[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6120815,"mediaKeyId","2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d","parentId",2706023,"title","House committee advances bill to fund Colorado School of Public Health study of statewide healthcare payment systems","audioSeconds",459,"startMs",565000,"endMs",106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d&start=565&end=106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d/thumbnail_565000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120815/Colorado/House-committee-advances-bill-to-fund-Colorado-School-of-Public-Health-study-of-statewide-healthcare-payment-systems","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120815-0f004f15d27adbb526c34fa474902115/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471498&Signature=MvqtNXEV8Gwi21YchSniBZhG1v4QDQggV0XXor~bJT1Th~qyVLoTPhnVHSAP7fLRMnibn91efSGKurnRFZ1lfLBCaUMQfaA9Mfmzn-w6MkPK9pdI9Nm24Xh4g8VVf3DEPB6ITARiJnJh05KipWNFTRgwt4XRynmPgc-YXfIg0ZPIkFj0i4xpBTidmeeQHRrriBpgU8--4IhAJnS6Ejf~Ptba~LcsYS3ohVDiRPiWP470eC0fHczvOApa1qvnntEBQSDcjTOdemhgkA0-gODp74rrmclfoY8BRT-XB4FcveLBqePntDQ8n2ewM3LqIVE4aha5Z-rCSk17JJE05hZ5rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday voted 9–4 to advance Senate Bill 45, a measure that directs the Colorado School of Public Health to analyze options for a publicly financed statewide healthcare payment system and related consequences for providers, payers and patients.

Rep. Rep. McCormick and Speaker Pro Tem Basenacker (co-prime sponsors) told the committee the bill builds on analysis the school delivered in 2021 and would produce more-detailed, stakeholder-vetted modeling about costs, provider reimbursement, out-of-pocket expenses, and likely impacts on hospitals, physicians and pharmaceutical pricing. Sponsors said private fundraising will be used to pay the study rather than state general fund dollars.

Rep. McCormick told the committee \"the decision has been made over the last year to go about that fundraising in a different way, to not use a dime, a penny of tax money, of state money.\" Co-sponsor Speaker Pro Tem Basenacker described the measure as a \"homework assignment\" for the Colorado School of Public Health and said the bill includes extensive topics and a statewide healthcare analysis collaborative to advise the work.

Witnesses for the bill included Dr. Greg Tung of the Colorado School of Public Health, who said the team would build on prior micro-simulation cost modeling and \"fully plan to make all of our data sources transparent\" and provide replication materials so others can validate the analysis. Supporters in the hearing included representatives of the Colorado Foundation for Universal Healthcare, medical professionals and patient advocates who said greater detail on fiscal impacts, provider reimbursement and coverage outcomes is needed.

Opponents — including the Colorado Association of Health Plans, the Denver Metro Chamber and America's Health Insurance Plans — argued in testimony the state has already studied similar proposals, that voters rejected a single-payer ballot measure in 2016, and that the proposed study appears biased toward single-payer solutions. Kevin McFatridge of the Colorado Association of Health Plans told the committee the study \"does appear biased toward a single payer model,\" and urged lawmakers to focus on targeted reforms already underway, including the Colorado Option.

After testimony and questions, committee members debated cost, scope and safeguards. Rep. Garcia Sander raised concerns about fiscal priorities in a tight budget year and asked whether outside fundraising had commitments; sponsors said a fundraising plan exists and that outside organizations are coordinating the work but could not supply a line-item list in committee.

The committee then voted to send Senate Bill 45 to the Committee on Finance with a favorable recommendation; the roll-call tally reported the motion carried 9 to 4.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the study would provide detailed, stakeholder-informed modeling of payment-system alternatives — including single-payer-style and other statewide payment proposals — and how those choices could affect costs for payers, providers and patients. Opponents said the study duplicates prior work and risks producing a partial or advocacy-driven result if oversight is insufficient.

