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Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform. Sarah Schulte Technical Advisor to the Commission State Officials Workshop August 2, 2007. Overview. Colorado profile 5 Miracles of the Commission. Colorado Profile: Demographics. Colorado Profile: Politics.
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Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform Sarah Schulte Technical Advisor to the Commission State Officials Workshop August 2, 2007
Overview • Colorado profile • 5 Miracles of the Commission
Colorado Profile: Politics • In 2004, Democrats took control of both houses of the legislature for the first time in 44 years • In 2005, passage of ballot measure to suspend TABOR, the nation’s strictest tax and spending cap • In 2006, Democratic governor replaced two-term Republican governor
Colorado profile: Health insurance and Medicaid/SCHIP • In 2002, Colorado received HIFA waiver to cover pregnant women up to 200% FPL • In 2004, tobacco tax increase was approved by voters; part of funds used to increase parent Medicaid eligibility to 60% FPL • In 2007, law passed to require modified community rating in the small group market
Colorado Heath Reform • In 2006, law was passed to create the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform • Commission is charged with studying health care reform plans and making recommendations to the Colorado legislature • 27 Commission members
First Miracle of the Commission: Guiding Principles • Goal: Increase coverage and reduce cost • Protect and improve the health status of all Coloradans. • Expand coverage of essential health care services for all Coloradans, with an emphasis on the uninsured and underinsured. • Align incentives to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and coordinated care. • Support a system that is financially viable, sustainable, and fair. • Provide opportunities for meaningful choice and encourage personal responsibility. • Emphasize wellness, prevention, health education, and consumer empowerment.
Second Miracle of the Commission: Proposals Received • Released RFP that required proposers to answer 28 questions about their health care reform plan • Other states received between 5-9 proposals • Colorado received: 31 proposals
Third Miracle of the Commission: Proposal Content • 11 proposals included increased subsidies for low-income to purchase insurance coverage • 10 proposed significant insurance market reform • 10 proposals included an individual mandate • “Massachusetts Effect”
Fourth Miracle of the Commission: Data on Four Reform Approaches • The Lewin Group is currently finalizing its evaluation of the four proposals that were chosen by the Commission for evaluation • Results allow Commissioners to compare coverage and cost of different approaches to health care reform based on Colorado data
Fifth Miracle of the Commission: Strategies in “5th Proposal” • Commission has tentatively agreed to following elements: • Individual Mandate • Minimum benefit package • Government subsidies for those who cannot afford coverage • No employer mandate to cover employees