Hello from the State Capitol!
As we start our sixth week of the 2021 legislative session, I write with exciting news about our new bill to lower health insurance costs, updates on all of my bills, and much more in my latest legislative newsletter.
Monthly Op-Ed: A Path to More Affordable Health Care
Denver Post
Aspen Times
Steamboat Pilot
Vail Daily
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New Bill Alert: More Affordable Health Insurance
In many parts of Colorado, including Eagle and Routt Counties, the price of an insurance plan is simply unaffordable. For individuals, small businesses, and families shopping for insurance, there is little to no competition at all on the market, which leads to rising prices and higher uninsured rates. That is unacceptable.
Last week, after months of collaboration with patients, small businesses, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and many others, we introduced our bill that will lower health insurance prices on the individual and small group markets by at least 20% by 2025 and if needed, introduce a public health insurance option to the market for those who wish to buy it.
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Here's a great news story covering the introduction of the Colorado Option bill and how it will help lower health insurance prices in Colorado. (Credit: KOAA)
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What is the Colorado Option?
Over the last year, we have been working to craft legislation that fulfills a vital goals of ours: lower health insurance costs, improved quality, and increased access to affordable care. That effort lead us to HB21-1232, the bill we introduced last week. This bill is a collaborative, two phase approach to this issue that gives the free market a full two and a half years to help Coloradans access more affordable insurance. If they cannot or will not achieve these goals, then the state will offer a health insurance plan to those who want to buy it— called the Colorado Option.
Phase 1: If they choose to, the health care industry will have until the end of 2024 to negotiate on their own to reduce costs so that individual and small group market health insurance premiums go down by 20% from 2021 prices.
If they can meet that goal and prices are held at that level (plus inflation), we will not move to Phase 2.
Phase 2: If the price reduction goal is not met by 2025, the state of Colorado will create a non-profit entity (using federal dollars already appropriated to Colorado) to offer a health insurance plan on the individual and small group market that is at least 20% less expensive than 2021 prices (plus inflation).
This is an option, not a "government take over of health care": meaning it is available for purchase for those who want to buy it, but nobody has to buy it if they do not want to and nobody's taxes will be raised— it will be paid for by the already-existing federal appropriation and by the monthly premiums of the plan's customers.
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HELP NEEDED: If you have a health insurance story you would like to share to help us fight this misinformation, please respond to this e-mail!
HEADS UP: Your airwaves, mailboxes, and computer screens are currently being bombarded by a multi-million dollar ad campaign seeking to spread misinformation about this bill. Don't fall for it. This group is funded by out-of-state hospital, insurance, and pharmaceutical companies seeking to protect the status quo in health care: a system that reaps massive profits for national executives but has left too many without adequate nor affordable insurance choices.
[WATCH] TRUTH TEST ON THOSE ADS YOU'RE SEEING: "Colorado's Health Care Future" ad full of mistruths and deception.
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My Bills
Here is an update on the legislation I have introduced thus far this year:
HB21-1027: Continue Alcohol Beverage Takeout & Delivery at Restaurants
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Larson (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Bridges (D), Priola (R)
Status: PASSED House Business Committee unanimously. Moving on to House Finance.
My bill allowing takeout and delivery of alcohol beverages was passed as part of the COVID package in 2020 but without intervention, it is set to repeal on July 1, 2021. Because it has worked so well and proved to be a vital source of extra revenue for restaurants facing capacity restraints due to COVID, we have introduced this new bill to extend that ability until 2026.
Related article: Takeout booze extension hopes to buoy restaurants recovery from pandemic via Steamboat Pilot
HB21-1057: Preventing Extortion of Immigrants Engaging in Lawful Acts
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Roberts (D), Tipper (D) & Sens. Cooke (R), Rodriguez (D)
Status: Debated on House Floor, and PASSED second and third reading unanimously. HB21-1057 is moving on to the Senate!
The current definition of criminal extortion already includes the practice of threatening to disclose a person’s immigration status to law enforcement in order to force them to give up something of value. HB21-1057 expands this definition to include coercing another person to either engage in or refrain from engaging in what would otherwise be a legal act, like reporting a crime. This expanded definition would address crimes of wage theft, domestic violence, and other instances where a person’s immigration status is used to prevent them from reporting a crime.
Related article: Bipartisan Bill to Protect Immigrants from Extortion Advances Unanimously via The Colorado House Democrats
HB21-1069: Enforcement of Sexual Exploitation of A Child
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Carver (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Fields (D), Gardner (R)
Status: PASSED House Judiciary Committee (10-1) and House Finance (10-1), and is scheduled for House Appropriations.
This bill updates the child pornography statute to reflect modern technology so we can protect more children from these heinous crimes and more effectively prosecute those who exploit children.
Related article: Colorado's child pornography laws have a major loophole and criminals are slipping through the cracks via Colorado Sun
HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Roberts, Jodeh & Sen. Donovan
Status: HB21-1232 was introduced in the House of Representatives and assigned to the House Health & Insurance Committee.
The Standardized Health Benefit Plan (the Colorado Option) is a two-phased plan to bring more affordable health insurance options to Coloradans.The first phase allows the health care industry to work together to reduce the cost of health care without government direction— it is a genuine free market approach. If the health care industry is unable to bring costs down, the State of Colorado will offer the Colorado Option, a plan that is more affordable and accessible, but still delivers the same great quality of care, than the alternatives offered by private health insurance companies— adding competition to the market and lowering not only premiums, but out-of-pocket costs. This means cheaper insurance for families, employees, and small businesses.
The Colorado Option is a choice, not a mandate, and purchasing it will be up to the consumer.
Related article: Colorado Democrats unveil their public health insurance option proposal. Here’s how it would work via The Colorado Sun
SB21-060: Expand Broadband Service
Prime Sponsors: Sen. Donovan & Rep. Roberts
Status: Senate Business Committee March 31st.
This bill will expand grant programs for low-income and rural households to obtain broadband access and cut red-tape that is slowing down the deployment of broadband in our state.
SB21-012: Hiring Former Inmates to be Wildland Firefighters
Prime Sponsors: Sen. Donovan & Rep. Roberts
Status: PASSED the Senate, 33-1. Moving on to the House!
SB21-012 ensures that previously incarcerated people will be considered for positions on wildland firefighting teams if they were trained and deployed as firefighters while incarcerated. In addition to adding this exception, the bill directs the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland fire career opportunities for those who received training in the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) program, and encourages the Division to hire SWIFT graduates.
Related article: A possible lifeline for prison firefighters via The Denver Post
To see all bills of which I am a sponsor or co-sponsor, CLICK HERE.
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TUNE IN: Eggs and the Economy
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Tune in to watch my virtual discussion on the Colorado Health Insurance Option with the Common Sense Institute. It will be hosted during the "Eggs and the Economy" event and I am excited to participate. Register here.
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Colorado Economic Stimulus
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Over the next month, we will introduce pieces of legislation that will invest $700 directly into Colorado's economy to help businesses, workers, families and rural Colorado recover from the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: Colorado lawmakers, governor unveil $700M state economic stimulus plan. Here's where the money will go.
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COVID-related resources for businesses, unemployment, and vaccine information.
My staff and I continue to stand ready to help you access assistance from the state of Colorado. Please utilize the links below to get more information or reach out directly to me if I can help.
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How To Stay In Touch
Please always feel free to contact me via e-mail, phone, or text:
E-mail: Dylan.Roberts.House@state.co.us
Capitol Office: 303-866-2923
Cell: 970-846-3054
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates! |
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Thank you for the privilege to serve this great district and the State of Colorado.
My best,
Dylan
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