Votes at a glance: Committee approved sending SB 45 to the Finance Committee with a favorable recommendation (9 yes, 4 no).

What's next: Senate Bill 45 goes to the House Committee on Finance for further fiscal review and consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health & Human Services Mar 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Health and Human Services voted 9–4 to advance Senate Bill 45, a measure that would fund a Colorado School of Public Health analysis of statewide publicly financed healthcare payment options, sending the bill to the Finance Committee.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CO, Colorado","taxId",77676,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120819,"House committee adopts amendment and advances bill to support rural community health centers",498,54000,552000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d&start=54&end=552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d/thumbnail_54000.jpg","/articles/6120819/Colorado/House-committee-adopts-amendment-and-advances-bill-to-support-rural-community-health-centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120819-3f25216675e8f82623a3928a9c7eac49/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471498&Signature=g0Fi1OZiU0Zu-dCwu1QdQUjCEyOEIi9Qsw97b3Ngznme8xCSfqhWPWx5bkUu6CaHof~SCnJVSOSgA6RfpOhuYTd~4EDHiglI~KZoRIgT40oTd~KSwi2QLOg-xFn83ZkhrVLl5PIhQvE79G2rrqI9SIkqNaRyMXzu2S9RveLKhjCtU-ycCOLcYJGFQxUQH3o-MhuOh0xB0f2WXpAqOADZQs-UadkYeGKPSiQq70uuiUQmYb8buhfFIuAjHjqRB4Vc7cDFWM756vNkvJHuHxT-M2kaw8HyCH0brMFu~5KYcNq9qLAOCNnAwUNTBBZXI1Qd0SrDPGRwRjh1gunWE~166A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday adopted amendment L003 and advanced House Bill 12-88 with a favorable recommendation to the Committee of the Whole.

Sponsors and supporters told the committee the bill is intended to strengthen rural community health center networks that provide primary care, behavioral health, dental and other services in areas with limited access to care. Rep. Rochelle Martinez, a sponsor, highlighted the centers’ role in preventing higher-cost emergency-room visits and described the bill as support for rural Colorado.

Martinez, a bill sponsor, told the committee: \"being able to provide whole health care ... that prevents them from going into the emergency room for other events, which overall lowers the cost here in the state of Colorado.\" She closed by urging \"an aye vote.\" Assistant Minority Leader Winter and other committee members spoke in support, citing the importance of preventative care in rural districts. Rep. Brooks requested to be excused from the vote because she had not heard the entire hearing the previous day; the committee accommodated that request.

The committee voted to adopt the L003 amendment during the amendment phase; Rep. McCormick seconded the motion to adopt. Later, sponsors moved to advance the bill to the Committee of the Whole. The roll call recorded the motion carried 12 to 0 with one member excused.

Why it matters: sponsors and witnesses said federally qualified health centers and community health networks provide a range of services that reduce emergency use and overall health spending. Supporters told the committee the bill would provide targeted assistance to keep clinics operating in sparsely populated parts of the state.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted the L003 amendment (adopted, no recorded opposition) and recommended House Bill 12-88 to the Committee of the Whole (12 yes, 0 no, 1 excused).

Context/next steps: With the committee’s favorable recommendation the bill moves to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration by the full House.

