URGENT HCAC NEEDS
Do you or someone you know have a health insurance horror story? Let us know!
We are looking for people willing to help with our communications and online outreach programs (Website, Facebook, Twitter, email, video production and editing, etc.). If you have time and skills to assist, email Nathan for more information.
While this is a topic I tried to keep below my radar for years, it has become an issue to be dealt with and elucidate for others! Long ago my late husband, an internist, would rant about all the headaches caused by Medicare Advantage (MA) and similar ‘insurance’ plans. They interfered in the doctor patient relationship, delaying needed care while creating headaches for his office billing staff. I took note, but didn’t understand the full picture until Medicare became my insurer. Thanks to an honest insurance broker who reminded me of my late husband’s hatred for the MA plans, I was happy to get a supplement to Medicare which even covers me when traveling abroad. While I understand the ‘scene’ better, I can say I do not fully understand this ‘market’ as it is utterly complex and the rules keep changing on both sides of the ‘game.’
July 30, 2021, marks Medicare’s 56th birthday, the federal program implemented with bipartisan support to provide health insurance to people over 65 regardless of income or medical history. When President Johnson signed the bill into law in 1965, the goal was to expand access to health coverage and move toward the goal of a single payor national health system.
At our previous Zoom webconference, Drs. Cecile Rose and Rick Bieser, Co-Chairs of the Physicians for a National Health Program Colorado Chapter, gave outstanding presentations.
For those of you looking for Dr. Bieser's slides, download a copy by clicking here.
Read MoreThe goal of Health Care for All Colorado is to achieve universal, affordable, accessible, undeniable, and portable health care for all Coloradans.
In reviewing this year's Colorado ballot, the Board of Health Care for All Colorado has voted to take a position on the following Ballot Measures.
|
Type |
Title |
Subject |
Description |
HCAC Position |
|
CISS |
Proposition 115 |
Abortion |
Prohibits abortion after 22 weeks gestational age. HCAC Rationale for Opposing Proposition 115: Currently an abortion can be performed at any time during pregnancy. This proposal would prohibit abortion after 22 weeks of gestational age of the fetus, interfering with the patient provider relationship in making healthcare decisions, and denying access to care. |
Oppose |
|
CISS |
Proposition 116 |
Taxes |
Decreases the state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%. HCAC Rationale for Opposing Proposition 116: Colorado’s economy and people have suffered from the COVID economic and health crisis. The cuts in revenue following a tax cut would add to the losses in education, health care and other state services. Education is a social determinant of health. |
Oppose |
|
CISS |
Proposition 118 |
Healthcare |
Establishes a program for paid medical and family leave. HCAC Rationale for Supporting Proposition 118: Provides partial wage replacement so that eligible employees can take time off for medical reasons or to provide care for family members. |
Support |
|
LRCA |
Amendment B |
Taxes & Property |
Repeals the Gallagher Amendment of 1982, which limited the residential and non-residential property tax assessment rates so that residential property taxes amounted to 45% of the total share of state property taxes and non-residential property taxes amounted to 55% of the total share of state property taxes. HCAC Rationale for Supporting Amendment B: Amendment B does not increase property taxes and helps preserve funding for local districts that provide fire protection, police, ambulance, hospital, kindergarten through twelfth grade education, and other services. Education is a social determinant of health. |
Support |
|
LRSS |
Proposition EE |
Tobacco & Taxes |
Increases taxes on tobacco, creates a new tax on nicotine products such as e-cigarettes; dedicates funds to education and health programs. HCAC Rationale for Supporting Proposition EE: Proposition EE initially uses the tax revenue primarily for public school funding to help offset revenue that has been lost as a result of the economic impacts related to COVID-19 and then for programs that reduce the use of tobacco and nicotine products. Enhances the voluntary Colorado preschool program and makes it widely available for free and maintains the funding for programs that currently receive revenue from tobacco taxes, with the state keeping and spending all the new revenue as a voter-approved revenue change. Education is a social determinant of health. |
Support |
CISS = Initiated State Statute; LRCA = Legislatively Referred Constitutional Amendment; LRSS = Legislatively Referred State Statute (Source: BALLOTPEDIA)
During the HCAC Annual Meeting on June 6, 2020, HCAC Board Member Pamela S. Parks, MD gave two presentations related to COVID.
Copies of those presentations may be downloaded here.
1. COVID-19 Recession and Job Loss
2. COVID-19 and Medicare For All
The HCAC Denver Chapter meeting in February included a presentation by
HCAC Board Member and former Senator Jeanne Nicholson,
an Analysis of Ro Khanna's Bill, H.R.5010, State-based Universal Health Care Act of 2019
HCAC supporters may access and download a copy of the presentation here.
On Saturday, March 7th, both Colorado Democratic and Republican Parties are holding their party caucuses. The caucus process is how the grassroots informs the party of what issues are important to them. At caucus precincts, resolutions are proposed and voted upon. Resolutions with significant support make their way into County and State party platforms. Improved Medicare for All has been consistently prominent in past years within the Colorado Democratic Party Platform, but there's no reason to stop now! We believe in the benefits of health care for all regardless of party. Health needs do not discriminate based on party affiliation. Given the strong support for universal health care among Republican voters as well, we'd love to see our Republican and Republican-leaning Independent voters promote resolutions in the GOP caucus as well!
Read MoreLast session, HCAC supported legislation that required the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Division of Insurance (DOI) to develop and submit a proposal to the General Assembly concerning the implementation of a state option for health care coverage, HB19-1004.
The final report, based on meetings with stakeholders from across the state and including extensive written public comments, was submitted in November 2019 with a preliminary actuarial analysis. The final actuarial analysis will be completed in February 2020.
Read MoreHCAC supported the Health Care Cost Savings Act of 2019 that passed the Colorado Legislature last year with bipartisan support. Several members of the HCAC board testified in front of committee in support of this legislation. The bill allows for an analysis to compare how we would pay for different universal health care systems in Colorado. The 15-member state task force, including bill sponsor Rep. Emily Sirota and author T. R. Reid have begun their work.
Read MoreIn 2019, the Colorado Legislature passed HB19-1004, A Proposal For Affordable Health Coverage Option. The result was a Health insurance Public Option proposal developed by the Colorado Division of Insurance and Colorado's Health Care Policy and Financing Department, which has been published along with significant public comment.
What does the Proposal look like? What would have to happen to enact it? What decisions are still left up to the state legislature this year as they review the proposal?
Read More