After four years of analysis and finding a path toward health care reform, the 208 Commission today released its report to the joint House and Senate Health and Human Services Committees. The 27 members of the group, also called the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform, diverged widely in ideological perspectives, but they were in lock step with each other in both intention and effort. For that, I join my colleagues on the joint HHS Committees in thanking them for their hard work.

The underpinning of the Commission’s recommendation is that the status quo does not work. Nearly one-fifth of the state’s population is uninsured. Health insurance premiums continue to soar to cover the cost of care given to those who cannot pay. With that basis, the Commission aimed to find ways to reduce health care costs while enhancing the quality of care.

The report emphasized several points. Among them:

• individual responsibility in health care
• mandated coverage for all legal residents
• an increase in services and eligibility provided by public programs
• subsidized coverage for low-income workers
• a phased implementation of recommendations
• the promotion of choices for consumers
• an insurance market where health plans cover everyone regardless of health status
• a consensus to build on the strengths of the current system and existing programs

To view the full report, visit www.colorado.gov/208commission.

Look for several bills to be introduced in the House and Senate as a result of the 208 Commission report. Solving this crisis may not be possible in one legislative session, but this year we are committed to putting Colorado on the road to health care reform.

I hope you will continue the long-needed conversation that has begun, so that we can improve health care access and services across our state.
Anne

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