DENVER – In a recent opinion piece in Colorado Politics, Mike Randle, MD and CEO of UCHealth Medical Group, expresses significant concerns with House Bill 21-1232 – which would create a new state government-controlled health insurance system, also known as the state government option – writing “If HB-1232 were to pass, our patients and health care teams would suffer.” 

Dr. Randle states, “As a physician and CEO of UCHealth Medical Group, health care access, quality and affordability are some of my top priorities, along with recruiting the very best physicians to come to our state to care for patients… Health care providers, including UCHealth, have worked to reduce costs in recent years.”

“Over the past year, amid the pandemic, we rapidly expanded innovations like virtual urgent care and virtual visits — helping patients avoid more expensive options. We improved quality and safety, while shortening lengths of stay and shifting many services into lower-cost ambulatory care settings. And we continue to invest in behavioral health,” continues Dr. Randle. 

Dr. Randle highlights, “Colorado health care providers are dedicated to lowering costs and providing high-quality care to Coloradans. According to the Rand Hospital Price Transparency Study, Colorado now has the eleventh-lowest hospital prices in the nation.”

He notes, “Colorado’s successful reinsurance program is funded by hospitals, health care systems, and insurance companies… Because of this program, as well as our other efforts to lower costs, the price of Colorado’s average benchmark premium has dropped 28 percent since 2019. Over the past five years, we’ve seen the second-lowest premium growth in the nation — and the price of our benchmark silver premium plan is now the sixth-lowest in the nation.”

He adds, “The state legislature is now discussing House Bill 21-1232, which could use government price controls to achieve arbitrary premium-reduction targets. The targeted reductions in the bill are simply unrealistic, especially considering the premium reductions that Colorado’s health care system has already achieved in recent years.”

“This bill’s government-mandated price controls and threats to fine doctors would have an adverse effect on our ability to attract and keep excellent medical providers, including physicians, advanced practitioners, pharmacists, and nurses at a time when there is a growing national shortage of most, if not all, these providers,” warns Dr. Randle. 

He continues, “Such drastic cuts to hospital reimbursements will affect our staffing, limit our ability to innovate and invest in new equipment, and will harm our efforts to give patients the very best care.”

Dr. Randle concludes, “Hospitals, physicians and health insurance companies have made progress in recent years, increasing access to care, improving quality, and reducing prices. We must continue and expand upon these improvements. But HB-1232 is not the answer. This bill will bring significant unintended consequences and harm our state’s high-quality health care system.”

• To read the full opinion piece in Colorado Politics, CLICK HERE.