DENVER – Coloradans confronting a narrowing number of increasingly expensive health insurance options could soon have one new option available to them, if a bill making its way through the Colorado Statehouse continues to progress.  

Senate Bill-132, authored by Parker Republican Jim Smallwood, requires the state’s Insurance Commissioner to seek a waiver from federal Obamacare rules that restrict the sale of so-called catastrophic care plans, which could soon allow every Coloradan to purchase such plans through the state’s Obamacare exchange. Smallwood’s bill passed its first legislative test Thursday, winning unanimous bipartisan approval of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. 

These plans may save consumers as much as 30 percent in their medical premiums while still complying with almost all of the significant Obamacare protections, such as limits on out of pockets costs, coverage for essential health benefits and assurances that pre-existing conditions aren’t excluded. Although catastrophic plans may not be the right choice for every Coloradan, Smallwood told the committee that they could have appeal to those Coloradans who aren’t rich enough to absorb high costs, and not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or Obamacare subsidies.

Those being squeezed hardest by the rising cost of care aren’t lower income people covered by Medicaid, or older individuals who get Medicare, but those in the economic middle who aren’t wealthy but still make too much money to qualify for subsidies. It’s for these caught-in-the-middle Coloradans, who are willing to pay lower premiums for coverage that isn’t quite as rich but still can stave-off enormous bills resulting from major medical costs, that this bill is written. — Smallwood

Applying for a federal Obamacare waiver won’t guarantee we’ll get one. But the sooner we try, the sooner we can help provide one more option for those who want coverage but aren’t well served by the current market, said Smallwood.  

SB-132 passed on a unanimous 5 to 0 vote and now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for action.

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Rep. Joe Salazar’s bill to make the protection of public health, safety and welfare the primary consideration in decisions relating to oil and gas development passed the House.

The game-changing HB18-1071 follows up on Colorado Court of Appeals’ 2017 ruling in Martinez v. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which found that public health, safety and welfare must come first when the COGCC makes decisions on drilling permits. The bill also follows passage of Question 301, a 2017 Broomfield ballot initiative prioritizing public health and safety in oil and gas siting decisions.

Public health and safety is the only reasonable standard for drilling for drilling permits. It’s time to reinforce this principle in law and break the stranglehold that the oil and gas industry has on Colorado. —  Rep. Salazar, D-Thornton

The House’s 34-30 vote sends HB18-1071 to the Senate.

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The 50-Minute Hour, Via Skype

Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bill to allow interstate delivery of mental health counseling and make psychological services far more available to rural Coloradans sailed through the House Health, Insurance & Environment Committee.  

HB18-1017, sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, would bring Colorado into an interstate compact called PSYPACT. The compact would:

·        Make continuity of care easier when a patient relocates or travels
·        Provide a mechanism for psychologists to practice electronically across state lines
·        Certify that psychologists meet acceptable standards of practice, including knowledge of best practices for electronic delivery of care
·        Promote cooperation and communication between compact states in areas of licensure and consumer complaints while also offering protection to consumers

PSYPACT is another important step in advancing the practice of telehealth and expanding access to care for Coloradans, especially rural Coloradans. — Rep. Michaelson Jenet

The Health, Insurance & Environment Committee voted 11-1 to advance HB18-1017 to the Finance Committee.

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