","The House Health and Human Services Committee adopted an amendment and gave a favorable recommendation to House Bill 12-88, a bill sponsors said would help rural community health center networks expand whole-person care in underserved parts of Colorado.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120810,"House committee narrows bill to stop use of survivor Social Security benefits to pay foster-care costs and advances it to appropriations",5936,6236000,12172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d&start=6236&end=12172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706023-102c5904c8aed5e9832dbb66f26a058d/thumbnail_6236000.jpg","/articles/6120810/Colorado/House-committee-narrows-bill-to-stop-use-of-survivor-Social-Security-benefits-to-pay-foster-care-costs-and-advances-it-to-appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120810-0a0c265c55ac6acc6096c35f18b6fd41/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471498&Signature=DxfAnmc96enkYnC4MkAHdrl2BHJ1bA4LMKx3RgQNANzSlA5MK8~mF9ZimNKTX2IIDWzyESd~2ZMqiTj8iCjBtb1OkcG4dcxDmJCtN7qWjlUf~~aQ0yyBfzOW~xnD8k1rtzQOmHeJOcGH4a87GiF9S6U0P~JJlEtV0kezhSEHBwNbXqxDnHmBJnqMyIaaX0TSgHu94tt7SF2grUXgWGepJjveCxMEL3eeh4DlxuwsAv94OCXYTZhD~XlS7sl3SucYFtxE0ir~K4U9lKCHo7qG5SxNLLR2TbnhmwuwWutLTDgQlAoOhSYk5kq4rR0LUcjM9uDKKmi3AtHgpZFodC8y-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday adopted a strike‑below amendment to House Bill 25-1271 and voted 10–3 to send the narrower bill to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation.

The amended measure prohibits county departments from using Title II survivor benefits (Social Security survivor payments) that are payable to a child in foster care to offset the county’s cost of care; instead, counties must preserve such funds in an identified account and make them available to the child when the child exits care or as otherwise required. Sponsors emphasized the bill targets survivor benefits in this session to allow additional time to resolve implementation questions related to more-complex disability benefits (Title XVI). Rep. Gilchrist, the prime sponsor, said the strike‑below was a negotiated compromise reached with counties and other stakeholders.

Supporters included the Office of the Child's Representative (OCR), disability advocates and several people with lived experience in foster care. OCR staff attorney Ashley Chase testified: \"When the state uses the child's funds to pay for the cost of foster care, it benefits the state, not the child and family.\" Independent researcher John Farnham told the committee his analysis of 2022 cohorts showed 213 youth who aged out of foster care produced an estimated $73 million in downstream public costs over time (incarceration, homelessness, early parenting and missed education), an example proponents used to argue that preserving small federal benefits for youth can reduce long-term public costs.

Counties and county associations urged caution. Colorado Counties Inc. and county human-services directors said the child-welfare block is already strained and that implementing preserved accounts and related administrative duties would require state technical assistance and additional resources. Kevin Neiman of Colorado Counties Inc. pointed to a projected overspend in the child-welfare block and warned that without backfill the change could force cuts in services. County witnesses and legal advisers emphasized the administrative complexity of managing representative-payee responsibilities, trust accounts and annual accounting; county attorneys said prior implementations in other states required additional funded staffing.

The strike‑below adopted in committee narrows the bill to Title II survivor benefits this year while preserving legislative intent language indicating sponsors will continue work toward protecting Title XVI (disability) benefits in future sessions. The amendment also expands requirements for notice, annual reassessment of benefit eligibility, case-level accounting and a requirement that counties return funds held on a child's behalf when the child's custody status changes.

Why it matters: Supporters argued that survivor and disability benefits belong to the child and that preserving those funds will improve educational, housing and employment outcomes after exit from care; opponents said implementation requires funding, technical assistance, and statewide administrative guidance to avoid unintended harms or fiscal shocks to county budgets.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted amendment L002 and recommended House Bill 25-1271, as amended, be sent to Appropriations (10 yes, 3 no). The amended bill focuses on Title II survivor benefits; sponsors said they will continue stakeholder work on Title XVI disability benefits.

What's next: House Bill 25-1271, as amended, is scheduled for review by the House Appropriations Committee.","The committee adopted a strike‑below amendment limiting the bill to Social Security survivor benefits (Title II), directed counties to preserve those funds for the child and to return them when a child leaves care, and voted 10–3 to send the measure to Appropriations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House committee advances bill to fund Colorado School of Public Health study of statewide healthcare payment systems

House committee adopts amendment and advances bill to support rural community health centers

House committee narrows bill to stop use of survivor Social Security benefits to pay foster-care costs and advances it to appropriations