Proposal passes its first test
Moderate lawmakers want broader support of hybrid public health insurance option, and Republicans remain opposed to it
The proposal to create a hybrid public health insurance option in Colorado forged ahead Wednesday night on a 7-4 party-line vote after nearly seven hours of fierce debate from opponents and impassioned pleas from supporters. The fate of the bill now rests in the hands of moderate lawmakers who want sponsors to make more inroads with opponents.
House Bill 1349 has been one of the most contentious pieces of legislation in this year’s session, even before the bill’s official introduction last week.
The bill would create another option for the 8% of Coloradans who purchase health insurance on the individual market. Lawmakers say the bill is intended to create competition, particularly in rural counties that may have only one option for health insurance on the individual market, and to lower costs of health care. It sets reimbursement rates to hospitals for people on the plan. But it also requires participation from insurers and penalizes hospitals that refuse to participate in the plan.
Opponents — largely hospitals and other health industry executives — say the bill creates unintended consequences and unfairly targets hospitals. But supporters say the bill is a first step at tackling the rising costs for consumers as Colorado hospitals rank among the highest in the country in profits.
Bill sponsors have been making amendments to the proposal hoping to get more support, but Wednesday’s testimony demonstrated it will be an uphill battle.
Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who has a moderate district, wants to see more progress, though she commended the work to lower costs. A committee member, she told her colleagues and attendees that she’s a “yes tonight.”
“I’m hoping some of those concerns that are still left on the table can be worked out and that we can bring some more of the people down to a low simmer at least and not a rolling boil as they were at the beginning of the committee,” she said.
Rep. Kyle Mullica, a Democrat from Northglenn, who works as an emergency room nurse, wanted the bill to go even further — instead of just focusing on those eligible to purchase insurance in the individual market, he wanted the insurance plan to be available to other Coloradans as an alternative to their employer-offered health insurance plan. Mullica said the top issue he heard when talking to people in his district is that health care costs in the Denver area are unsustainable.
“I saw the fear in their eyes that they were afraid of losing every
thing,” Mullica said. “Even though they had insurance, they were afraid of losing everything. … I know that fear. That’s why I fight so hard. It’s because I know what they’re going through, and I want to make sure they never get that short end of the stick.”
Mullica and Rep. Yadira
Caraveo, a Democrat from Thornton, who works as a pediatrician, conveyed their frustration about how much of the discussion from the opposition revolved around money and not about health care services. Caraveo said it’s unnerving as a provider to have to discuss options with patients who will decline care or delay it because of cost.
“This system is broken,” she said.
Democrats can pass the bill if they all get on board, and so far, Republicans are staying firm in their opposition.
Rep. Mark Baisley, a Roxborough Park Republican, said the stories heard Wednesday, particularly of those who couldn’t afford care, moved him. But they’re indicative of a broken system that he believes was caused by government intervention. Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, cast doubt on how much the bill can change as sponsors try to move the bill through appropriations and the Senate this late in the session.
“I’m going to be a ‘no’ tonight, but it will be interesting to see if you really can bring more stakeholders to either a yes or neutral,” she said.