CEO Blog: Moving Forward

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

We are already building the foundation to support a possible new state assistance program that would be created by pending legislation, HB17-1235. The bill would provide some financial assistance for Coloradans who live in areas with some of the steepest health insurance premiums. The measure recently made its first step toward becoming law when the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee passed it and sent it to the Appropriations Committee. We’ll be talking to our Board of Directors about our work on this project in Monday’s meeting.

Legislative Update

The state Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed Senate Bill 3, which calls for moving our operations to the federal exchange. The next step would be a hearing before the full state senate before the measure could move to the state House of Representatives. Each step of this process is an opportunity for us to tell our story and the opposition to the bill has brought out many accounts of Coloradans who depend on us to get coverage.

In Recent News

The lack of clarity on the future of Cost-Sharing Reduction – financial assistance with co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles for some of our customers most in need of help – has been a major concern. Congressional Republican leaders recently spoke in support of keeping the payments through this year and 2018, as reported in the New York Times.

The national conversation that followed November’s election has made many Americans more aware of the effect state marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid have had on the country. Polls show the Affordable Care Act’s popularity is growing. A Gallup poll released Wednesday showed 55 percent of respondents approving the law, up from 42 percent in November. That’s a big move in five months and the first time a majority said they support the law.

Take care,

Kevin

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado