Quiet rural communities dot Colorado’s sprawling landscape, creating a serene silhouette against the state’s farms, ranches, and frontier land. But urgent disparities are growing, disrupting the peace. These communities face unique health care challenges that must be addressed to ensure equitable care and improved outcomes for all Coloradans.
The Realities of Rural Health Care
Colorado is a rural state, with 77% of the state’s landmass considered rural or frontier. The rural region is emblematic of the broader rural health care landscape across the United States. In these areas, residents often face infrastructure limitations, lack of access to medical facilities (including specialty services) and public health services, provider shortages, transportation hurdles, insufficient internet connectivity, and economic constraints. These barriers acutely impact health outcomes: Residents in rural areas tend to have lower life expectancies, poorer health outcomes, and higher rates of chronic diseases, disability, chronic pain, and substance use than their urban counterparts. Colorado is not exempt from these concerns. According to the report “2024 Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado”:
- Rural Coloradans have a higher prevalence of diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure than urban residents.
- Nearly 72% of Coloradans in rural areas have one or more chronic conditions, compared to 66.2% in urban areas.
- In 2023, all but two Colorado counties were identified as areas with mental health provider shortages.
- In 2021, 80,000 Coloradans didn’t receive the substance use treatment they needed.
- A physician shortage is expected in Colorado by 2033, and a deficit of more than 10,000 registered nurses is expected by 2026.
- Twenty-five counties in Colorado are considered “maternal care deserts” — areas with no obstetrics (OB) providers, hospitals, or birthing centers that offer OB care.
- Only 27% of rural districts have a high level of internet connectivity, which contributes to a lower rate of completed telehealth visits compared with that in urban areas.
- Eighteen percent of adults in rural areas are concerned about being able to afford nutritious foods.
- Eleven rural counties do not have an active licensed dentist.
The Promise of a Healthier Colorado
Such statistics are alarming and unacceptable — and the state is taking action.
Enrollment in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program is higher in many rural Colorado counties than the state average. Health First Colorado currently covers 1 in 4 Coloradans and more than 40% of births in the state annually.
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the state entity that oversees and operates Health First Colorado and CHP+, has created a health equity plan focused on prevention, maternal health, and behavioral health for those members. HCPF is also part of a multi-agency effort to expand and support the health care workforce in rural areas. As an example of one recent initiative, HCPF awarded $29 million in grants to improve access to integrated primary care, mental health, and substance use services across the state.
Our Commitment Grows from Rural Roots
At Rocky Mountain Health Plans, we’re taking action and supporting the state’s collective efforts to bridge these gaps. Our experience of providing health care access to rural Colorado communities dates back to our founding on the Western Slope in 1974. Since then, our commitment to these communities has only grown. Today, we combine the power of innovation and partnerships with our unique perspective and roots to deliver solutions that better serve these members. We proudly invest in organizations and initiatives that support physicians and the expansion of access to care. Those investments include the following:
- Health Partnership received $43,000 to support a Regional Health Connector to improve Health First Colorado members’ access to primary care and behavioral health providers.
- We contributed $100,000 to the Northwest Colorado Center for Independence for application support to help people navigate access to health care and community services.
- The Uncompahgre Medical Center received $125,000 to support coverage gaps and expand capacity through retention bonuses and new physician onboarding.
- We provided $170,000 to support Oliver Behavioral Consultants’ mobile diagnostic unit, which connects behavioral health providers to rural residents and offers specialized training for mental health providers to serve individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability.
- We joined the City of Grand Junction in funding the innovative student loan repayment initiative at Colorado Mesa University with a $500,000 contribution. The initiative assists graduates of CMU’s Master of Social Work program and aims to address ongoing shortages of mental health and social service providers in the community.
- We’ve financed infrastructure and technology, including telehealth technology, to expand access to integrated behavioral health services.
- Our transformative payments support value-based care. We committed $1.6 million to enhance behavioral health reimbursement for providers who are in rural, frontier, and underserved communities and those who serve members with the highest needs or barriers.
- Community partnerships with Delta County Ambulance District’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare, Building Hope, Senior Daybreak, the Western Slope Native American Resource Center, and the Willow Collective connect rural residents to local resources and care.
Recognizing the unique challenges rural populations face and addressing these disparities is imperative. By fostering technological innovation, cultivating partnerships, and advocating for policy and payment reform, we can forge a path toward a more equitable and affordable health care system that ensures every Coloradan, regardless of their geography, has access to the care, resources, and support they need to flourish.
Our core values of health equity, whole-person health, supporting counties, innovation, and rural expertise drive our every action. Learn how we’re supporting our partners, colleagues, and neighbors by honoring and advancing these values.
