More than 100 groups from across the state urge Congress to outline new framework before taking any action
More than 100 organizations have come together to form the Colorado Health Policy Coalition, which is focused on urging Congress to develop a comprehensive and thoughtful health care framework before taking action to repeal the nation’s current health care policies.
The coalition, made up of 108 business, health care provider, consumer, disability and advocacy groups from across the political spectrum and all parts of the state, made its position known through a letter delivered to Gov. John Hickenlooper as well as Colorado’s entire congressional delegation today. Coalition members anticipate initial Congressional action to begin repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly called Obamacare, as early as this week.
“With Colorado’s long history of bipartisan work on health care, we know our coalition can serve as a good partner to our state and national leaders as we continue to wrestle with how to best ensure quality, affordable health care for all Americans,” said Adela Flores-Brennan, Executive Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. “But our first, most urgent message has to be that repeal of our existing framework, without a clear picture of what will replace it, is a recipe for disaster for health care in America and for millions of us who rely on our health care infrastructure.”
The coalition members typically not aligned on health care policy found strong agreement in one particular area: Colorado needs stability in its health care marketplace and that the current “repeal and delay” approach some favor at the federal level will create uncertainty and chaos. That will be bad for all health care consumers, everyone working in health care businesses and all state and local governments.
“The business community is acutely aware of the important decisions that will happen soon and we’re anxious to make sure Congress hears our voice on these issues,” said Kelly Brough, president and chief executive officer of the Denver Metro Chamber. “We recognize that Colorado’s economy is as diverse as our landscape and we need to craft policy accordingly. It is critical that we maintain functional health insurance marketplaces that provide affordable coverage for Coloradans and ensure our entire state is a great place to live, work and practice medicine.”
Not all coalition partners agree with plans to repeal or alter the current law, but all recognize this as an opportunity to improve the country’s current system. By focusing on calling for a “clearly identified and carefully considered replacement plan,” the coalition hopes to engage Colorado’s congressional delegation in a conversation about important elements in any plan proposed.
“We’ve outlined principles that we believe should be part of any new plan that is considered,” said Ross Brooks, chief executive officer of Mountain Family Health Centers. “Health care has been such a divisive topic in this country in recent years. We believe it sends a powerful message to bring together a group this big and this diverse on the values that should underlie our path forward. We hope Senators Gardner and Bennet view this coalition as a helpful resource in informing and shaping their efforts.”
While many parts of current law are publically popular and beneficial, including the requirement that children can stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 and the rule that individuals cannot be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, there is an understanding that health care is complex and these policies are interconnected. This diverse coalition recognizes that rolling back policies in other areas or taking a piecemeal approach to changing our health care framework – without a clear and comprehensive plan for the future – will have negative unintended consequences for state and local governments, the health care industry and our economy broadly and Coloradans, including rural communities and those who use Medicaid to access health care.
“On the Eastern Plains we understand that access to health care is a critically important part of ensuring a long and productive life for our residents and a key driver of our local economy,” said Cathy Shull, executive director of Northeast Colorado’s Progressive 15. “But with limited options for both health insurance and health care access, we had to join the call demanding Congress be thoughtful about next steps. We can’t stand by while our communities fall victim to the unintended consequences of an unstable market.”
Coalition partners include health care providers like hospitals and clinics, insurance providers and brokers as well as business groups from across the state. Coalition members include:
| Ability Connection Colorado |
| Action 22 |
| Advocacy Denver |
| Advocates for Recovery Colorado |
| All Kids Covered Colorado |
| American Academy of Pediatrics, Colorado Chapter |
| American College of Nurse-Midwives, Colorado Affiliate |
| Arc Thrift Stores |
| Atlantis Community Inc |
| Aurora Chamber of Commerce |
| Autism Society of Colorado |
| Axis Health System |
| Bill Lindsay |
| Boulder Community Health |
| Boulder County Board of County Commissioners |
| Boulder County Public Health |
| Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center |
| Caring for Colorado Foundation |
| Center for Independence |
| Centura Health |
| Children’s Hospital Colorado |
| Club 20 |
| Colorado Academy of Family Physicians |
| Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care |
| Colorado Association of Health Plans |
| Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials |
| Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council |
| Colorado Center on Law and Policy |
| Colorado Children’s Campaign |
| Colorado Children’s Healthcare Access Program |
| Colorado Chronic Care Collaborative |
| Colorado Coalition for Autism and other Neurological Disability Options |
| Colorado Coalition for the Homeless |
| Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved |
| Colorado Community Health Network |
| Colorado Competitive Council |
| Colorado Consumer Health Initiative |
| Colorado Covering Kids and Families |
| Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition |
| Colorado Cross Disability Coalition |
| Colorado Fiscal Institute |
| Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care |
| Colorado Gerontological Society |
| Colorado Hospital Association |
| Colorado Medical Society |
| Colorado Mental Wellness Network |
| Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights |
| Colorado Providers Association |
| Colorado Psychiatric Society |
| Colorado Public Health Association |
| Colorado School Medicaid Consortium |
| Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters |
| Craig Hospital |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority |
| Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce |
| Disability Law Colorado |
| Families at the Forefront of Technology |
| Firefly Autism |
| FRESC |
| Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association & Film Commission |
| Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Healthier Colorado |
| Hispanic Chamber of Commerce |
| Hospice & Palliative Care Association of the Rockies |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado |
| Lehman Disability Planning, LLC |
| Mental Health Colorado |
| Mind Springs Health |
| Mountain Family Health Centers |
| NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado |
| National Hemophilia Foundation, Colorado Chapter |
| Niederman Insurance Agency |
| Oral Health Colorado |
| Parent to Parent of Colorado |
| Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains |
| Polsinelli PC |
| Pro 15 |
| Progress Now Colorado |
| Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado |
| Rocky Mountain Health Plans |
| Rose Community Foundation |
| Stahlman Disability Consulting |
| Summit Community Care Clinic |
| The Arc – Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties |
| The Arc Arapahoe & Douglas Counties |
| The Arc Mesa County |
| The Arc of Adams County |
| The Arc of Aurora |
| The Arc of Colorado |
| The Arc of Larimer County |
| The Arc of Pikes Peak Region |
| The Arc of Pueblo |
| The Arc of Southwest Colorado |
| The Arc of Weld County |
| The Arc of West Central Colorado |
| The Association for Community Living in Boulder & Broomfield Counties |
| The Bell Policy Center |
| The Colorado Health Foundation |
| The Colorado Trust |
| THRIVE!: The Persons Living With HIV/AIDS Initiative of Colorado, Inc |
| Together Colorado |
| Tri-County Health Department |
| UCHealth |
| Vail Valley Partnership |
| Warner Pacific Insurance Services, Inc |
| West Springs Hospital |
| Yondorf & Associates |
| Young Invincibles |