September 22, 2007 09:43 PM UTC

Colorado cannot 'solve' health insurance

• 6 Comments
• by: Another skeptic

Finally, The Rocky Mountain News is saying what I’ve  been saying for years. Neither Colorado nor any other state can do much about the health insurance markets because of the huge roles played by Congress, Medicare, Medicaid, Schip, the VA, ERISA and numerous related federal rules and regulations.

The link is here:

http://www.rockymoun…

The impact graphs:

The health- care sector makes up roughly one-seventh of the economy. It is immensely complicated, with the federal government in charge of much of its financing and regulations. Long-lasting, comprehensive fixes for Colorado’s medical system are certainly outside the control of this panel – and state policy-makers in general.

In no way do we mean to diminish the difficult task that Senate Bill 208 gave to the commission last year. Nor would we minimize the efforts by commission members and other volunteers, who have invested countless hours designing ways to expand health-care coverage.

What is clear, though, is that actions by Washington could override any policy changes either made by next year’s legislature or approved by voters in a state ballot referendum.

Translation, the Health Care Commission is wasting its time and taxpayers’ money.

If Bush can’t convince Congress to change the health insurance markets-and he probably can’t-the next president might-50% chance.