2019-2020 Annual Report

At Center for Health Progress, we believe health care is a right. Every day, we fight for laws and policies that make it possible for everyone to care for themselves and their families—and this past year we fought hard. From the streets of East Pueblo to the agricultural community of Fort Morgan to the gold dome in Denver, Coloradans are coming together to demand that the health care system work for them. Here are a few of the wins the advocacy of our members made possible over the last year:

Last Year:

• Emergency Medicaid now covers dialysis care for immigrants without documentation, saving 90+ lives and $1.6 million per month
• 7 clinics changed internal policies to protect immigrant patients
• 5 hospitals and clinics changed internal policies to improve health equity for staff and patients

This Year:

• Emergency Medicaid now covers COVID-19 hospitalization for immigrants without documentation, saving each affected immigrants $40,000+ in hospital bills
• State officials issued COVID-19 requirements for medical transportation providers, improving safety for riders and drivers

Prior to COVID-19, we were busy with three campaigns, and the global pandemic added a fourth and reoriented our work. Additionally, over the past year we’ve opened two additional offices, one in Pueblo and Fort Morgan, nearly doubled our membership, and changed internal policies to promote pay equity and self care. Across our campaigns, the numbers speak for themselves:

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS
Aims to create affordable, quality health insurance options for all Coloradans, regardless of documentation status

• 165 actions taken by grassroots leaders, including bringing 11 leaders to the Capitol to lobby their legislators
• 275 health care professionals trained on how to protect immigrant rights at the clinic level
• 90 health care professionals joined the campaign
• 30+ resources developed around Public Charge,
  Emergency Medicaid, DACA, and COVID-19
• 250+ immigrants, health care providers, and lawyers trained on the new Public Charge rule
• 35 organizations active in the Coalition for Immigrant Health

NUESTRA COMUNIDAD, NUESTRA SALUD CAMPAIGN
Aims to make the Morgan County health care system work better for immigrants

• 50 interviews with Latinx and Somali immigrants
• 6 grassroots leaders lobbied their legislators on immigrant health issues
• 3 house meetings hosted by grassroots leaders to recruit new members

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
Aims to improve the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation program for Medicaid members

• 125 people recruited to NEMT campaign Facebook group
• 8 stories collected of NEMT experiences during COVID-19
• 60 advocacy actions taken by campaign members
• Work between the State and campaign leaders resulted in new safety measures to protect riders and drivers during COVID-19

COVID-19 CRITICAL NEEDS RESPONSE
Aims to respond to community needs caused by the pandemic

• 100+ immigrants reached through phone tree outreach by trained grassroots leaders, who documented needs and made connections to resources and services
• $5,200+ raised for our Immigrant Relief Fund, which is being distributed by phone tree leaders as grants to nominees in Fort Morgan and Pueblo
• $60,000 in funding deployed to safety net clinics serving immigrants without documentation and people without
  insurance

Files

• 2019-2020 Annual Report (PDF)