Marchman, Jaquez Lewis Bill to Analyze a Statewide Single-Payer Health Care System Advances
DENVER, CO – Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, bill to analyze model legislation for a statewide universal single-payer health care system passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today.
SB25-045 would require the School of Public Health at the University of Colorado to create a report on the model legislation and would establish the Statewide Health Care Analysis Collaborative in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to assist the school in developing its report.
“Colorado faces significant health care affordability issues, especially in rural areas,” said Marchman. “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 bill 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.”
“The high costs of health care continue to burden Colorado families and small businesses,” Jaquez Lewis said. “The study will analyze costs, revenue sources, reimbursement rates, and overall economic impacts to help guide future health care policymaking. Additionally, the task force will incorporate input from patients, providers, business leaders, and policy experts, ensuring a balanced analysis. We are committed to exploring practical options to make health care affordable and accessible.”
By December 31, 2026, the school would be required to acquire model legislation developed by a nonprofit to enact a universal single-payer health care system and submit a report on the legislation that analyzes costs and connections to federal law, identifies possible revenue sources to cover costs, and evaluates the feasibility of other models.
Under the bill, funding for the study is dependent on receipt of sufficient gifts, grants, or donations.
SB25-045 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track its progress HERE.