Policy Corner
Rural Hospitals, Schools and Roads to Get Some Much Needed Relief:
Sustainability of Rural Colorado Bill Introduced!
The long-awaited Hospital Provider Fee (HPF) compromise bill, SB17-267, has been introduced with bipartisan support. In addition to converting the Hospital Provider Fee into an enterprise fund, the extensive legislation includes other provisions intended to address transportation and education funding in rural Colorado. In exchange for reclassifying the fee as an enterprise as Democrats have asked for, the bill lowers the TABOR spending cap and asks for a 2% across the board spending cut of state agencies to appease Republicans.
The conversion of the HPF to an enterprise will avoid the $264 million cut proposed in the newly released state budget bill. The bill also would free up about $1.35 billion for roads and construction projects by authorizing the state to execute lease-purchase agreements for state facilities that the state would then lease back for no more than $100 million annually over 20 years. The bulk of the $1.35 billion would go towards state highways in rural parts of the state, with the remainder being directed to fund rural school districts.
CRHC is actively supporting the legislation, sponsored by rural legislators Jerry Sonnenberg (SD-1), Jon Becker (HD-65) and KC Becker (HD-13). Our policy program will work hard to advocate, educate and lobby for the passage of this legislation, but we need help from our members too! Please watch your email inbox for an Action Alert that will help you easily reach out to your representatives and ask for their support for SB17-267!
-Kelly Erb, CRHC Policy Coordinator
CRHC Policy Positions:
Support:
SB17-033 Delegate Dispensing Over-the-counter Medications
SB17-057 Colorado Healthcare Affordability & Sustainability Enterprise
HB17-1057 Interstate Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
HB17-1094 Telehealth Coverage Under Health Benefit Plans
HB17-1115 Direct Primary Health Care Services
HB17-1187 Change Excess State Revenues Cap Growth Factor
SB17-137 Sunset Health Service Corps Advisory Council
SB17-146 Access To Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
SB17-267 Sustainability of Rural Colorado
Oppose:
SB17-003 Repeal Colorado Health Benefit Exchange
SB17-065 Transparency In Direct Pay Health Care Prices
Monitor:
SB17-064 License Freestanding Emergency Departments
HB17-1121 Patient Safety Act
HB17-1139 Medicaid Provider Compliance Billing Safety Rules
SB17-193 Research Center Prevention Substance Abuse Addiction
SB17-206 Out-of-network Providers Payments Patient Notice
SB17-207 Strengthen Colorado Behavioral Health Crisis System
Rural Health Policy News:
The Denver Business Journal: Colorado budget bill introduced along with funding measure for rural hospitals, roads
Western Slope Now: Bill for Economic Equality Between Rural and Urban Colorado
The Denver Post: Here’s what the state’s $26.8 billion budget proposal means for Coloradans
9News Colorado: Colorado lawmakers react to health care bill failure
The Washington Post: New momentum for Medicaid expansion, as more Republicans conclude Obamacare won’t get repealed
Rural Colorado In the News:
Colorado Public Radio: In Hugo, The Hospital Is A Cornerstone Of Small Town Rural Life
National Public Radio: The Changing Face of a Rural Colorado Community
Government Technology: Colorado Taps Intel Exec to Lead State Broadband Office
