State Expansions: Colorado

Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform (also known as the "208 Commission") was established during the 2006 legislative session and is required to make recommendations on comprehensive health care reform. The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) worked with other groups to create a comprehensive proposal for the 208 Commission to consider that would expand access to affordable, meaningful health coverage. The proposal, Connecting Care and Health in Colorado, was written with collaborative technical assistance from Families USA and Community Catalyst and was submitted to the commission in spring 2007. Although the proposal was not selected for further evaluation, it could serve as a good model for advocates looking at health reform in their state.

In November 2007, the 208 Commission completed its recommendations for comprehensive health care reform, and the commission will submit a final report to the Colorado General Assembly in January 2008.

Building on the momentum of the 208 Commission process, state lawmakers enacted important incremental reforms during the 2007-2008 legislative session, including:

• An expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, called CHP+, to children in families earning less than 225 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $47,700, for a family of three.
• A new requirement that insurers submit premium increases for prior approval by the Insurance Commissioner. For more information, see the Fair Accountable Insurance Rates Act (FAIR).

Colorado Expansion Resources

• Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform—Proposals  

Colorado in the News

• Kaiser Returning $155 Million to Clients (The Denver Post, June 24, 2008)
• Ritter signs 11 ‘building blocks of health agenda: New laws cover more uninsured kids, those with special needs (Rocky Mountain News, June 4, 2008)
• The FAIR Act will keep health insurance premiums in check (Denver Post, April 16, 2008) 
• Democrats unveil new health bills (Denver Post, March 31, 2008)   
• Ritter’s health care panel pitches plan (Denver Post, January 31, 2008)
• Group pushes ideas for health care reform (Rocky Mountain News, December 14, 2007) 
• Health Panel OKs Options (Denver Post, November 20, 2007) 
• Price Tag for Health Plan Would Reach into Billions (Rocky Mountain News, October 19, 2007) 
• Health Panel Eyes 5th Option (Denver Post, September 11, 2007)
• The Price of Wellness (Denver Post, August 22, 2007)

For general resources on state expansions, see Other Resources.

[Return to map]