House passes change to fee

The Colorado House passed a change to the state’s hospital provider fee Friday that could keep $700 million a year in the state budget, instead of going to taxpayer refunds.

Though the shift drew five Republican votes in the Democrat-controlled House, it appears a long shot to pass the Senate. In the upper chamber, Republicans have been entrenched since the beginning of the session to defend the refunds due under the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

“We’re still working on an agreement. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a deal,” said House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Boulder. “We’re still talking, but we had to start getting it moved here. We aren’t there yet, maybe.

“I was very encouraged by the number of Republican votes. I think they’re beginning to realize the realities, especially in rural areas. They really need this, the flexibility to address infrastructure, rural hospitals — there are so many issues that getting this done really helps them out.”

Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, has voiced disapproval with the proposed change and is expected to address the issue with reporters next week, before the Senate takes up the bill.

Rep. J. Paul Brown of Ignacio was one of the House Republicans who voted against the bill. He pointed out that half the money in the hospital provider fee is from Medicaid, to allow hospitals to care for indigent patients.