DENVER — A number of nurses and behavioral health specialists contacted 9NEWS Thursday, upset after Children’s Hospital Colorado announced this week the hospital system will no longer cover graduate school tuition benefits fully in 2024.
The notice from the hospital’s head of human resources told employees that the benefits were cut after too many employees opted in to them — costing too much.
In May 2022, the hospital announced the benefits in a news release, noting that Children’s Hospital would be the first pediatric hospital in the country to offer tuition-covered education benefits for certain specialized programs. Tuition-covered benefits were still listed as a benefit for future employees on the Children’s Hospital website Friday afternoon.
A spokesperson for Children’s Hospital declined a 9NEWS request for an interview with a hospital leader, instead issuing a statement saying the decision was made as Children’s Hospital re-evaluated its benefit programs.
“This was a very difficult decision and one we did not make without serious consideration of various options,” the hospital said in a statement, noting that the hospital system has already spent $11 million on the program.
The hospital said employees enrolled in all programs will get up to $5,250 each year in tuition assistance.
The nurses and behavioral health specialists who requested anonymity to protect their jobs told 9NEWS they’ve all already begun graduate degree programs since the benefits were announced. One registered nurse said she was a third of the way through the program, now faced with a decision to continue and add to her own student loan debt or drop out. They said the small amount the hospital system is offering will leave them with huge bills to continue the education.
Another nurse told 9NEWS her partner had already sacrificed in his own job so she could stay in Denver to take part in her graduate program.
Are you impacted by this decision? Or do you have a tip for another story? E-mail consumer investigator Steve Staeger at steve@9news.com
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