Proposed Colorado Hospital Fee Could Fund Expansion Of Health Coverage To 200,000 State Residents

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PST

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A proposal that would require Colorado hospitals to pay a per-patient fee to the state could fund health coverage for an additional 200,000 state residents, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports. The office of Gov. Bill Ritter (D) and the Colorado Hospital Association are continuing to negotiate a fee, but CHA board members support the plan, according to CHA President Steven Summer. The fee, which could generate up to $600 million annually along with federal matching funds, would be used to expand eligibility in government-sponsored health programs, allow some residents to buy into Medicaid and increase payments for physicians and hospitals that treat Medicaid beneficiaries (Sealover, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 1/7).

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