Legislative Update Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters Presented by Cindy Sovine-Miller

Source: Colorado Legislative Council

Colorado is Constitutionally required to maintain a balanced budget  $800 Million Revenue Shortfall in Colorado  Program Cuts across the board  10% Reduction in all State Agencies (includes 8 furlough days for state employees)  2% - 4% cut to Medicaid Reimbursement Rates  $180 cut to Senior Property Homestead Exemption  Over $150 Million in cuts to Higher Education Desperate times for legislators: Pinnacle Assurance

Introduced Bills House 368 Senate 296 Total 664 CSAHU tracked 40 bills and actively worked on 22 of them.

CSAHU Leg Committee Criteria for Evaluating Legislation:  Will the legislation if implemented increase the cost of insurance?  Will the legislation if implemented increase access to insurance  Will the legislation if implemented improve competition?  Will the legislation if implemented increase regulation?  What is the practical ability of CSAHU to influence this legislation?  How can this bill be made better?  Does this bill move us closer to a state run health insurance plan?

 Billing Claim Transparency  Medicaid Option (Insurance Safety Net)  SCHIP Enrollment  Individual Market Reforms  Price Transparency

 Staying involved in the Dialogue ◦ Public Option ◦ Individual Mandate ◦ Employer List Bill  Education and Advocacy Efforts ◦ Continued focus on awareness of the value the broker brings to health care. ◦ Work to achieve CSAHU policy goals and resist efforts that work against a healthy market place.  Strengthening Grass Roots Efforts ◦ Accept the political landscape. Make an effort to get to know and establish a relationship with your Congressional and State elected officials. ◦ Communicate what CSAHU is doing for your clients and keep them aware of what is happening.  Speaking with One Voice ◦ Being consistent with CSAHU’s message is the most important thing any member can do for the organization. Take the time to understand what CSAHU is doing on your behalf. ◦ Communicate with your chapter’s representative on the CSAHU Legislative Committee to communicate suggestions, questions or concerns.  Partnership for a Healthy Colorado ◦ Multi-stakeholder group initiated by CSAHU who meets independent of Government to work on meaningful steps for health care reform.

 Visit to locate your elected officialswww.nahu.org  Visit to access copies of this presentation and access CSAHU’s entire bill matrix.  Contribute to the CSAHU PAC PAC Chair: Bill Killgore (970)

MDAHU Bea Green (720) Sheryl Briles-Thompson (303) NCAHU Kristi Rankin (970) Scott Rankin (970) FRAHU Jessica Warren-Schultz (303) David Marshall (303) SCAHU Sharlene Yabe Co-Leg Chair (719) John Beerman (719) WRAHU Christine Boggart (970) CSAHU Rep Marie De Wolfe (303) Dorothy Marshall Co-Leg Chair (303)

Cindy Sovine-Miller Political Consultant Sovine Miller & Co