Your state legislators will soon be voting on a bill that will lower the cost of health care, preserve access to critical community health care providers for Colorado patients, and save the state millions of dollars every year by limiting the amount large hospital systems can charge small businesses and state employees for hospital visits.
These savings will then be reinvested in small and independent providers, primary care and family clinics, and other safety-net providers and reduce the cost of health care for our state's nurses, teachers, and small businesses.
Add your name and ask them to vote yes on House Bill 1174.
[Dear Legislator],
I'm writing today to ask you to vote YES on House Bill 25-1174.
Community health centers that provide critical health care to vulnerable communities across Colorado — like seniors, working families, and rural Coloradans — are not getting the support they need and are struggling to keep their doors open in this tight budget environment. At the same time, Coloradans are paying far too much for hospital services. The average Coloradan who has commercial insurance is paying 291% – nearly three times – what Medicare reimburses hospitals for the exact same care.
House Bill 25-1174 will lower the cost of health care, preserve patient access to Colorado's critical community health care providers, and save the state millions of dollars every year by limiting the amount large hospital systems can charge small businesses and state employees for hospital visits. These savings will then be reinvested in small and independent providers, primary care and family clinics, and other safety-net providers.
HB 25-1174 does this by creating reimbursement maximums for in-network and out-of-network prices paid to the state's largest hospital systems through the state employee health plan and the small group market. It does not establish reimbursement limits for rural and critical access hospitals. The bill also requires a feasibility study to explore the option for local governments and school districts to participate in a similar reimbursement limit.
We know it's possible to reduce health care costs for small business owners and state employees and support critical safety-net providers without negatively impacting the state's health care provider networks. When other states – like Oregon and Montana – have implemented reimbursement maximums for what the state pays to hospitals for state employee health care, it has helped their state budgets, saved state employees money on health care, and improved state employees' health benefits.
Please vote yes on House Bill 1174. Thank you!
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
