Hospital Provider-Fee Bill Advances in Colorado Senate

The Colorado Senate Finance Committee approved House Bill 1293, which would impose a fee on hospital revenue and generate millions in federal matching fees to cover the cost of treating uninsured patients, according to a report by the Denver Business Journal.

According to the report, the bill would infuse an addition $1.2 billion into Colorado's $30 billion-a-year healthcare plan and provide coverage for 200,000 uninsured Coloradoans.

Republicans fear that costs could shift back to consumers, but local medical officials said that these fears are unwarranted.

In addition, Senator Greg Brophy (R-Wray) attempted to add an amendment to the bill that would add a business person from a self-insured company to the 13-member oversight committee that would determine how fees and federal dollars would be spent. The amendment failed to pass along party lines, according to the report.

House Bill 1293 moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for approval.

Read the Denver Business Journal's report on Colorado's hospital provider-fee bill.