The Colorado legislative session that wrapped up this month was a busy one for Colorado-specific health care reform. Despite a few bumps in the road, SB200 passed, which means that Colorado is now on its way to creating a health insurance exchange that will address the particular needs of individuals and small businesses in the state. Although this bill was controversial simply because the whole idea of exchanges is too closely tied with the PPACA […]
legislation
A Bill To Extend And Enhance The Regulation Of Midwifery In Colorado
I often write about bills in the Colorado legislature that pertain to healthcare, but Senate Bill 088 is one that is particularly important to me on a personal level. The law in Colorado regarding the regulation of direct-entry midwives is up for review this year. SB 088 renews the existing regulations, and would also allow direct-entry midwives in Colorado to provide some additional services, such as sutures and the administration of Vitamin K to newborns and RhoGAM to Rh- mothers. […]
Colorado Senator Introducing Legislation To Study Health Care
Colorado Senator Irene Aguilar, a Democrat from Denver, will be introducing legislation next month to address the fact that there are still 700,000 people in Colorado without health insurance. Although Colorado has made strides recently in areas like the expansion of Medicaid, we didn’t even come close to fulfilling former Governor Bill Ritter’s hopes for health insurance for all Colorado citizens by the end of 2010. […]
Removing HSA Contribution Cap Does Not Solve Any Health Care Problems
[…] People who already max out their HSA contributions and still have money left over to contribute more would likely appreciate the removal of the HSA contribution cap. But those are not the people who are struggling to afford health insurance or pay for medical care. They are not the people our elected representatives should be focusing on when coming up with solutions for health care reform. Although I like our HSA and the flexibility it gives us to save for future medical expenses, I acknowledge that HSAs are not a panacea for what ails our health care system. […]
Colorado House Bill 1025 Would Repeal Health Care Affordability Act
[…] HB 1025, introduced by Colorado Springs Republican Rep Janak Joshi, would repeal the Health Care Affordability Act of 2009 (HB 1293). That Act introduced the Hospital Provider Fee system to generate about $600 million annually in funds for the expansion of Medicaid, the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Those funds are supplemented with federal matching of an additional $600 million for the expansion of those programs in Colorado. The Health Care Affordability Act was widely supported by hospital and medical groups in the state. […]