Colorado lawmakers not proposing major health care reform bills

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Feb 15, 2008 by Amy Gillentine

The bill concerns paying for uncompensated trauma care for people in car accidents, establishing an emergency responders and trauma care reimbursement program. The program will be paid for by increasing the fee to register a car. Automobile insurance policies are required to contain emergency medical care coverage.

Suits said he believes the bill could face opposition from auto insurers, but believes there will be a compromise.

"It's an important bill," he said. "This will be a way to assist first responders in getting reimbursed for some uncompensated care, getting them out of that financial dilemma."

The bill is being sponsored by Sen. John Morse and is one of the priority bills being tracked by the Colorado Hospital Association.

"Trauma care providers are taking a beating," Haugh said. "The trauma bill in the state is $80 million-plus. It will really provide some financial relief to first responders and emergency room physicians."