Is There Really a Healthcare Provider Shortage in Colorado?

A Boulder Primary Care & Telehealth Provider’s Perspective

If you’ve searched for a healthcare provider in Colorado or primary care in Boulder, you’ve likely seen the same headlines I have: provider shortages, long wait times, and difficulty finding a clinician accepting new patients.

Many Coloradans report waiting months to establish care — especially along the Front Range. As a new healthcare provider in Boulder, Colorado, licensed to see patients both in person and via telehealth statewide, I expected my schedule to fill quickly.

Instead, I found myself asking a very different question:

If there’s truly a provider shortage in Colorado, why are so many providers like me sitting with open availability?

A Boulder Healthcare Provider’s Reality

I’m the owner and clinician at Half Moon Health & Wellness, an independent medical practice based in Boulder, Colorado. I offer:

• In-person primary care visits in Boulder

• Telehealth appointments across Colorado

I am actively accepting new patients and providing accessible care for adults throughout the state.

However, despite this availability, many insurance companies have declined to credential my practice or have removed me from their networks — citing that Boulder County is “saturated with providers.” At this time, BCBS of Colorado is the only major insurer where I remain in network.

This creates a confusing disconnect:

• Patients search for “doctors accepting new patients in Boulder”

• Providers are told there are already “too many clinicians”

Both realities exist at the same time — and patients are often left stuck between them.

Access to Healthcare in Colorado Is More Than a Numbers Problem

When people talk about a healthcare shortage in Colorado, they often focus on provider numbers. But access to care depends on much more than that, including:

• Insurance network restrictions

• Closed provider panels

• Preference for large health systems over small, local clinics

Even when a Colorado primary care provider is available, insurance barriers may prevent patients from ever finding or booking with them.

In my case, insurance network decisions — not lack of patients or willingness to work — became the biggest barrier to delivering care.

Why Half Moon Health & Wellness Is a Cash-Pay Clinic in Colorado

Because most insurers now consider my practice out of network, Half Moon Health & Wellness operates as a cash-based medical practice in Boulder.

While this wasn’t my original plan, it has allowed me to continue providing:

• Transparent healthcare pricing

• Telehealth care throughout Colorado

• In-person visits without insurance restrictions

For many patients, especially those searching for a cash-pay clinic in Colorado, this model offers real benefits:

• No surprise medical bills

• No insurance denials

• Clear pricing upfront

• More time and attention during visits

I’ve intentionally kept pricing reasonable and accessible, particularly compared to typical out-of-pocket costs for primary care in Boulder and surrounding areas.

Transparent Pricing at Half Moon Health & Wellness

• $50 — medication refills

• $100 — new patient telehealth visit (Colorado residents)

• $150 — new patient in-office visit (Boulder)

• $75 — established patient visits with a new concern

• $50 — follow-up visits

Payment methods accepted: cash, debit, HSA, and Venmo

What Patients Say About This Boulder Medical Practice

Although my patient panel is smaller than expected, the patients I do see consistently leave excellent reviews. Common feedback includes:

• Feeling heard and respected

• Unrushed appointments

• Clear explanations and follow-up

• Easy scheduling for telehealth and in-person care

That feedback matters deeply — and it reinforces why I chose to open an independent Boulder primary care and telehealth practice.

Rethinking Healthcare Access in Boulder and Across Colorado

This post isn’t meant to deny that many Coloradans struggle to access healthcare. Those challenges are real.

But it is meant to highlight an often-overlooked issue: available healthcare providers don’t always equal accessible healthcare, especially when insurance networks limit patient choice.

If we want better healthcare access in Boulder County and across Colorado, we need to talk not only about provider shortages — but also about how patients are allowed to connect with providers who are already here.

Looking for a Healthcare Provider in Boulder or Telehealth in Colorado?

If you’re searching for:

• A primary care provider in Boulder accepting new patients

• Telehealth visits anywhere in Colorado

• A cash-pay medical clinic with transparent pricing

• Care without long wait times

Half Moon Health & Wellness is currently accepting new patients.

👉 Book an appointment here:https://www.optimantra.com/optimus/patient/patientaccess/servicesall?pid=WnBJM25UUnkxdW41aG9oK3NwaTBCZz09&lid=L05HZE82TnE5aGZQMXJvdHIxLzBtZz09

👉 Learn more: https://halfmoonhealth.net

Whether you prefer telehealth care anywhere in Colorado or in-person visits in Boulder, care is available — and you don’t have to wait months to be seen.