Labor, Business, Health Care, and Advocacy Groups Unite, Call Health Care Status Quo "Unacceptable"

News Release

Diverse coalition will build community and political momentum for meaningful solutions to the health care crisis.

Denver--Today prominent labor, business, health care and advocacy organizations announced they are building an alliance to promote comprehensive health care reform in Colorado because the status quo is "unacceptable." The Partnership for a Healthy Colorado will educate communities statewide about the opportunity to achieve meaningful health care reform, engage the public in ongoing discussions about solutions to the health care crisis, and encourage lawmakers to take action.

"We are proud of the diversity of the Partnership," said Donna Lynne, regional president of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. "We don't always agree on everything, but we do agree that Coloradans cannot afford to let this unique opportunity to improve our health care system pass us by. We will try to break through some of the different points of view around the work of the 208 Commission to focus on quality, affordable health care. We believe meaningful reform is possible."

The founding members of the Partnership for a Healthy Colorado include:

• Kaiser Permanente, the largest health maintenance organization in Colorado.
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has 1.9 million members nationwide, making it the nation's largest and fastest-growing union.
• AARP, the nation's largest member-based advocacy group representing Americans over the age of 50.
• Colorado Medical Society, the largest organization of physicians in Colorado
• National Federation of Independent Business, the largest small business advocacy group in America.
• Business Health Forum, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging Colorado's business community in health care issues and the reform debate.
• Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters, the largest organization of health insurance brokers in Colorado.
• Colorado Association of Health Plans, an association of health plans providing benefits to more than 3 million Coloradans.
• Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, which promotes independence, self-reliance, and full participation for people with all types of disabilities.
• Autism Society of Colorado, whose mission is to promote quality of life for people with autism, spectrum disorders and their families.
• The Bell Policy Center, a non-profit, non-partisan policy center that conducts research and advocates public policies that reflect progressive values.

With the convergence of a governor who ran on covering all Coloradans, a blue ribbon commission studying reform solutions and growing dissatisfaction with the current health care system, Colorado has a unique opportunity for change.

The 27-member Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform, also called the 208 Commission after the Senate bill that created it, has been charged with reviewing proposals and making recommendations to the Legislature that reduce the number of uninsured, as well as the cost of care. The panel vetted a stack of 31 proposals to four for possible legislative review. A fifth plan, which incorporates elements from various proposals, is also under review.

"I just finished working the night shift. I can tell you that the status quo is causing too much human suffering and costing Coloradans too much money," said Kathleen Chitty, a registered nurse and a member of the SEIU Nurse Alliance of Colorado. "The uninsured always arrive sicker which means they are suffering from more acute illnesses, need more medical attention, and cost the system more money."

Colorado has 792,000 uninsured residents under the age of 65 - including 180,000 children - according to the Lewin Group. Our current health care system recovers the cost of caring for the uninsured largely by charging patients with insurance more. In 2005, that translated into $934 per year in higher premiums per insured Colorado family, according to Families USA.

"Most Coloradans get their health care through their employers, and businesses are struggling to keep up with premiums that are doubling every few years," said Ralph Pollock, director of the Business Health Forum. "This is having a detrimental effect on our economic growth that is dragging down the quality of life for Colorado's families. From hourly wage earners to corporate executives, everyone has a stake in the reform debate."

This fall, the Partnership will launch a campaign to increase turnout at the public hearings of the 208 Commission, which are scheduled in October. Efforts will include email alerts, phone banks, direct mailings, and public service announcements. The Partnership will also widely distribute a layman's guide to the lingo around health care reform and create opportunities for Coloradans to sit down with their legislators before the 2008 session begins.

Organizations interested in joining the Partnership for a Healthy Colorado can contact Amy Fletcher of the Business Health Forum.