SENATE Final Reading April 12, 2013First Regular Session Sixty-ninth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO ENGROSSED LLS NO. R13-0950.01 Kristen Forrestal x4217 SJR13-021 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Aguilar, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Ginal, Senate Committees House Committees Health & Human Services SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 13-021 Concerning the creation of an interim committee to study ways to create a comprehensive health care system for all Coloradans. WHEREAS, The Colorado Health Benefit Exchange estimates that even with full implementation of the federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act", hereinafter referred to as the "Affordable Care Act", Colorado will still have 400,000 people without health insurance; and WHEREAS, The Congressional Budget Office's estimates indicate that despite the fact that the Affordable Care Act will slow the growth rate of health care spending, health care costs are still expected to increase to as much as 18.5% of the nation's gross domestic product in coming years; and WHEREAS, Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act allows each state the opportunity to obtain waivers from the health insurance exchange program to create a unique health care system as long as the system is at least as comprehensive as its residents would receive through the exchange, is at least as affordable as the exchange, is deficit-neutral to the federal government, and covers at least as many people as would be covered by the exchange; and WHEREAS, Dr. Gerald Friedman has created a report on the economic implications of three alternative programs for financing and delivering health care in Colorado entitled: "Three Possibilities for Colorado's Future Health Care Financing and Delivery"; and WHEREAS, Dr. Friedman's report indicates that if Colorado were to design a unique, cooperative-based health care system, by 2024 the costs for health care in Colorado would decrease from 18.5% of the gross domestic product, the predicted percentage with the implementation of the exchange, to 14.5% of the gross domestic product; and WHEREAS, Dr. Friedman's report also projects that the number of uninsured in Colorado would decrease from 4% to .3% in 2018 under a Colorado plan; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: (1) That there shall be a legislative committee, hereinafter referred to as the "committee", that shall meet in the interim after the first regular session of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly to study and analyze ways to create a unique Colorado health care system that provides affordable and comprehensive coverage to all Coloradans; (2) (a) That the committee shall consist of 19 members, appointed as follows: (I) Two members of the Senate who serve on the Health and Human Services Committee, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (II) Two members of the House of Representatives who serve on either on the Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee or the Public Health Care and Human Services Committee, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (III) Two members who represent consumers, one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (IV) Two members who represent rural communities, one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (V) Four members who are employers, one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, and one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (VI) One member who represents health insurance carriers, appointed by the Governor; (VII) One member who represents hospitals, appointed by the Governor; (VIII) Two members who are direct care providers, appointed by the Governor, and at least one of whom accepts Medicaid; (IX) One member who represents an accountable care organization or integrated health care system, appointed by the Governor; (X) One member who is a mental health care provider, appointed by the Governor; and (XI) One member who represents dentists, appointed by the Governor; (b) The individuals making the appointments shall make a good-faith effort to appoint members who represent diverse political, geographic, and ethnic populations; (c) The individuals making the appointments shall make all appointments to the committee within 45 days after the effective date of this resolution; (3) That the committee may solicit and accept reports and public testimony and consider the following issues: (a) The economic, population, provider, and business impacts of creating a unique Colorado health care financing and delivery system based on Dr. Friedman's report; (b) Innovative options to meet the health care needs of all people residing in Colorado; and (c) Recommendations to establish a unique Colorado state plan that meets the federal requirements in order to receive the appropriate waivers to implement the plan as required by section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act; (4) That the committee shall meet no more than 6 times, beginning on or before August 1, 2013, during the 2013 interim. Each meeting of the committee must include an opportunity for public comment on items related to the committee's agenda; (5) That the committee shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations, including specific recommendations for a unique Colorado health care financing and delivery system, to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate, or its successor committee, and the Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee and the Public Health Care and Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives on or before December 15, 2013; (6) That one or more legislative members of the committee may sponsor legislation recommended for introduction by the committee, subject to the limitations imposed by the Joint Rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding interim committee legislation; (7) That the members of the committee shall not be compensated for attendance at meetings of the committee; and (8) That the Legislative Council staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services shall be available to assist the committee in carrying out its duties.