Press Release - Feb 13, 2008
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13, 2008
CONTACT
Evan Dreyer
720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES 'BUILDING BLOCKS FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM' PACKAGE
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced a "Building Blocks for Health Care Reform" plan to contain costs, improve quality and expand the availability of care, with much of the focus on children's health and system-wide efficiencies.
"Our health-care system is fundamentally broken, and the flaws touch every person and every business in Colorado," Gov. Ritter said. "Costs are skyrocketing. The availability of quality care is limited. Too many people lack insurance, and our public and private health networks are too complicated for most people to navigate.
"We must find solutions that are uniquely Colorado, solutions that are ambitious and realistic, solutions we can afford," Gov. Ritter said. "We started this work together in 2007. We continue it today by announcing our 'Building Blocks to Health Care Reform' plan."
The plan calls for a $25 million investment in Gov. Ritter's FY08-09 budget request for building-block strategies in several high-priority areas, including expanded children's health coverage, creation of a new Center for Improving Value in Health Care, greater efficiencies in public and private health care, and better transparency to assist consumers.
"These building blocks to health care reform represent new ideas for Colorado," Gov. Ritter said. "They represent a strengthening of existing efforts and they build on the work of the 208 Commission. They represent meaningful and significant progress. We know that reforming a broken health care system won't be easy. We know it won't happen with one bill or in one legislative session. But we must be persistent, we must aim for excellence and we must never be satisfied.
"My vision remains the same -- that high-quality, affordable health care is available to every Coloradan. We can help make this vision a reality by working together, by working with broad coalitions that include public and private partners, and by working with bipartisan leadership that puts our future first."
Highlights of Gov. Ritter's "Building Blocks to Health Care Reform" package:
Expanded Children's Health Care
Including gains made in 2007, the plan increases Child Health Plan Plus and Medicaid coverage to 55,000 more children over three years by:
Gov. Ritter's plan also provides all children in Medicaid and CHP+ a Medical Home to ensure access to primary and preventive care to keep them healthy, strong and out of expensive emergency rooms. In FY08-09, this will expand Medical Home coverage to 170,000 more kids.
Establishment of the Center for Improving Value in Health Care
The "Building Blocks to Health Care Reform" plan establishes an inter-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder center to identify and pursue strategies for quality improvement and cost containment. The center will be led by Joan Henneberry, executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. It will bring consumers, businesses, health care providers, insurance companies and state agencies together to develop long-term strategies for ensuring a better value for the $30 billion spent on health care in Colorado every year.
Improved Efficiencies in Private Health Insurance & Public Programs
The plan includes building blocks to improve efficiency in private and public health plans by:
"Too much of our health care dollar goes to administration and paper work," Sen. Mitchell said. "Standardizing health plan ID cards should make things faster and easier for patients and doctors and help bring down costs."
Gov. Ritter's plan calls for increased transparency by:
Expanded Access to Cost Effective, Quality Care
The Governor's reform plan calls for finding new strategies to expand care in rural and underserved communities by expanding the range of services nurses and dental hygienists can provide. An advisory committee of nurses, doctors, dentists and dental hygienists, to be chaired by Colorado Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ned Calonge, will be appointed to guide the study.
Other Health Care Building Block Initiatives Already Underway