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House approves creation of study task force to assess capital needs of rural and frontier hospitals
Summary
Lawmakers passed House Bill 12-23 to create a task force and a Department of Public Health and Environment study on capital needs of rural and frontier hospitals. Sponsors said the measure is conditional on available funding and intends to guide future recommendations without an immediate appropriation from the state general fund.
The House passed House Bill 12-23 directing the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct a study of capital needs at rural and frontier hospitals and to establish a task force to oversee the study and recommend ways to strengthen those facilities.
Representative Lukens, the floor sponsor, said the study will assemble rural leaders to review local, regional and national hospital funding and staffing models and deliver recommendations to the legislature. She told members the bill is contingent on available funds, and committee amendments added a petition clause and language that prevents the bill from moving forward absent funding.
Representative Johnson described the urgency: Colorado faces hospital closures and hospitals at financial risk, and a coordinated study and recommendations can identify options to stabilize facilities. Sponsors emphasized gifts, grants and donations could be used to support parts of the work; floor amendments limited state appropriation pressure and required the department to not move forward without funds.
The bill passed on a voice vote. Supporters said it is a step toward preserving access to care in remote communities; no specific appropriation was adopted on the floor.
