(1) The analyst selected pursuant to section 25.5-11-103 (5) shall host at least three stakeholder meetings in different geographic regions of the state to determine the methodology to be used to study the health care financing systems specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The analyst shall analyze, at a minimum, the following health care systems:
The current Colorado health care financing system in which residents receive healthcare coverage from private insurers and public programs or are uninsured;
A multi-payer universal health care system in which all residents of Colorado arecovered under a plan with a mandated set of benefits that is publicly and privately funded and also paid for by employer and employee contributions; and
A publicly financed and privately delivered universal health care system that directlycompensates providers.
(3) The analyst shall prepare a detailed analysis of each health care financing system.
Each analysis may:
Include the first, second, fifth, and tenth year costs;
Set compensation for licensed health care providers at levels that result in net incomethat will attract and retain necessary health care providers;
Include health care benefits reimbursed at one hundred twenty percent of medicarerates for residents of Colorado who are temporarily living out of state;
Define, describe, and quantify the number of uninsured, underinsured, and at-riskinsured individuals in each system;
Include in each system the provision of benefits that are the same as the benefitsrequired by the federal act;
Identify health expenditures by payer;
Identify out-of-pocket charges including coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments;(h) Describe how the system provides the following:
Services required by the federal act;
Medicare-qualified services;
Medicaid services and benefits equal to or greater than current services and benefitsand with equivalent provider compensation rates;
Medicaid services and benefits for individuals with disabilities who do not meetasset or income qualifications, who have the right to manage their own care, and who have the right to durable medical equipment;
Coverage for women's health care and reproductive services;
Vision, hearing, and dental services;
Access to primary specialty health care services in rural Colorado and other underserved areas or populations; and
Behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders services;
(i) Provide a review of existing literature regarding the collateral costs to society of high health care costs, which may include:
The cost of emergency room, urgent care, and intensive care treatment for individualswho are unable to afford preventive or primary care in lower-cost settings;
The cost in lost time from work, decreased productivity, or unemployment for individuals who, as a result of being unable to afford preventive or primary care, develop a more severe, urgent, or disabling condition;
The cost of bankruptcies caused by unaffordable medical expenses, including thecost to the individuals who are forced to file for bankruptcy and the cost to health care providers that do not get paid as a result;
The costs to and effects on individuals who do not file bankruptcies because ofmedical expenses and who are financially depleted by these costs;
Medical costs caused by the diversion of funds from other health determinants, suchas education, safe food supply, or safe water supply; and
Other collateral costs as determined by the task force.
(4) The analyst shall model sufficient and fair funding systems that may be viable for each system studied pursuant to this section that may raise revenue from:
The general fund;
Federal waivers available under medicaid and the federal act, as appropriate for eachsystem studied;
Progressive income taxes;
Payroll taxes that may be split between employer and employee;
Other taxes; and
Premiums based on income.
(5) The analyst shall carry out the duties of this section to the extent feasible with funding provided through moneys appropriated by the general assembly and with gifts, grants, and donations and as prioritized by the task force.
Source: L. 2019: Entire article added, (HB 19-1176), ch. 381, p. 3426, § 2, effective May 31.