Public Health in the Rockies 2026

Colorado’s rural communities often face unique health care challenges, including provider shortages, longer travel distances for care, and limited access to timely, locally relevant data to support community health assessment and planning. Yet county-level health care data are frequently fragmented across multiple systems, making them difficult to access and interpret. To address this gap, the Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) developed the Colorado County Profiles, a publicly available resource that draws on data from the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) to compile health care enrollment, access, utilization, and cost indicators for all 64 Colorado counties.

This session will present the development, structure, and early implementation of the Colorado County Profiles, including the integration of ongoing health care enrollment data with population, spending, and utilization measures. Particular emphasis will be placed on how county-level Medicaid and commercial enrollment data can help rural communities monitor coverage trends, identify emerging needs, and inform local planning efforts.

Presenters will highlight rural and regional variation in health care costs, utilization, and enrollment, demonstrating how the profiles translate complex data into concise, community-focused reports. The session will also explore how longitudinal enrollment tracking can help counties assess the effects of federal and state policy changes, including expected shifts in Medicaid and commercial coverage related to HR 1 and ongoing affordability challenges.

Early engagement demonstrates growing interest among local public health agencies and community organizations seeking practical tools to support Community Health Assessments and planning activities. Rural counties, which often have limited capacity for independent data analysis, may benefit in particular from accessible, regularly updated county-level information.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies for using county-level enrollment and population data to support rural health assessment, collaborative planning, and data-informed public health action.