Over the past several years, our health system has undergone a dramatic transformation. Only two months ago, our nation’s uninsured rate reached an historic low, and important changes have been made to increase the availability of coverage. Many innovative new programs—locally and nationally—have been launched with the goal of changing how we deliver and pay for health care to increase quality, decrease costs, and improve the experience of patients and providers.
Center for Health Progress has been a leader in health reform efforts in Colorado since our founding nearly twenty years ago, and we are proud of our accomplishments. The passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, and full implementation in 2014, provided Colorado with important new tools in our collective work to improve the health care system. We’ve taken some big steps forward, but there remains a lot of work to be done to ensure all Coloradans have the opportunity to live a healthy life.
With every election comes new opportunities to work together to build a better, more affordable and equitable health system. Throughout our history, we have worked collaboratively with patients, health care providers, policymakers, industry experts, advocates, and individuals in communities across Colorado to bring about real change for Coloradans. This election is no different, and we look forward to working with newly-elected state leaders to promote the common good.
There are legitimate concerns about the future of the Affordable Care Act, given the desire of some elected officials to see it repealed. However, when this landmark legislation passed, Colorado believed so strongly in its potential for great change that we incorporated some of its elements into our own state laws, through bipartisan legislation. This includes the expansion of Medicaid to all Coloradans living at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which has had a powerful effect on the ability of around 350,000 additional Coloradans to access health care and realize improved health. Since the details of specific repeal efforts are still vague, we cannot yet speculate on what a full or partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act might mean for Coloradans. Regardless of how things unfold, we are proud to live in a state that prioritizes good health; we are committed to protecting all the progress we’ve made over the past several years and continuing the momentum of our statewide health reform efforts.
Our vision for a Colorado where everyone has access to the health care they need, when they need it—health care that is high quality, affordable, and equitable—is one with room for lots of ideas about how we get there. We hope you’ll stand with us, ready for the next chapter. We welcome your input and partnership as we reinforce our commitment to a healthier future for all Coloradans.
For more information, please contact us at weare@centerforhealthprogress.org.