In nearly 100 hospitals across our state, I have visited with chief executives and cooks in the cafeteria, with nurse managers and physical therapists, with emergency room doctors and custodians, and so many others. I know firsthand how hard they work every day to serve their patients and communities.

Looking across the current health care landscape, I think of all these amazing people and their passion for service because they are at great risk. Here at home, our state leaders need to close a billion-dollar budget gap. They also need to return 500,000 people to Medicaid who lost coverage because Colorado dramatically failed to keep eligible patients insured after the COVID public health emergency.

At the same time, Medicaid is on the chopping block in Washington. Even if only a portion of Congress’ contemplated cuts are adopted, our state would lose billions in federal funding. Hospitals and clinics would close. Patients would lose access to the care they need.

In this challenging space, we recognize as hospital leaders difficult choices lie ahead. We also believe it is just as important for legislators to see how those choices affect patients and their health care providers. At such a delicate time, health policy must be crafted more carefully and cautiously than ever.

The rate-setting bill championed by Gov. Jared Polis and Rep. Kyle Brown (D-Louisville) is neither. The bill claims to financially secure Community Health Centers, which are vital to the state’s health care system. Unfortunately, like hospitals, the centers are struggling with Colorado’s failed Medicaid re-enrollment and the spike in unpaid care it created.

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The governor’s bill fails to address either of these serious issues — it does not provide coverage for half-a-million disenrolled patients or reimburse providers for the continued surge of uninsured patients.

Rather, HB 25-1174 would arbitrarily shift costs and further destabilize Colorado hospitals.

Already this year, we saw vital services cut in one rural an one urban hospital. With the wrong policy choices, especially now, more are sure to follow.

In a signal the policy is flawed, many hospitals have been exempted or “carved out” of the bill. Too many exceptions mean the rule is bad. We cannot deplete one part of our safety net to save another. The entire health care ecosystem must remain stable, and health care providers cannot be asked to solve state and federal problems when they already contribute so much.

Hospitals — despite 70% not earning sustainable margins — proudly contribute $5.6 billion annually toward access and affordability in Colorado.

CHA and its member hospitals stand shoulder to shoulder with community providers knowing access to primary and mental health care is key to keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital. And our hardworking hospital teams, as always, stand ready to care for patients who need lifesaving care.

Bills passed this session need to mitigate rather than compound risk. Hospital leaders stand ready to discuss policies that make sense and strengthen, not weaken, our safety net.

Jeff Tieman is president and chief executive of the Colorado Hospital Association.