Seems that when it comes to health care — and its reform — the discussion nearly always occurs within the context of the national equation. But ours is a decidedly states rights market. Just ask anyone from New Jersey.
And, as such, any talk of reform from either side of the aisle has to be addressed at that level.
In Colorado, for example, we are lucky enough to have what's called a citizens' legislature. That means they all have day jobs. They have to, really, since the General Assembly gathers in downtown Denver for "no more than 120 days" annually. So no matter how out of hand they get, or how wacky the laws they draft, the amount of damage they can do is somewhat mitigated by a smaller window of opportunity.
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That being said, lawmakers here managed to float somewhere between 40 to 60 bills aimed at health care and the insurance industries. And while most of these proposals will never see the light of day, let alone the governor's desk, the point remains: the road to health care reform — once we find it — will be paved with paper. And more bad ideas than a bachelor party.
Worth noting, however, is the flood of bills aimed at transparency, the latest politico buzzword. Funny thing is, despite this sudden sense of urgency, all of these bills target broker commissions only. That's it. Nothing else. There's not a single piece of legislation aimed at carrier rates, hospital fees or any other medical charges.
Seems to me that Colorado transparency is more like a one-way mirror.
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