the push for single-payer in Colorado


Colorado State Representative John Kefalas and State Senator Joyce Foster have taken the first major step toward establishing a single-payer health care system that will provide complete access to health care services for all residents of the state.   The system will be publicly funded while providing for private health care service delivery to assure freedom of choice among providers and competition in quality.

Legislation Overview:
The Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act

House Bill 1273

The Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act creates the Colorado Health Care Authority, with a 23 member board of directors that will design and create the Colorado Health Care System through a phased in approach.

The Colorado Health Care System will become the benefits
administrator and payer for health care services.  The  System will provide comprehensive medical benefits to that includes these features:
  • Comprehensive medical benefits 
  • Choice of personal physician and medical providers
  • Emphasis on quality and patient safety with incentives for improved health care outcomes
  • Simplified electronic claims, billing, and payment throughout the system
  • Standardized, confidential electronic patient records system
  • Cost containment through administrative and system efficiencies
  • Community health initiatives supporting innovative, efficient, and coordinated care
  • Negotiation of favorable prices for prescription drugs and durable medical equipment
  • Regional planning and administration
  • Attention to health care disparities and provider shortages in rural and other under served are! as
  • Support for education to address primary care, nursing, and other provider shortages
  • Utilization of existing federal and state funding with a means based premium to finance the system
  • A transition plan that prioritizes retraining and job placement of displaced workers
  • Required covered benefits under the system will include: 
primary and preventive care; inpatient care;outpatient care; emergency care; prescription drugs; durable medical equipment; long term care; mental health services; dental services; substance abuse treatment; chiropractic services; vision care and correction; and hearing services and hearing aids. 

Why is this Bill needed?

Health care is unavailable or unaffordable to 800,000 Coloradans, and many more are underinsured.  For business, the increasing cost of providing employee health care is not economically sustainable.   All Coloradans pay for the uninsured as health insurance premiums i! ncrease to cover the uninsured.

A cost effective and humane means to address the problems of access, cost and quality is a
comprehensive health care system that guarantees coverage, which is publicly funded and privately
delivered with individual choice of medical providers and services.  

How will the start-up be funded?
The first phase of the Authority will be funded with gifts, grants, and donations so there is no fiscal impact with this authorizing legislation.  In order to create the system, the Authority will seek waivers, exemptions and agreements with the state and federal government as needed.  The General Assembly will approve the final implementation of the system.  

A public hearing
A public hearing on the proposed Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act, House Bill 1273, is scheduled for hearing on  Wednesday, March 4th at 1:30 pm.  The hearing will be held in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Colorado Capitol.   The hearing will be before the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee.

This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role in moving Colorado toward a system of health care that incluces everyone, costs less and delivers better medical results.  

What can you do to help?
  • Attend the hearing -  The hearing room has been relocated to the Old Supre me Court Chamber in anticipation of a large audience.   An overflowing room will be a very strong sign of public support for this legislation.

  • Testify at the hearing - If you have a compelling story, clear facts or critical evidence to share we want you to have an opportunity to share it with the committee.  It will be important that testimony is relevant, clear and brief.  If you wish to give testimony at the hearing please send an email to this address:   testify@hc4ac.org  In your email please  provide your name, phone number, location and the essence of your testimony.

  • Share this information -  Please forward this information to your contacts who share our goal of providing quality health care for everyone.    Encourage them to join in our effort.   We will need massive public support to pass this legislation.

  • Contact the House Business and Labor Committee members - Let them know you support this legislation (See contact information below.)


The bill has been referred to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee.  Please contact the members of the committee listed below and let them know that you support this critical legislation. 

Representative Joe Rice, Chair (D) HD 38 - Arapahoe, Jefferson
Representative Edward Casso, Vice-Chair (D) HD 32 - Adams
Representative Larry Liston, Ranking Republican (R) HD 16 - El Paso
Representative Balmer (R) HD 39 - Arapahoe
Representative Laura Bradford (R) HD 55 - Mesa
Representative Gagliardi (D) HD 27 - Jefferson
Representative Kevin Priola  (R) HD 30 - Adams
Representative Su Ryden (D) HD 36 - Arapahoe
Representative Christine Scanlan (D) HD 56 - Eagle, Lake, Summit
Representative John Soper (D) HD 34 - Adams
Representative Amy Stephens (R) HD 20 - El Paso

See:  www.healthcareforallcolorado.org for the complete text of the bill.

The Colorado Guaranteed Health Care Act will be the first step in building a system to:

  • provide access to health care for all Colorado residents
  • reduce the total cost of health care
  • improve the quality of health care
Our current system leaves 800,000 Colorado residents without health insurance and 400,000 more unable to afford co-pays and deductibles   We can wring out the waste in our current system and invest the savings in health care for every Coloradoan.  

For more information about this legislation CLICK HERE.