2012 Legislative Wrap-up

Despite a disappointing and dramatic closing, the 2012 Colorado General Assembly passed a number of measures intended to improve health – along with approving a balanced and broadly supported budget. Taking into account a sunnier economic forecast, the new budget preserves past gains in health coverage, invests in the Colorado Benefits Management System and makes new efforts to contain costs through payment reform.

At the close of the session, about 30 bills were struck down because of a partisan dispute over a civil unions bill. One casualty of the political skirmish included Senate Bill 108, which would have provided funding for dental benefits for pregnant mothers on Medicaid.  Senate Bill 173, which would have removed a verbal disclosure requirement for mental health professionals, also fell short of passage because lawmakers ran out of time in the session.

Both measures most likely will get another chance in 2013. In the meantime, here are some health-related highlights from the 2012 session:

Healthy Living

• Senate Bill 68
  Sponsors: Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver; Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs
  Summary: This bill prohibits public schools from offering food made with trans fats available to students.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper
  Media coverage: Editorial: School trans fat ban not needed, The Denver Post, Jan. 20, 2012

Health Coverage

• Senate Bill 127
  Sponsors: Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton; and Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood
  Summary: This bill directs the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance to permit providers of long-term care services and supports to contract with regional care collaborative organizations to provide some or all of the services provided by the regional care collaborative organizations.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper
• Senate Bill 134
  Sponsor: Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver
  Summary: This bill requires Colorado hospitals to make information about charity and discount programs available to patients in a clear and understandable manner.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper
  Media coverage: Colorado patients gain protections from onerous hospital bills, The Denver Post, May 8, 2012
• House Bill 1281
  Sponsors: Reps. Dave Young, D-Greeley and Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen; and Sen. Cindy Acree, R-Aurora
  Summary: This bill authorizes the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance to accept applications for Medicaid payment reform pilot projects.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper
  Media coverage: Bill aimed at containing Colorado's health care costs receives initial approval in state House, The Greeley Tribune, April 18, 2012
• House Bill 1326
  Sponsor: Sen. Cindy Acree, R-Aurora
  Summary: This bill expands a dental care program to cover individuals 60 years of age or older with a family income that does not exceed 135 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill appropriates money for the program.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper

Health Care

• House Bill 1052
  Sponsors: Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood; Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood
  Summary: This bill requires Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies to implement a system to collect health care work force data from health care professionals who are eligible for the Colorado health service corps.
  Status: Signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper
  Media coverage: Better health through data collection, Health Relay blog, April 26, 2012

Legislative wrap-ups from Foundation partners
Bell Policy Center
Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute
Education News Colorado