COLORADO Health Insurance : reform the state's health care delivery : EasyToInsureME

COLORADO Health Insurance : Legislation that would have required all internal review of claims, independent medical evaluations and utilization review to be conducted by Colorado-licensed health care providers was finally defeated after months of lobbying. The proposal would have prevented health and disability insurers from using out-of-state physicians for review, unless the physicians agreed to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Colorado Medical Board. The bill also would have required that all written denials include the identity of the person on whose opinion the denial was based. In other news, a bill to dramatically reform the state's health care delivery and financing system was introduced last week in the House. Chances of passage are slim given the state's growing budget programs. But the main thrust of the measure is the creation of the Colorado Health Care Authority, which would be a political subdivision of the state, not an agency. It would not be subject to administrative direction or control by any department, commission, bureau or agency. The Authority would be directed to design and submit to the General Assembly a detailed health care system, to direct the implementation of the system, and to administer and oversee both public and private health care activities.