The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) marked the five-year anniversary of its successful Consumer Assistance Program by announcing that it has saved 2,660 Colorado health care bill-payers a whopping $7,006,507.25 over five years! The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) was created in 2018 with funding from the Next 50 Initiative to help individual consumers navigate their billing issues with insurers and health care providers such as hospitals and clinics. CAP advocates on behalf of consumers to reduce over billing or fix coverage but clients are never charged for services.
CAP Director Stephanie-Arenales
“While The Consumer Assistance Program specializes in helping consumers navigate their medical bills and insurance claims, we also help people find resources to mitigate the impact of high healthcare costs,” said Stephanie Arenales, Director of CCHI’s Consumer Assistance Program. “CAP is the only program operating statewide that provides these kinds of services.”
One CAP client of 2,660 is Katiana Brenner of Lakewood who was told by a physician that her son must be transferred to another hospital via ambulance. Then she got the bill: $4,410, because the ambulance ride was deemed “non-emergency.” Seeking help, Katiana turned to CAP. Melissa Duncan, the Consumer Assistance Program Coordinator, reviewed the case and all the paperwork which ultimately indicated it was in fact an emergency. With Melissa’s help, insurance covered the full amount.
CAP also informs CCHI’s policy and regulatory advocacy by identifying emerging concerns that consumers face on a daily basis and the need for changes in the law, and in implementation, monitoring and enforcement.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, membership-based group advocating for equitable access to high-quality, affordable health care. CCHI 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.