Recommendations For Overhauling Colorado Health Care System

The Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for HealthcareReform on Thursdayreleased its final recommendations for overhauling the state's health caresystem, including a requirement that all state residents obtain healthcoverage, the AP/Denver Post reports. The commission alsorecommended that the state increase funding for Medicaid and children's healthcare. The panel was appointed to make recommendations that would extend healthcoverage to the state's 800,000 uninsured residents.

Other recommendations include:

• Creating subsidies for low-income workers to purchase private insurance;
• Requiring insurers to provide coverage to any applicant who does not have a pre-existing health condition;
• Extending eligibility in CoverColorado to residents with pre-existing conditions whose incomes are too high to qualify for low-income health programs;
• Requiring businesses that do not offer workers health coverage to provide plans to help employees purchase private insurance;
• Streamlining health care-related administrative functions to bring down costs; and
• Encouraging wellness programs and insurance rewards for maintaining healthy behaviors and undergoing preventive care.

WilliamLindsay, chair of the commission, said, "These recommendations represent abold, yet realistic, approach to providing high-quality, affordable health careto all Coloradans, a roadmap for reform." Members of the commission saidthat their recommendations would cost millions of dollars. However, thecommission did not outline possible funding mechanisms, which will have to bedecided by state lawmakers (Paulson, AP/Denver Post, 1/31).

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