Panel to hear health-care cost concerns

A special bipartisan commission charged with examining the high cost of health care in Colorado plans to hold public hearings during late summer and fall in each of Colorado’s congressional districts to listen to concerns about health-care costs from residents and health care industry representatives.

Established to make policy recommendations to the state Legislature and Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care has met seven times since August. It has focused mostly on establishing bylaws, charters and other documents as well as staffing requirements.

“They’re taking their time getting started and making sure this is a long-term effort,” said Matthew Valeta, health policy analyst for the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative who has attended the meetings. “They’re getting ready for the next two-and-a-half years.”

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The 17-member commission, created by a bill sponsored by Sens. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, and Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, follows the work of another task force known as the 208 Commission in 2007. That group made recommendations to the state Legislature that led to the creation of the state health exchange, according to the Colorado Health Institute, which has monitored closely the new commission.

Members of the new commission include health-care providers as well as representatives of small and large businesses, insurers, hospitals and state government.

The commission has three years to create three reports addressing health care and insurance costs, said commission chairman Bill Lindsay, president of Lockton Benefit Group in Denver. The first report is due in November.

The group developed its standards, including a conflict-of-interest policy and disclosures, as well as charters for its planning, research and communications committees and operational principles.

“We have spent the last couple months just getting organized,” Lindsay said. “If you’re going to operate an effective organization, we’ve got to do that. All of that is now in place.”

The commission also has touched on how it will address costs that critics say are unsustainable for consumers. The commission has decided to look at the issue from the beginning of patient life through death, while reviewing research about what factors influence costs, including everything from hospitals and freestanding emergency clinics to quality and access to care. Commission members also will look at ways the state Legislature could take action on its recommendations.

The commission plans to look at costs mostly on the state level, but also will review ways the state could work with the federal government to make changes, Lindsay said. Changes at the federal level almost certainly will take longer, however.

But, “If we come up with some innovative ideas that could be replicated in other states, Colorado could become a model for other states,” he said. “Because of the timing, we’re uniquely positioned to become a national leader in this area.”

The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative would like to see the commission focus on reducing the level of uninsured people and lowering health-insurance costs.

“The No. 1 (concern) for people is the cost of health insurance, and the cost of care even if they do have health insurance and the cost-sharing that they may be required to pay,” said Adam Fox, director of strategic engagement for the health-care advocacy group.

Richard Passoth, a retired marriage and family therapist who has an interest in health-care policy and has attended the meetings, hopes the commission will focus on transformative health care rather than piecemeal changes to the existing system as costs surge despite health-care reform.

“Our population is aging,” he said. “If we don’t have a system with cost containment with a more modernized delivery system that is more functional … we’re going under.”   

Steve Lynn can be reached at 970-232-3147, 303-630-1968 or slynn@bizwestmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SteveLynnBW.