Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

Last year, CCHI celebrated 25 years of consumer advocacy, 25 years of ensuring that real people were centered in health policy conversations, and 7 years of supporting Coloradans through complex medical billing issues with our Consumer Assistance Program. While we would love to say that we’re looking forward to the next 25, we truly envision a world in which we don’t have to exist. 

We see a world in which families have access to the food, housing, and health care they need to thrive. We see a world in which people can access lifesaving drugs and treatments without going broke. We see a world in which everyone has affordable health coverage, and can access care without barriers regardless of who they are, where they come from, or where they live. 

We launched our Next 25 Campaign because we want to give people who are sick and tired of the status quo the opportunity to be a part of a greater movement to prioritize people over profits. If you believe in a world where people can access care without barriers, consider supporting our Next 25 Campaign and becoming a CCHI Health Champion today.

Our Work

Here are some of our greatest hits from the past 25 years: 

Affordable Care Act: CCHI helped pass the Affordable Care Act, and assisted with the defeat of the statewide and federal repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Thanks, Obamacare!).

Consumer Assistance Program: In 2018, we established a Consumer Assistance Program in response to hearing from consumers who needed help with medical billing navigation, insurance claims denials, and assistance with prescription drug costs. This FREE program has helped over 5,600 Coloradans recover nearly $14 million in unjust medical bills.

Surprise Billing Protection: CCHI lead on Surprise Billing Protection bills in Colorado, as well as the Federal No Surprises Act, to ensure patients aren’t burdened by balance billing practices.

Colorado Option: We worked hard to to pass the Colorado Option, a Public Option program that ensures our immigrant friends have health coverage options, after conversations with partners about gaps in coverage options.

HB21-1198 Hospital Discounted Care: CCHI worked to pass HB21-1198, which set requirements Colorado hospitals must meet for screening and providing discounted care to eligible Coloradans. Hospitals must screen for eligibility for public health insurance programs and provide discounts on bills to help make all care received in a hospital facility more affordable.  

Held hospitals accountable: We worked to ensure hospitals meet their requirements and that consumers are accessing the discounted care they are entitled to. In 2024, CCHI released a comprehensive report of Colorado hospital compliance with HB-1198, identifying significant room for hospitals to improve their communication with community members about Hospital Discounted Care services and protections, particularly for Spanish-speaking patients. 

Prescription Drug Affordability Board: CCHI worked tirelessly to pass a first-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), which recently set an upper payment limit on Enbrel. This precedent-setting decision is projected to save Coloradans over $38 million in drug spending. 

Who We Are

We are a nonprofit, consumer-oriented, membership-based health advocacy organization that serves Coloradans whose access to health care and financial security are compromised by structural barriers, affordability, poor benefits, or unfair business practices of the health care industry. Our vision is for all Coloradans to have equitable access to affordable, high-quality health care. 

At CCHI, we work towards controlling costs, expanding access to care, and ensuring that consumers’ voices are heard at the Capitol and beyond. In weaving together personal stories, policy expertise, and people power, we have achieved transformational changes for consumers. We couldn’t have done this work without the support of our donors, our partners, and our community members who bravely share their stories with us. We look forward to the next 25 years, and hope you will invest in our collective future by donating to CCHI.