2007: The year of health care reform -- almost in Colorado

In Colorado and throughout the nation, reform was the watchword in health care.

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform met and garnered advice, proposals and feedback from throughout the state during 2007 in preparation for its recommendations to the General Assembly in January.

The commission was charged with fixing a system that many say is "broken," with hundreds of thousands of Colorado residents unable to afford insurance -- and more employers declining to offer coverage.

With the increased use of consumer-based health plans such as Health Savings Accounts -- combined with providing more uncompensated care -- both local hospitals reported increases in bad debt.

Memorial Health System opened a new hospital this year, and expanded its presence on its central campus, creating a separate wing for The Children's Hospital and Women's Pavilion. Penrose-St. Francis Health Center continued work on its new property.

Both new hospitals are in the northern section of the county, while the southern part of the county lacks adequate health care services. Woodland Park also opened a new hospital this year.

208 Commission finishes work

Known as the 208 Commission for the legislation that created it, the commission spent the year evaluating proposals from the state's health care experts, and creating its own proposal to reform the state's system. The plans range from a single-payer system to programs that require health insurance and give government subsidies to help those who can't afford insurance premiums.

"We're at a watershed point," said Marcy Morrison, state commissioner of insurance. "Whatever comes out of this discussion will be worked into a model. It could change everything."

The five proposals were culled from 30 considered by the 208 Commission, which was created by the legislature during 2006. The Lewin Group, an independent consultant, evaluated the finalists.

The process was not without controversy. The Lewin Group was bought by United Healthcare, one of the largest insurance providers in the state. Commission members stood by their decision to have the group evaluate the five proposals, and the group's analysts showed that a single-payer system would be the most cost-effective for the state.

Expanding hospitals -- but in the right direction?

Across the nation, hospitals are expanding outside central city locations to wealthier suburbs, and health care analysts say the trend is far from positive: affecting access and costs for people in less affluent areas.

Colorado Springs is no exception.

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services plans to close Penrose Community Hospital on North Academy Boulevard when it opens a new hospital at Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road; Memorial Health System has already opened a new hospital in northern El Paso County even as it updates its aging facilities on Boulder Street.

"It's a struggle with equity of access, equity of cost," said Paul Rosser, assistant professor of health care management in the Regis University School of Professional Studies. "If you look at it from a business sense, they're obviously looking at socio-economic factors."

Fountain: left behind

As northern El Paso County gets ready for the opening of a second new hospital, residents in the southern section of the county are feeling the strain from lack of medical services.

"We're grossly underserved out here," said Lisa Cochrun, economic developer for the City of Fountain. "According to the assessment we had done of the impact of the new Fort Carson soldiers and their families, we're going to have a huge need for medical services."

Fountain has two new medical office buildings ready for tenants, but Cochrun said the city is having trouble attracting specialty practices.

So far, only Colorado Springs Health Partnerships and Peak Vista Community Health Centers have a large presence in the area, she said.

"I guess hospitals have done their business analysis and know that they can get the business they need in the northern part of the city," Cochrun said. "That's where the higher incomes are -- but our young families have to travel up there too, so in a way we are subsidizing having hospitals in that part of town."

SCHIP in the balance

While Congress and President George Bush agreed to extend coverage for 2008, many states will still face a shortfall next year. However, Colorado's program still has space for more children - - even if spending levels do not rise next year.

Some states will run out of money without an increase in funding, but Colorado's program will be solvent through the end of next year, said Joanne Lindsay, spokeswoman for the Department of Health Care policy and Financing.

"As long as the state comes up with its matching funds, we'll be fine," she said. "With the continuing resolution, we'll be OK through Fiscal Year 2008 because we can roll over federal money up to three years, and we have funds available."

Currently, CHP+, as the program is known in Colorado, serves families earning up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. It includes physicals, doctor visits, immunization, dental care, hospital services, eye care, prescriptions, mental health care, hearing aids and prenatal care.