring about Lance, according to an NFL Network report Wednesday morning.No trade is imminent and the 49ers are “fielding the calls, not making them, with teams aware that Brock Purdy is likely the future star,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarified in a Twitter thread.The 49ers just opened their offseason program Monday, with Lance, Purdy and newcomer Sam Darnold in their quarterback stable. Purdy is only 5 1/2 weeks removed from elbow surgery that will keep him sidelined into the summer.Lance figures to serve as QB1 when practices are allowed to start May 1, through the minicamp in mid-June, and likely into training camp, all while being challenged by Darnold, formerly of the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.If Lance leaves, it’s Da...