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Polis urges further state action on drug prices and Medicaid sustainability
Summary
Polis highlighted state measures — hospital pricing transparency, the Colorado Option, reinsurance and insulin caps — and urged Washington to act while seeking state steps to contain Medicaid growth and protect access for about 1.2 million Coloradans.
Governor Jared Polis emphasized health‑care cost control and access, citing state initiatives such as hospital pricing transparency, the Colorado Option, and reinsurance. He said the state has capped insulin prices and is pursuing other cost‑containment tools, noting two suits by pharmaceutical companies challenging state action.
Polis argued that while state reforms have advanced affordability, federal action is needed to negotiate drug prices and stabilize funding. He warned that the state cannot sustain unchecked Medicaid growth without jeopardizing funding for schools, roads and public safety, and urged a focus on both covering more people and improving value.
Polis asked the legislature to support bipartisan efforts he said will slow cost growth while preserving care for roughly 1,200,000 Coloradans who rely on Medicaid. He framed the policy goal as improving outcomes while spending less, and called on the federal government to step up negotiation authority where appropriate.
