This week, legislators introduced significant amendments to House Bill 1232, “Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option,” that removed the state-run, public health insurance option, but retained a number of problematic provisions.
The bill now directs the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a single, standardized health benefit plan for the individual and small group markets. Private insurers would then be required to offer the highly regulated plan in every county where they currently operate.
Insurers would also still be forced to lower premiums by an arbitrary 18% over three years. If plans fail to meet premium reduction targets, the Commissioner of Insurance can hold a public hearing, accept testimony from a broad group of stakeholders and then establish government-set reimbursement rates that all health care providers must accept to ensure premium reduction targets are met.
Our primary concerns with the bill remain. It still risks shifting health care costs to those in the fully insured market, sets arbitrary premium reduction goals, sets rates for providers and gives significant power to an appointed member of the executive branch without appropriate legislative oversight. Plus it now mandates participation by the private sector. The new regulated plan that insurers would be required to provide could result in less competition, consumer choice and access to care.
We need solutions that lower health care costs for all Coloradans. We agree that health care is too expensive and that we have more work to do, but we should continue our track to pursue market-based innovation and public-private partnership solutions.
The amended bill is now headed to the House Appropriations Committee, and we’ll continue to track it and provide you with updates.
Data Privacy Bill Expected to Go to Committee Soon
Senate Bill 190, “Protect Personal Data Privacy” was slated for committee this week but was pulled from the calendar. This bill would establish the Colorado Privacy Act, which would provide additional protections for the personal data of Colorado residents, change the way in which businesses can collect, process and use personal data and create new enforcement provisions, and we continue to have a position of amend.
The most recent version of the bill showed that sponsors are incorporating significant changes and receptive to stakeholder input. We’re still hoping to see changes to certain definitions and the opt-out language, as well clarification on how enforcement, assessments and appeals would be handled. We, alongside the Colorado Competitive Council, have submitted written feedback to sponsors outlining our ongoing concerns with the legislation and look forward to working with them on future amendments.
Chamber Takes Positions on Two Bills
This week, the Chamber also took a position on two bills.
Support
- SB21-153 Department of Corrections Offender Identification Assistance Program: Sen. James Coleman (D-Denver), Sen. John Cooke (R-Greeley), Rep. David Ortiz (D-Littleton) and Rep. Kerry Tipper (D-Lakewood)
Oppose
- HB21-1269 Public Utilities Commission Study Of Community Choice Energy: Rep. Edie Hooton (D-Boulder), Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collin) and Sen. Kerry Donovan (D-Vail)
Visit our current legislation page to see all our positions and testimony so far this session.
