Press Release - Oct 22, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCT. 22, 2007
CONTACTS
Media: Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Non-media: Cody Belzley or Liza Fox, 303.866.5800
GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE HEALTH CARE OUTREACH PROGRAM
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced the launch of the "Governor's Dialogue on Health Care Vision and Values," a two-month outreach program that will solicit input from business, civic and health care leaders across the state prior to the 2008 legislative session.
The Governor's Office of Policy and Initiatives and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will host 11 meetings around Colorado in November and December. The first session is scheduled for Nov. 7 in Lamar.
"The goal of these sessions is to give me, legislators and others a clear view of how Coloradans want their health care system to become more efficient, more accessible, more affordable and consistently excellent," Gov. Ritter said. "These highly structured meetings will complement the 208 Commission's work, providing valuable information for the 2008 legislative session, where health care reform likely will be one of the more dominant issues of the year."
About 60 leaders from each community will be invited to participate in the meetings and provide feedback on questions such as: Who should pay for people who can't afford coverage? What form of coverage should they get? What is the role of government? What is the role of employers? What is the role of individuals?
A detailed booklet will guide the discussion at each meeting, and is posted on the Governor's website . The facilitated meetings also will include "keypad" polling technology to support the discussion and capture statistical feedback.
With nearly 800,000 Coloradans lacking health coverage and costs to consumers and employers continuing to skyrocket, the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform is finalizing its yearlong review of health-care reform proposals. The panel received 31 proposals, narrowed the list to four finalists, and created its own fifth hybrid plan. The 208 Commission is scheduled to submit recommendations for reform to the legislature in January.
"This outreach program is a perfect complement to the Commission process," 208 Commission Chairman Bill Lindsay said. "It will help raise awareness about the issue and engage more Coloradans in the discussion."
The meeting schedule for the outreach program is:
Nov. 7: Lamar
Nov. 8: Alamosa
Nov. 13: Durango
Nov. 14: Grand Junction
Nov. 28: Pueblo & Colorado Springs
Dec. 5: Metro Denver (two meetings)
Dec. 6: Metro Denver
Dec. 11: Sterling
Dec. 12: Fort Collins
The Colorado Trust has provided support for the "Governor's Dialogue on Health Care Vision and Values" program to convene, inform and engage Coloradans on health care reform.