An amendment on a hemp agent Delta-8 brought controversy to Thursday s third reading of House Bill 1317, a wide-ranging measure seeking to study the effects of high-potency THC products on
Medical professionals in white coats were seen all over the state Capitol Friday, on hand to testify both for and against the Colorado Option Health Benefit Plan Act.
On the third try, House Bill 1232 got in front of the House Health & Insurance Committee Friday in a 10-hour hearing that drew more than 100 witnesses to the Capitol or to testify remotely.
But negotiations between bill sponsors and the healthcare industry that went on all day Friday meant that the bill was not ready for action, including amendments. That s now delayed until Tuesday.
The bill has been a battle royal between the Polis administration and the healthcare industry.
Reaction to the first draft of the Colorado Health Care Option bill, sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Eagle, and Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, runs the gamut.
The draft bill, first reported by Colorado Politics, sets a two-year timeline for the health industry to reduce premiums by 20% for the individual group market. Should that fail, the state would set up a quasi-public health plan to cover the individual and small group market, a total of about 15% of all insured people in Colorado. The state option, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, would set rates for healthcare services in an attempt to reduce costs.Â