New Colorado law calls for studying single-payer health care
Colorado will soon be studying model legislation to potentially implement a single-payer health care system.
Governor Jared Polis Wednesday signed Senate Bill 25-045 into law, which directs the University of Colorado’s School of Public Health to produce a study on single-payer model legislation and report back to the legislature by the end of 2026.
A similar bill to analyze what a universal health care payment system would look like in the state failed in 2024, and voters overwhelmingly defeated Amendment 69 in 2016, which would have financed a universal health care system.
“Colorado faces significant health care affordability issues, especially in rural areas,” said Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, the bill sponsor. “Senate Bill 45 is a fact-finding and data-driven approach to analyze the potential for a single-payer, publicly financed health care payment system in Colorado.’
“This important law will ensure we get the facts straight with a thorough, independent review of costs, funding sources and feasibility of such a system before we take legislative action on major health care reform,” she added in a statement.
The legislation also establishes a 20-member Statewide Health Care Analysis Collaborative to advise on the school’s analysis.
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce opposed the legislation, saying the commissioned report is intended to have a “predetermined outcome.”
“While the bill is presented as a study, there is a clear predetermined outcome to implement a universal, single-payer health care system statewide,” Meghan Dollar, the Chamber’s senior vice president of government affairs, said. “Similar legislation has recently passed in the state of Oregon, which has been estimated to cost $20 billion in new taxes, including a $12.3 billion employer payroll tax. The Colorado Chamber has long been opposed to mandates that will increase costs on health care industries, employers and their employees."
Polis also signed SB 25-130 on Wednesday, which adds requirements to state law so individuals who need emergency medical services aren’t discriminated against based on their ability to pay.
“Every Coloradan deserves access to health care they can afford,” the governor said in a statement. “Since taking office, this has been a top focus of my administration, and I’m proud of the progress we are making to reduce costs and increase access."
