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

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.