DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis today signed an executive order establishing the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care, led by Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. The goal of the Office is to study, identify and implement policies that will lower health care costs while ensuring all Coloradans have access to affordable, quality care.
“Traveling across the state, we consistently heard from Coloradans about the rising costs of health care,” said Governor Jared Polis. “While we have made significant progress in expanding access to care in Colorado, there is still much work left to do to reduce costs. This Office will focus on ensuring affordability no matter the zip code.”
The Office will create and implement a roadmap for lowering the cost of health care including:
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Reducing the cost of individual health insurance by working with the General Assembly to authorize a reinsurance program in Colorado;
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Developing proposals for a new, lower cost health insurance options;
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Empowering the Division of Insurance to protect consumers and support rural and mountain communities working to lower their health care costs;
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Increasing hospital price transparency and establishing programs to reduce prescription drug prices.
“During my battle with cancer, I was lucky to be in the care of incredible medical professionals with my family by my side,” said Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. “We want to make sure that every Coloradan can afford the same support system I did.”
The Office will also:
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Establish a statewide interagency collaborative effort to develop common policies and strategies to reduce the cost of health care;
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Develop policies and strategies to support innovation and efficiencies in health care systems in order to reduce health care costs;
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Work to ensure culturally competent and equitable access to health care;
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Improve health in Colorado by developing, promoting, and implementing policies and strategies that reduce the costs of health care by promoting public health and addressing social determinants of health.
Read the full executive order here.
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