Committee approves donated-funds study of statewide health financing options; no state dollars required

The House Finance Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 45, a sponsor-driven bill that commissions the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct a public, stakeholder-driven analysis of health-care financing and payment options. The bill requires the study but does not appropriate state funds; sponsors and supporters said fundraising from gifts, grants and donations will fund the work.

Representative McCormick, who described the measure as a multi-year effort, said the Colorado School of Public Health will receive the donated funds through the school foundation and carry out an independent analysis. Speaker pro tem Basinger (sponsor support) described the measure as a way to obtain public, evidence-based answers to questions raised by prior proposals about single- or multi-payer systems in Colorado.

Testimony in favor came from members of the Alliance for Colorado Health Care and other civic groups. Virginia Gebhard, a retired pharmacist with the Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care, urged the committee to pass the bill and described statewide research as urgent for providers and underserved communities. Gwen Unger of the Colorado Health Care Coalition said the alliance will begin fundraising once the bill is signed and that funds will be placed with the CU Foundation for disbursement to the School of Public Health.

Sponsors emphasized that the bill deliberately avoids any state appropriation; Legislative Council and committee staff confirmed that if fundraising goals are not met the school will adjust scope. The committee voted to send the bill to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation; the roll call was recorded as 8–5 in favor.