DENVER ~ In a recent press release, a coalition of health care advocates and providers urged Congress to reconsider the federal budget bill and its harmful provisions. The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that several provisions in the bill violate reconciliation process rules, but even without these provisions, the bill would have devastating effects on Colorado.

Governor Jared Polis expressed his relief that some of the most harmful ideas were recommended to be removed from the bill. However, he also urged Congress to take this opportunity to reconsider the entire bill rather than finding ways to reinstate or replace these harmful provisions. He emphasized that kicking families off health care and cutting food access for children would drive up costs and harm Colorado families.

The procedural change recommended by the Senate Parliamentarian would remove some of the most damaging provisions from the bill, which was passed by the House with support from Colorado Republicans. Governor Polis has been vocal about his concerns regarding this bill, which he believes would have detrimental effects on Coloradans and their access to health care, clean energy solutions, and more.

More on Colorado Desk

• Denver Divorce Attorney Launches Guide to Navigating the 5 Stages of Grief in Divorce
• AI vs. Human: Why Business Planning Still Needs an MBA
• AI-Based Neurotoxin Countermeasure Initiative Launched to Address Emerging National Security Needs: Renovaro, Inc. (N A S D A Q: RENB)
• The Naturist World Just Shifted — NaturismRE Ignites a Global Resurgence
• San Antonio Board of REALTORS® Among First to Use Passkey Login with Solid Earth's SSO Dashboard

Donna Lynne, Chief Executive Officer of Denver Health, stressed the importance of preserving Medicaid funding for safety-net systems like Denver Health. She stated that any effort by Congress to protect provider fees is a step in the right direction as it avoids a reduction in funding that would be crushing for those who rely on these services.

Over the past week, the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that various provisions in this budget bill violate Senate rules and must be amended or removed. These include cutting states' provider fee programs from 6% to 3.5%, penalizing states for providing basic coverage for certain immigrants, and ending 'silver loading', a financing arrangement for Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers. These cuts would have significant impacts on Colorado's budget and could lead to increased health care costs for all Coloradans.

Darrin Smith, President of UCHealth Parkview, emphasized how Medicaid coverage supports the prescriptions, primary care, and other health care services that their patients need. He stated that any cuts to Medicaid would lead to an increase in uncompensated care and could put access to important services at risk.

More on Colorado Desk

• Former Microsoft Assistant General Counsel Scott Wise Joins Crowell & Moring
• $796,000 in Q2 Revenue Marks Highest Earnings to Date on 3 Trailing Quarters of Profitability in Multi-Billion Homebuilding Sector: Stock Symbol: IVDN
• Cybersecurity is THE Hot Market Sector; Revenues, Earnings & Profit matter; Only 33 Million Shares + a Huge Short Position Equal an Undervalued Stock
• Despite Global Calls for a Ban, US Child Psychiatry Pushes Electroshock for Kids
• Franco Polished Plaster Celebrates 35 Years of Bringing Walls to Life in the UK

Adam Fox, Deputy Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, condemned the rush to cut over $700 billion from health care, calling it the biggest cuts in history. He stated that the rulings by the Senate Parliamentarian highlight the fact that this bill is bad policy pushed through a flawed process. He also warned that even with the remaining provisions, hundreds of thousands of Coloradans would lose their health coverage and the state's health care system and economy would suffer.

In conclusion, this coalition is urging Congress to reconsider this budget bill and its harmful provisions in order to protect the health and well-being of Coloradans. They believe that rushing through these cuts without a proper plan for replacement is unconscionable and will have devastating effects on individuals and the state as a whole.

---

Show All News | Report Violation