Source: Colorado Politics
During his 2023 State of the State Address, Gov. Polis emphasized his priority for “Colorado to be a state where everyone can get the (health) care they need easily and affordably.”
The Colorado Association of Health Plans (CAHP) couldn’t agree more with this goal.
However, every session, bills are passed mandating additional coverage that costs Coloradans more for health care — regardless of whether one agrees with the underlying policy or not.
It’s simple math — $96 million. That’s the conservative estimate of the impact from just one piece of legislation passed and sent to the governor this legislative session. SB23-195, the bill at issue, will require commercial health benefit plans to apply drug manufacturer coupons to a members’ deductible instead of applying the actual amount paid by the consumer. On its face, this policy seems laudable as patients deserve access to their medication with the least amount of expense possible.
