Thursday, July 27, 2006

Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform gets nod from Gov.

On June 2, Governor Owens signed Senate Bill 208, which "creates the blue ribbon commission for health care reform (commission) for the purpose of studying and establishing health care reform models to expand health care coverage and to decrease health care costs for Colorado residents."

The commission is an acknowledgement that health care has reached a critical jucture in the state, and statewide policy reform might be an appropriate response. Colorado joins a number of states (Massachusetts, Maine, Illinois) and working on health care absent action at the federal level.

As with any 'blue ribbon commission" there is no guarantee that the commission will fully explore all the issues relating to health careor that any recommended reforms will work or even be acted on by state legislators. However, the commission is an opportunity to engage residents, providers, and the medical commuinty how to increase access to and reduce the costs of health care in Colorado - an approach the state has not taken before.

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