U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper attended Denver Health to discuss rising health care costs and federal policy changes. Staff shared stories of Medicaid patients who lost eligibility, often resulting in the loss of a limb or life. The challenges faced include mental illness, substance use, and food and housing insecurity. Nearly half of the patients at Denver Health are on Medicaid. The hospital expects to lose about 20,000 Medicaid patients next year when provisions from HR 1, also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," take effect.