Hana Matsuri
On Havana Street
Where Are the Colorado Option Savings?
By Akilah Graham
The Colorado Option was
sold by politicians in Denver and other advocates on promises of increased savings. I, along with so many other Coloradans, waited anxiously as the new system was passed and implemented. Today, we’re still waiting and wondering: where are the Colorado Option savings?
I am troubled by what I’ve seen as the Colorado Option has been implemented. The State-backed health plan is failing to deliver the savings that were promised. But even more concerning, the Colorado Option is actually leading to increased costs and is decreasing access to the high quality coverage and care that Coloradans depend on. The Black community has long struggled to see or benefit from savings promised in our health care system. I never considered whether I’d have to ask if the Colorado Option is making things worse.
Industry experts recently conducted a study that shows non-Colorado Option plans are the most affordable for the vast majority of Coloradans. In fact, non-Colorado Option Plans are the lowest cost on-exchange plans in 60 of 64 counties for the bronze tier, and 54 of 64 counties for the important silver tier.
Not only is the Colorado Option failing to deliver savings, but it is also driving insurance providers out of the state. The Colorado Option employs premium reduction targets, which mandate that insurance providers reduce their premiums; in other words, price controls.
The 2023 premium reduction target was five percent, which 85 percent of Colorado Option Plans offered in the individual market failed to meet. Naturally, insurance providers and industry experts are concerned that even more providers will be unable to meet next year’s 10 percent reduction target.
Instead of trying to meet unrealistic price controls or pricing their plans at unsustainable losses, several prominent health insurance providers had to pack their bags and exit the state’s insurance marketplace. Insurance providers simply can’t afford to meet these reduction targets.
On top of the premium reduction targets, additional restrictions enforced by the Division of Insurance will make it nearly impossible to attract new health insurance providers to the state. And Colorado patients and consumers are the ones who will suffer from the lack of competition.
Like so many government-controlled health care systems, the Colorado Option is dependent on health care providers accepting reduced reimbursement rates for the care they give. But Colorado as a whole is already suffering from a terrible health care provider shortage. Disadvantaged and marginalized communities are feeling the effects the most. Lower reimbursement rates will force health care providers to choose between passing increased costs onto patients (who likely can’t afford it), or cutting high-cost services – and some will be forced to close altogether. It goes without saying that it will make it next to impossible to attract new doctors and other health care professionals to replace them. Any system that continues to drive provider shortages is bad news for Colorado patients.
The primary question – “where are the Colorado Option Savings?” – is only the first one that comes to mind; this year’s implementation now leaves us with many additional concerns. Instead of seeking to double down on the failed Colorado Option in 2024, lawmakers should take the time to study what went wrong, in an effort to determine how best to deliver high-quality, affordable coverage and care to Coloradans across our great and diverse state.
Ms. Graham is one of the founders of the Colorado Black Arts Festival and a leader in numerous community and religious organizations.
The Art Of August Cool
The Valley Comes Alive With Summer Art; Shows Capture Beauty, Colorful Leisure Feeling
by Glen Richardson
Sun Driven Dreams: DAM’s Lowrider show includes this 6 x 17 ft. acrylic by Nanibah Chaco titled What Dreams Are Made Of. Artwork is a silhouette of her ’60 Chevy Bel Air with roses. The flowers, like her dreams, grow beyond the body itself.
Summer Seascape: This Judy Gardner one-of-a-kind creation is in the Niza Knoll Gallery Code Blue exhibition on Santa Fe Dr. Show has artwork of ocean, marine life, and coral reefs.
Splendor Of Summer: This summer beauty by Cheryl St. John is on display at Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North. The 14 x 18 oil on canvas is titled Lilacs and Spring Flowers.
Summer, with its warm sun, vibrant colors, and lavish nature, radiates a sense of stillness and quiet contemplation, reflecting the slower pace of summer days.
From serene landscapes to joyful depictions of leisure activities, artworks inspired by summer capture the essence of its beauty and evoke feelings of relaxation and joy.
