Check out the current bill tracker for updated information on health-related legislation moving through the General Assembly. CRHC has taken official positions on four bills and is monitoring several others.
We are also watching budget activities closely. Supplemental bills to balance an additional $145 million for the rest of this fiscal year (ending on June 30) have passed the House and Senate, with final issues being worked out by the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). Governor Hickenlooper released his FY 11-12 budget proposal earlier this week, which calls for difficult and painful cuts in state spending to balance a projected $1 billion deficit. While few areas of the budget were spared, significant cuts in K-12 education were proposed along with several health-related measures including Medicaid benefit reductions and a 0.5% provider rate cut. The Legislature will now begin their work to set the budget, beginning with JBC figure-settings. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing hearing is scheduled for March 8. Another important day is March 20, when the next revenue forecast will be released. This forecast will indicate if further cuts are needed or if things are starting to pick up. Stay tuned.
