Kaiser Permanente Expands Partnership with HCA Health Systems in Denver

The expanded partnership comes at a critical time for care access in the city.

On Oct. 7 Kaiser Permanente, announced an expansion of its partnership with two Denver-based HCA Health Systems, HCA HealthOne Rose and HCA HealthOne Presbyterian St. Luke's.

Kaiser Permanente is the largest nonprofit healthcare organization in the state of Colorado, and HCA HealthOne offers patient care across 170 connected sites throughout Denver.

The expansion is a significant move towards expanding affordable healthcare options throughout Denver. Going forward, Kaiser Permanente's physicians will be able to provide care in HCA facilities, and Kaiser members will have access to a wider array of services.

This will make the patient experience of receiving specialized care more seamless. In addition to expanding the network of available healthcare providers, the new agreement also ensures that Kaiser members can access a wider array of services without compromising on quality.

Colorado’s Care Crisis

Uncompensated care has become a pressing concern for healthcare providers nationwide, but particularly for Denver Health, which is not a part of HCA HealthONE, but is the state’s largest safety net hospital. Denver Health has been grappling with a rise in uncompensated care costs, straining its financial resources.

By collaborating with HCA Health Systems, Kaiser Permanente could alleviate some of these pressures and improve overall healthcare delivery in Denver.

"The largest conversation that we've had is related to uncompensated care and the trajectory that we've seen at Denver Health since 2020," said April Audain, chief financial officer at Denver Health. "We went from about $60 million in 2020, to projecting $155 million for 2025."

In a separate initiative, Kaiser is also working to build replacement medical offices and renovate up to 29 medical offices in Colorado, expanding care access throughout the state.

Kaiser and HCA HealthOne employees have a strong history of working with each other in the metro Denver area, according to the press release. Kaiser members also have access to multiple Chicago-based CommonSpirit Colorado facilities through their expanded partnership.

"We're thrilled to offer our members greater choice, more convenience, and increased access in Central Denver, where they live and work," said Mike Ramseier, regional president of Kaiser Permanente in a press release. "We're confident that having our physicians and employees care for our patients in these hospitals will extend the value-based model of care that Kaiser Permanente has proudly delivered to Coloradans for more than 55 years."

The expansion aligns with broader trends in the healthcare industry, where integrated care models are becoming increasingly essential. By leveraging the strengths of both organizations, Kaiser and HCA can streamline operations, reduce redundancies, and ultimately provide a higher level of service to patients. This strategic alliance is expected to foster collaborative approaches to patient care.