Club 20 committee proposes health care reform
- Club 20 Health Care group proposes reform plan.
- Plan would mandate all Colorado residents have health care coverage, provide state-sponsored coverage to people who can't afford coverage.
- Proposal submitted to 208 Health Care Commission for further consideration.
- Commission will make recommendation to legislature in November on improving state's health care system.
Two months of discussion, and input from a wide range of interests, were used in formulating a Club 20 plan to reform the state’s health care system, members said.
Club 20, a Western Slope political group, formed its Health Care Reform Working Group to develop a health care plan to submit to the 208 Health Care Commission, formed by the state legislature last year.
“The best compromise is when no one comes away with absolutely everything they wanted, and this really was kind of an epitome of that,” said Steve Reynolds, a Glenwood Springs business owner and member of Club 20’s reform working group.
“We had a diverse group of individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and different levels of involvement with the health care industry.”
The committee was comprised of physicians, hospital administrators, insurance industry representatives, nurses, small business representatives and individuals consumers.
The club’s plan proposes the state incorporate several strategies to its health care system, the key components of which are mandating all Colorado residents must have basic health care coverage, and the state sponsor coverage for those who can’t afford to pay for their own care plans.
“Much of the health care debate has been consumed by rhetorical argument of whether or not we should provide health care for everyone,” said Dr. Mike Pramenko, a working group member. “The reality is that we already provide health care for everyone via the emergency room, and that’s the most inefficient and expensive way to deliver such care.
“Our proposal defines a more equitable way to ensure basic care for everyone while providing for reasonable and necessary limitations to ensure the sustainability of our health care system.”
The legislature tasked the 208 Health Care Commission with making a recommendation by November on how to improve the state’s health care system. The commission sought help from groups across the state on proposals and is now evaluating the proposals as it crafts its own recommendation.
For a full draft of Club 20’s proposal, visit the organization’s Web site at http://www.club20.org.
Joshua Roberts can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210, or jroberts@craigdailypress.com.
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