Colorado Hospital Association Celebrates Investment in Health Care Workforce

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO. – Aug. 24, 2022 –

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) congratulates Governor Polis and his administration on the launch of the Care Forward Colorado Program, which directs $26 million towards free entry-level training programs for health care workers. “This forward-thinking investment in the state’s health care workforce comes at a critical time for Colorado’s hospitals, as recent studies have shown that the state will be short 10,000 nurses and 54,000 ancillary staff by 2026,” said Joshua Ewing, CHA vice president of legislative affairs.  

CHA was proud to lead the collation focused on the health care workforce that developed several of the programs included in Senate Bill (SB) 22-226. Health care workers are at the heart of what hospitals do, and this program is just one of the many ways Colorado’s hospitals and health systems are supporting their current and future staff. This legislation compliments the more than $1.02 billion that Colorado health systems have invested in their people in the recent years.

CHA would like to thank the Polis Administration and the sponsors of SB 22-226, Rep. Mullica, Sen. Jaquez Lewis, and Sen. Rankin, for their support of the health care workforce in Colorado and for partnering with the state’s hospitals to invest in the next generation of health care workers.

About Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. Learn more at www.cha.com.

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