Colorado Hospital Association Responds to Kaiser Permanente Colorado Story

On Oct. 11, The Denver Post ran a story about Kaiser Permanente Colorado and its relations with hospitals. CHA issues this statement in response:

“Colorado Hospital Association and its member hospitals and health systems are disappointed that Kaiser Permanente Colorado shifted blame to Colorado hospitals instead of taking any responsibility for its recent business decisions in light of its projected $65 million loss.

By its own admission, Kaiser’s hospital expenses have increased a modest 2.7 percent annually in recent years, while Kaiser premiums in the individual market have increased more than 70 percent since 2014.

Kaiser offers a unique insurance product to its members – a model that limits patient choice of providers and hospitals in exchange for lower prices. As such, Kaiser has a responsibility to educate its members on how they can access care and maximize their benefits.

Colorado hospitals remain committed to providing high-quality care – especially in emergencies when patients need it most – while addressing concerns about cost and affordability.”