The Denver-based Colorado Health Foundation awarded $10 million in grants to 44 organizations to improve healthcare in Colorado. With the latest grants, the Foundation has awarded more than $25 million to 60 organizations in 2008, with more than $3 million awarded to two major projects.
One of the projects, the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization was awarded $1.4 million to go to their Colorado Identity Management and Federated Authentication project. This project promotes the electronic exchange of information among healthcare organizations in the state. These organizations include the state’s safety-net clinics providing care to the under and uninsured.
The second project Colorado Access in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will receive $1.8 million for a pilot project to deliver intensive, multidisciplinary case management services to Medicaid patients with multiple chronic conditions. The goal is to improve the health outcomes of 2,500 of the highest-cost Medicaid patients and provide a model for integrated care and chronic care management.
In addition, some of the other grants awarded from April 1 to June 30, 2008:
- The Colorado Foundation for Public Health and Environment received $337,000 for a leadership development fellowship to create a supportive workplace for nurses in order to improve retention
- The Jeffco Action Center received $250,000 for nursing and medication support, pandemic preparation, and crisis mental health counseling
- The North Colorado Health Alliance received $600,000 to increase access to integrated primary care and behavioral health services for underserved patients in Weld County
- The University of Colorado Foundation received $467,000 to support the University of Colorado Aging Center’s evaluation of programs, strengthen partnerships, and create a model program for other communities with limited financial and healthcare resources
The Foundation has assets of more than $1 billion and this includes an investment portfolio as well as ownership interest in Denver’s HealthONE hospital system. The Foundation accepts applications for funding four times a year. The next deadline is October 15, 2008. For more information, go to www.ColoradoHealth.org.