To practice the art of staying cool this month, dive into the rich tapestry of summer-inspired images on display at Saks Galleries and Masters in Cherry Creek North, the Niza Knoll Gallery on Santa Fe Dr., plus at the Denver Art Museum.
Joy & Tranquility
Summer is a time of reflection, connection, and the simple pleasures found in the company of loved ones.
Anna Rose Bain, represented by Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North, is one such artist. A Signature member of the Oil Painters of America, she is also a member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado and the International Guild of Realism. Her award-winning work transports us to idyllic summer moments and evokes a sense of joy and tranquility. Family owned by Michael and Catherine Saks, the showroom on East 2nd Ave. has been the shopping district’s premier gallery for more than 50 years. Information: 303-333-4144.
Summer art shoppers can also find artwork capturing the essence of summer at Masters Gallery on East 3rd Ave. in Cherry Creek. An AD Gallery — with a longtime presence in Aspen, Beaver Creek, and Vail — you’ll find unique artists, styles, and techniques presented in a relaxed atmosphere. Information: 303-221-2449.
Recipe For The Road: Mexican paintings, lowriders, and nachos are transformed into this Pinata-Inspired Sculpture installation by Justin Favela at the Denver Art Museum.
Catch Art Wave
With warm sand and gentle waves, the ocean has a soothing summertime ambience that nothing can beat. So, allow yourself time to breathe, relax, and enjoy yourself viewing “Code Blue: The Ocean,” at Niza Knoll Gallery on Santa Fe Dr. through Aug. 13.
Ladies Of Sunshine: Anna Rose Bain’s sensational summer flowers painting transports us to idyllic summer moments. Titled Lilies and Ranunculus, the 12 x 15 oil is at Saks Galleries.
The show is a group exhibition by more than a half-dozen artists. Attendees will view artwork portraying the ocean, marine life, and coral reefs. Code Blue is the term communicated during cardiac or respiratory arrest. Signaling immediate and lifesaving care required, it is increasingly a way to describe the state of the world’s oceans and marine life. “The heart and lungs of our planet are in a state of emergency,” experts say.
Located in the Art District on Santa Fe since 2009, Niza Knoll Galley participates in First and Third Friday plus Saturdays. Information: 303-953-1789.
Lowrider Summer
Lowriders are a source of artistic self-expression. The passion and artistry that goes into every car is incredible and, like a painting, are works of art. Moreover, this summer the lowrider car culture has taken the summer spotlight at the Denver Art Museum (DAM).
Like the head-turning rides that cruise the streets, the show running through Sept. 24th, showcases the amazing work of state and southwest lowrider artisans. Included are works by popular area artists Tony Ortega, Carlos Fresquez, Juan Fuentes, and Daniel Salazar. Arranged by the Phoenix Art Museum and curated by the DAM’s Victoria Lyall, the show explores Colorful Colorado and the Desert Southwest’s connections between transportation, landscape, and identity.
The exhibition is inspired by counterculture developments during the 1960s, epitomized in films like Easy Rider, which occurred simultaneously with civil unrest events. During this time, images of customized vehicles racing through the wide-open landscapes of the U.S. Southwest became symbols not only of freedom and liberty, but also rebellion and nonconformity.
Chrome & Color
Colorado and Southwest lowrider artists express identity, pride, and a sense of community by transforming vehicles associated with the American West. Their artwork challenges stereotypes while embodying hope.
Mile High City, Colorado, and Southwest regional artists explore the sociopolitical realities and imaginative interpretations of automotive subcultures through the diverse works on exhibit. The Desert Rider show focuses on Latinx and Indigenous perspectives that have long defined the identity of the Southwest.
A pleasant, festive, and fun event in eye-popping chrome and color, the exhibition ties creativity and customization together with history, place, resistance, discovery, and empowerment. Entry to the DAM is included with general admission, which is free for members and all visitors 18 and under. Information: 720-865-5000.
