Denver Health outlines 2Q sales-tax spending plan and warns federal changes could cut coverage and revenue

Denver Health executives presented a midyear spending plan for the city’s 2Q sales-tax funds to the Denver City Council Health & Safety Committee on Aug. 20 and warned that pending federal changes could significantly increase the number of uninsured people and reduce hospital revenue.

Donna Lynn, chief executive officer of Denver Health, told the committee that the health system had received regular monthly 2Q payments and that the current-year projection the presenters referenced is about $64 million. Lynn and other presenters outlined how they intend to use the funds across five priority areas set by voters: emergency and trauma care, primary medical care, mental health, drug and alcohol use recovery, and pediatric care.

Key allocations and operational changes described:

- Emergency and trauma care: Denver Health said it would direct roughly $36 million toward emergency and trauma services, including staffing increases for clinical-decision units and paramedic/ambulance equipment and remounting. Presenters said 2Q funding supports hiring clinical teams that allow more timely disposition decisions.

- Primary care: The plan earmarks…