hospital provider fee

House Majority Leader on crucial Hospital Fee bill negotiations: ‘We’re so, so super close’

May 3, 2017

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John Tomasic

Weeks of tense negotiations and occasional lawmaker blowups are coming to an end, one way or another, over a linchpin bill that in its last iteration would raise $1.8 billion in bond money for state transportation upgrades, save state hospitals from a proposed $500 million cut and lower the state spending limit in future years…
#Coleg Week 17: Hospital fee, high-risk pools, transportation reprise, forced pooling, Columbus Day, sanctuary cities

May 1, 2017

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John Tomasic

The big game this week will strut into the open on Tuesday at 8:40 a.m., when the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 267, the forebodingly titled “Sustainability of Rural Colorado” proposal. The bill would rescue the proposed state budget from its wretchedness by refilling $500 million in hospital cuts and generating…
Insights: On Hospital Provider Fee, ‘I’m still waiting… I’m still waiting… I’m still waiting…’

Apr 28, 2017

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Peter Marcus

I’ve been walking around the Colorado Capitol lately with the Talking Heads’ song “Crosseyed and Painless” stuck in my head. It’s really just a few lines in the song: “Facts are simple and facts are straight. Facts are lazy and facts are late… I’m still waiting… I’m still waiting… I’m still waiting…” But it hasn’t…
With Esgar on board, House Dems pass bitter-pill measure to slash hospital funds, advance budget debate

Apr 25, 2017

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John Tomasic

Democratic leaders dodged a bullet Tuesday afternoon and passed with one vote to spare a crucial “orbital” budget bill that nevertheless threatens to blow a gaping hole in state hospital budgets and shutter healthcare facilities in already woefully underserved rural districts. Senate Bill 256 passed on 33-31 vote. Four Democrats joined the Republican caucus to…
In home stretch, legislative session as bumpy as a Colorado roadway

Apr 25, 2017

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John Tomasic

Kevin Grantham sat deep in his chair, his left foot, shod in a large cowboy boot, resting on his right knee, the Capitol press corps arrayed in front of him brought by text messages sent out near 10:00 p.m. the night before. It was Thursday morning, just two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the end of the…
#Coleg Week 16: Transportation-hospital fee moments of truth, fueling stations by Xcel, repealing Columbus Day, rolling coal…

Apr 24, 2017

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John Tomasic

Two-and-a-half weeks till closing time, and there’s plenty of business left to conduct in this building. All eyes will be watching transportation-funding House Bill 1242. It’s being heard Tuesday in the Senate Finance committee. It’s one of the big-deal top-priority bills of the session, and it seems doomed. Will there be amendments? Will someone have…
Rural Colorado hospitals get a little good news from Bennet and Gardner with Medicare bill

Apr 24, 2017

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Joey Bunch

Rural Colorado hospitals haven’t had much good news lately, with Colorado lawmakers eying deep cuts into the state and federal money they receive in order to fatten up the largest budget in state history. But give Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner credit for trying to steer some help their way, introducing legislation to permanently extend Medicare financing…
Insights: Meltdown in Colorado legislature over centerpiece issues

Apr 21, 2017

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Peter Marcus

The legislature experienced a meltdown on Thursday. At around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, the Capitol press corps was summoned to Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham’s office for an 8 a.m. meeting on Thursday. Republicans were super secretive about it. “Senate President Kevin Grantham will meet with the professional press at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, April 20,…
Troubled Colorado transportation funding bill faces roadblocks

Apr 20, 2017

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Peter Marcus

A proposal to raise money for transportation infrastructure appears to have crashed in the legislature as supporters scramble to secure the votes needed to keep the bill moving. Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Canon City, a sponsor of the centerpiece transportation funding effort, acknowledged that he has struggled to convince his caucus to support the measure. “The…
Lawmakers signal an impasse over Hospital Provider Fee negotiations

Apr 20, 2017

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Peter Marcus

The legislature has hit an impasse on a proposal to restructure the Hospital Provider Fee, with frustration driving much of the process. What started as a bipartisan effort to break a three-year stalemate on the Hospital Provider Fee has morphed into partisan attacks from both sides over an unwillingness to compromise. At the beginning of…