Single-payer system best for Colorado
By Kristen Hannum
Rocky Mountain News
May 5, 2007
Dr. Rocky White of Alamosa was seeing a growing number of patients who were without adequate insurance. The conservative rancher and physician knew many people weren’t coming in at all for the preventive care that would keep them healthy.
After studying the problem, White decided “Everybody in, nobody out,” was the answer to the U.S. health-care crisis. Universal health care, via single-payer financing, brings quality care for far less money per capita in other industrialized countries. Why not here?
His bill, with input from the Colorado Nurses Association and other groups, became the basis for Health Care for All Colorado’s proposal to the 208 Commission.
Through the Colorado Health Services plan, Coloradans’ health coverage would no longer be tied to an employer but would be continuous from birth to death.
Everyone would be covered and be funded through individual and business contributions and federal tax dollars. The plan would offer better benefits, including mental health, dental, optical, home-health and long-term care, than any single private plan does today. Each resident would choose a health-care provider and choose a hospital.
Providers would stay in private practice and compete for business, but all payments would come out of a single health fund. Everyone (except for the very poorest Coloradans) would contribute to the fund. No one would need to fear bankruptcy because of health-care costs.
Colorado Health Services would basically be a publicly owned, not-for-profit insurance company, similar to a public utility. A board, accountable to the people, would manage the program. Administration would be under five regional boards.
Colorado Health Services would reduce administrative costs since everyone would be covered by the same comprehensive plan. Physicians and patients could make health-care decisions based on patient need and not insurance company policy. Doctors, hospitals and nurses would no longer need extra staff to negotiate billing with hundreds of companies and thousands of policies. The program would provide for retraining displaced workers.
Funding is up to the legislature. Either a tax or a public insurance system could finance the Colorado Health Service plan.
Single-payer, universal health-care costs elsewhere run about half as much as in our current for-profit market-driven system. As a society, we would be paying the same or less to cover everyone.
The plan would also use an integrated information technology network. This would make tracking costs and outcomes easier, so providers could more easily adopt best practices.
Colorado Health Services would bring all Coloradans access to high-quality, cost-effective health care. Single-payer financing means better medical practices and cost savings. Universal care means more productive workers, healthier families and stronger communities. This is sensible, affordable, comprehensive reform.
Kristen Hannum is the program administrator for Health Care for All Colorado.