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CHA Statement on Draft Public Option Legislation

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO. – March 18, 2021 – “We are continuing to review the bill draft and will not take a position until the bill is introduced,” said Katherine Mulready, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Colorado Hospital Association. “However, based on this most recent draft, we remain concerned about numerous components. Colorado Hospital Association and our member hospitals and health systems have been working with the bill sponsors for several weeks and have provided considerable feedback, including rationale for proposed changes, specific language to consider and more. To this point, they have not accepted that feedback. It seems that this draft only incorporates input from one stakeholder group.

“While we appreciate that this version of the public option includes a market-driven approach in Phase One, it must be crafted in a way that gives the market a fair shot to meet the goals that are set. As currently drafted, we believe this will set us up for failure in Phase One. To be successful, the targets must be reasonable and evidence-based, the rules determining success or failure should be clear and simple, and accountability should be fair. This draft does not meet those goals.

“Phase two simply goes too far. It provides too much authority to the state and will cause too much uncertainty. If triggered, it could significantly damage health care access and quality for years to come.

“Colorado hospitals and health systems are committed to improving health care affordability, and this proposal ignores the improvements that have been made. We are just beginning to see the results of those many efforts. For example, Colorado has the 6th lowest average benchmark for Affordable Care Act plans in the country, with a 28 percent reduction since 2019.

“We have tried to be collaborative partners who bring solutions, offer alternatives and engage in community-based affordability efforts that are truly working to lower health care costs. Unfortunately, it feels like some want a fight over this issue instead of working together to find an actual solution that will work for all sides. Especially this past year, Colorado hospitals have proven that they are willing and able to step up to any challenge and find productive solutions. We hope that the proponents will work with us to find a solution here that will work for Colorado.”

About Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. Learn more at www.cha.com.

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