- Increase home and community based support services
- Increase access to behavioral health services for persons living with chronic diseases
- Advance health equity by advocating for all Coloradans with chronic conditions to receive adequate, culturally informed care.
- Advocate for access to affordable coverage and care
- Promote wellness and prevention in order to manage symptoms
The CCC’s work with the Colorado General Assembly focuses on advocating for the 1 in 4 Coloradans living with a chronic condition. This includes improving access to affordable health coverage and care, increasing community based support services, encouraging access to behavioral health, and promoting wellness and prevention for those living with chronic conditions. The CCC is made up of (50) voluntary health organizations whose main goals are to cure all chronic conditions—in the meantime they advocate to improve the productivity and lives of those living with chronic conditions through engaging legislators, regulators, and healthcare policy makers.
Samples of past legislative success:
2015:
Support-Strategic Planning Group On Aging (HB15-1033): Sent to Governor Hickenlooper, this bill establishes a strategic action planning group, appointed by the governor, to study issues related to the increasing number of Colorado residents 50 years of age and older and to issue a comprehensive strategic action plan on aging. In the coming 15 years, nearly one in four adults living in Colorado will be over the age of 60. Colorado needs a comprehensive plan to address this demographic shift to identify and review the significant long-term issues posed by Colorado’s aging population. The CCC supported this bill based on our 1st priority.
Support: Respite Care Study Task Force (HB15-1233): Sent to Governor Hickenlooper, this bill created the Respite Care Task Force to study the dynamics of supply and demand with regard to respite care services in Colorado. The task force is required to submit a report to the general assembly by 1/31/16 which should include ways to increase access to respite care services, increase the amount of caregivers, solutions for respite care funding, and educate about cultural issues around providing and accessing respite care. The CCC supported this bill based on our 1st priority.
Oppose: Repeal Health Benefit Exchange (HB15-1066): based on priority 4 the CCC opposed this bill which would have repealed the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act of 2011. Pursuant to the enactment of federal law that allowed each state to establish a health benefit exchange option through state law or opt to participate in a national exchange, the general assembly enacted the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act. The act created our state exchange, Connect for Health Colorado. The marketplace is an insurance marketplace built by and for Coloradans. The CCC opposed HB15-1066 because the bill would decrease access to quality affordable health coverage in Colorado.
2014:
Financial Assistance in Colorado Hospitals (SB14-050): signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act changed the amount charged to qualified uninsured patients. Qualified patients are those who fall below 400% of the Federal Poverty Line to the Medicare reimbursement rate plus 20%. The Act also requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to evaluate each hospital for compliance at the time of licensing. The CCC supported this bill based on priority 4.
Support: Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care (SB14-187): signed by Governor Hickenlooper, this Act created the Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care which tasks the commission with studying and making recommendations to the general assembly regarding health care costs, access, and quality of care in Colorado. The CCC supported this bill based on all of our priorities (mainly priority 4).
2013:
Support: Medical Exemption Tiered Rates (SB13-282): Signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act builds upon SB11-087 which gave the Public Utilities Commission authority to create an exemption from tiered electricity rates based on a consumer’s medical condition. Both 282 and 087 protect the financial and health stability of persons living with chronic conditions. For certain chronic conditions (i.e. multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, lupus) summer heat can exacerbate symptoms and can lead to loss of productivity, increased medical bills, and consumers having to choose between paying their medical or electric bills. The medical exemption program now allows qualified consumers to afford their summer electric bills. The CCC supported this bill based on priorities 1 and 5.
Support: Medical Exemption Tiered Rates (SB13-282): Signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act builds upon SB11-087 which gave the Public Utilities Commission authority to create an exemption from tiered electrify rates based on a consumer’s medical condition. Both 282 and 087 protect the financial and health stability of persons living with chronic conditions. For certain chronic conditions (i.e. multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, lupus) summer heat can exacerbate symptoms and can lead to loss of productivity, increased medical bills, and consumers having to choose between paying their medical or electric bills. The medical exemption program now allows qualified consumers to afford their summer electric bills. The CCC supported this bill based on priorities 1 and 5.
2012:
Support: Medicaid Payment Reform and Innovation Pilot Program (HB12-81): Signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act created the Medicaid Payment Reform and Innovation Pilot Program to foster the use of new payment projects. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing was directed to create a process for interested contractors to submit payment projects for consideration under the pilot program. The bill directs DHCPF to allow payment proposals that include, but are not limited to global payment, risk adjustment, risk sharing, and aligned payment incentives in response to requests for proposals for the statewide managed care system. The CCC supported this bill based on priorities 2, 3, and 5.
Support: Medicaid Payment Reform and Innovation Pilot Program (HB12-81): Signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act created the Mediciad Payment Reform and Innovation Pilot Program to foster the use of new payment projects. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing was directed to create a process for interested contractors to submit payment projects for consideration under the pilot program. The bill directs DHCPF to allow payment proposals that include, but are not limited to, global payment, risk adjustment, risk sharing, and aligned payment incentives in response to requests for proposals for the statewide managed care system. The CCC supported this bill based on priorities 2,3, and 5.
2011:
Support: Colorado Health Benefit Exchange (SB11-200): Signed by Governor Hickenlooper this Act outlined the governance structure for a Colorado-based health benefit exchange. The bill establishes a nonprofit organization that will oversee the establishment and operation of the exchange in Colorado. The exchange, which is intended to facilitate access to and enrollment in health benefit plans, will be available for individuals and small groups. Additionally, the law establishes a ten-member Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Implementation Review Committee to guide implementation of the exchange, make recommendations, and carry any necessary implementing legislation The CCC supported this bill based on priority 4.
2010:
Support: No Gender Individual Health Insurance Rates (HB 10-1008): Signed by Governor Ritter, this Act prohibits insurance carriers from using gender as a basis for varying premium rates for individual health insurance policies and declares premium rates based on gender to be discriminatory.
Support: Standardized Health Insurance Information (HB 10-1004): Signed by Governor Ritter, this Act requires the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules establishing standard formats for policy forms and explanation of benefit forms provided by health insurance carriers to consumers.
2009:
Support: Insurance Coverage During Clinical Trials (HB 1059): Signed by Governor Ritter, this Act will protect participants in clinical trials from being penalized for unrelated illnesses by their insurance. Insurance companies are now required to cover for any illnesses that may have occurred during a clinical trial participation but have no immediate relation to the experimental participation. The CCC supported this bill based on priority 4.
Support: Presumptive Eligibility for Medicaid Long-Term Care (HB 1103): Signed by Governor Ritter this Act will help adults who need Medicaid services and will allow them to be presumed eligible for Medicaid services for long term care. The paperwork and the usual process will still need to be worked through, but the client is able to receive necessary long-term care services via Medicaid to avoid any deterioration of their condition. The services can be fully continued once the approval process is completed, and if approval is denied, the services will be discontinued at no extra cost to the client. The CCC supported this bill based on priorities 1 and 4.