Principles for a Colorado Health Care Cooperative

Affordable Health Care for All Colorado Residents:
Principles for a Colorado Health Care Cooperative

A Colorado Health Care Cooperative would pave the way for all Coloradans to have health care.
A member-owned cooperative operates in the best interests of the members. All Coloradans
would be members. Members make decisions about value. If quality is maintained and cost
reduction measures are effective, the savings would be paid back to the people.

• UNIVERSAL: All Coloradans would belong to the Cooperative. Waivers from federal law
would be pursued to allow the Cooperative to incorporate people covered by Medicare,
Medicaid, and the VA, and to expand on the Health Insurance Exchange.

• AFFORDABLE: We all need care. In the Cooperative, if someone became very sick, we would
all pay for that care. We would all contribute based on our ability to pay. There would be no
deductibles and only modest co-pays that could be waived based on income or chronic
conditions. The Cooperative would eliminate the fear of financial ruin and give us protection
from medical bankruptcy.

• COMPREHENSIVE: The Cooperative would provide comprehensive, essential health care
benefits with an emphasis on health and wellness. Statewide emergency care access would
be developed. Centers of excellence for high-risk and high-cost procedures would be
nourished.

• INTEGRATED & COORDINATED CARE: Colorado’s system would focus on primary and
preventive care. The system would be built around patient-centered Medical Homes, which
would be connected to nonprofit Integrated Health Care Networks. Specialty care would be
provided.

• CONTINUOUS, PORTABLE COVERAGE: Access to health care would not depend on
employment. All employees would be covered. Entrepreneurs with preexisting conditions
could start new businesses, secure in their health care needs.

• BUSINESS RELIEF: Businesses would simply and affordably be able to count on having health
care for all their employees. Employer administration of health benefits would be eliminated
and business costs made predictable.

• ACCOUNTABLE & TRANSPARENT: The Cooperative would have a publicly elected board of
directors, accountable for health spending and outcomes. Members would be engaged and
informed on operations, evaluations, and revisions of benefits. Finances would be
transparent. It’s a system that’s accountable to the users, not out-of-state private investors.

• CHOICE: Coloradans would be free to choose among primary care providers and Integrated
Health Care Networks and to change providers as they see fit.

• MARKET BASED: Providers and hospitals would compete for members based on their ability
to deliver excellent service and quality. Prices for medications and durable medical
equipment would be negotiated to reduce costs.

• EFFICIENCY: Billing would be simplified and centralized. Providers would have dependable
and adequate reimbursements.

• MALPRACTICE REFORM: Remuneration for injured parties would be done quickly and fairly.
Defensive medical costs would decrease. Health care professionals would be attracted to
Colorado.

• TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED: Smart cards for each Coloradan would ensure access to
medical records, simplify billing, and prevent fraud. Comprehensive electronic medical
records would collect data to determine best practices.

• COMPASSIONATE: The Cooperative would dependably provide for vulnerable populations
and those with exceptional needs.

• QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: The Cooperative would be evaluated with an eye toward
improving access, quality, and reliability. The system design would be aligned with best
practices to increase best outcomes.

• COST CONTAINMENT: Methods for containing all costs and eliminating unnecessary
expenditures would include: reducing administrative costs; reducing costs that do not
contribute to efficient, high quality health services; and reducing care that does not improve
health outcomes. Cost control must be implemented for the health of the Colorado economy.

• FISCALLY SOUND: The financing of health care in Colorado must be sufficient, fair,
sustainable, and shared equitably. Providers must be adequately compensated through a
payment system that reduces administrative burdens on providers.