Colorado
April 30, 2023 By
Contributions by Tim Semple, CO Foundation for Universal Health Care, update by Lydia Guzman, (Pres) Health Care for All Colorado
State-based SP organizations
Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care – http://www.couniversalhealth.org/
Health Care for All Colorado – https://www.healthcareforallcolorado.org/
National SP organizations or Natl organizations with strong SP campaigns
HealthCare-NOW, PNHP-Colorado chapter, Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution, Indivisible, Young Invincibles-Colorado
State-based SP bills (Current)
HB23-1209 “Analyze Statewide Publicly Financed Health Care” (see graphic with endorsements below). Sponsors: Representative Boesenecker, Representative McCormick, and Senator Jaquez Lewis
The bill passed the House Health and Insurance Committee, House Appropriations, and whole CO House. It was introduced in the CO Senate and passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and will go to Senate appropriations and whole senate.
What could a universal healthcare system in Colorado look like? What would be the impacts to the healthcare workforce? What would the impacts be to individual and community health? Where are the current gaps in healthcare and how could a single-payer system address these gaps?
The bill mandates a report to go to the CO Legislature in October 2024; its framers envision a 2025 or 2026 ballot measure.
Prior Related legislation (passed)
HB 19-1176
Title: The Health Care Cost Savings Act https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2019A/bills/2019a
Summary: Will create a task force to hire experts to do a comparative analysis of three systems to pay for health care: 1) how we pay now (ACA), 2) a multipayer/Bismarck system, and 3) single payer. It will look at the financial and other social impacts of each. These evidence-based comparisons have not been done before at the state level.
The Task Force is to have a preliminary report by1/1/21 and a final report by 9/1/21.
Lead sponsors Rep. Emily Sirota, Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Sen Mike Foote
Status: In addition to the prime sponsors, bill had 29 co sponsors of the 65 Representatives; in the Senate, 9 co sponsors, of the 35 Senators. It passed the House on a party-line vote and had some Republican votes in the Senate.
Obstacles to SP in the current context
The usual cast of characters.
Advantages for SP in current context
The report from HB1176 has informed the discussions of the important differences among the ACA, vs multipayer UHC vs single payer, showing how many advantages SP has over multipayer systems.
Lead sponsor Rep. Boesenecker selected the Colorado branch of the Young Invincibles organization to monitor HB23-1029 and to work with the steering committee and stake holder meetings.
Goals for SP movement in CO 2023-2024
Providing volunteer support for engaging the grants, gifts, and donations needed for the implementation of the Health Care Cost Savings Act;
Educating around the process of the task force;
Continuing to develop our candidate liaison project;
Growing the grassroots; ongoing coordination with other grass roots organizations in support of UHC
Preparing an implementation bill and a ballot measure in 2025 or 2026.
Obtaining necessary federal waivers.
Shorter-term initiatives
Reaching out to the disabled community,
Building the Medical Professionals for UHC,
Fundraising,
Increasing the business outreach,
Obtaining local UHC resolutions.
Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join a group?