Press Release - Gov. Ritter Releases Colorado Health Report
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OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009
CONTACTS:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Joanne Lindsay, 303.866.3144, joanne.lindsay@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER ISSUES COLORADO HEALTH REFORM REPORT, URGES WASHINGTON TO ACT THIS YEAR
KEYSTONE -- Gov. Bill Ritter today issued a new report, "Leading Colorado to a Healthier Future," detailing the state's recent health care reform successes and urging Washington to take action this year on improvements to the nation's health system.
Addressing hundreds of leaders at the annual Colorado Health Symposium, Gov. Ritter said Colorado has made significant advances since he took office to contain costs, improve quality, and increase the availability of care and coverage.
"By working together through public-private partnerships, Colorado is leading the nation in health care reform," Gov. Ritter said at the Colorado Health Foundation-sponsored conference. "We've made more progress on health reform in the last three years than in the 30 years before.
"With our economy in an unprecedented downturn, it's vital that we keep leading Colorado forward and improving our health care system," Gov. Ritter said. "And we must keep pressuring Washington to act on national reforms that focus on controlling costs, because the cost of doing nothing is too great and the burden on families, senior citizens and businesses is too high."
The "Leading Colorado to a Healthier Future" report details Colorado's many recent health-reform accomplishments, including:
- Adoption of the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act, which will provide coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and reduce cost-shifting and uncompensated care - at no additional cost to taxpayers and businesses.
- Creation of the Center for Improving Value in Health Care, a public-private partnership that is pursuing long-term strategies to refocus incentives on quality rather than volume.
- Enactment of loan-forgiveness legislation to encourage health care providers to work in underserved areas such as rural communities.
- Improved outreach efforts that will provide coverage to 90,000 uninsured but eligible Coloradans through Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus - which means more cost-effective care and less reliance on expensive emergency room services. Gov. Ritter also emphasized during today's speech that as the economy continues to struggle, more and more people are turning to public safety-net programs for care and coverage.
Gov. Ritter also emphasized during today's speech that as the economy continues to struggle, more and more people are turning to public safety-net programs for care and coverage.
Over the past decade, the number of Colorado Medicaid clients has almost doubled, from 275,000 in 2000-01 to 500,000 today. Nearly 21 percent, or $1.6 billion, of the state's General Fund budget is now spent on health care.
The figures are concerning, Gov. Ritter said, because the state is facing an additional $900 million shortfall in the FY09-10 and 10-11 budgets, on top of a $1.5 billion shortfall that has already been closed.
"What all of this means is that reform is more important and more urgent than ever," Gov. Ritter said. "We must increase value in health care by driving down per-capita costs and improving the quality of care. We must improve health outcomes and slow rising costs with 21st century strategies like building out a 21st century health information technology network. Reform should allow Coloradans to feel secure that they won't be priced out of access to health care.
"The challenges are great, and so are the opportunities."
Click here to listen to the Governor's complete remarks.