FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 5, 2026
Contact: Priya Telang, ptelang@cohealthinitiative.org
Consumer Advocates Blast Senate Health Committee for Killing Health Care Mergers Bill
DENVER – Mergers and acquisitions of large hospital systems and other health care providers have been a primary driver of increased health care costs in Colorado. Today, despite the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) making it clear that Colorado has a critical opportunity to ensure that health care markets remain accountable, transparent, and centered on the public interest, not just profits, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee killed a key Mergers and Acquisitions bill. The bill was opposed by the Colorado Hospital Association, UC Health, CommonSpirit, other hospitals, as well as business entities
The bill, SB26-041, Consumer Protections Medical Care Entities, ensured that health care mergers and acquisitions—including those involving hospital systems, private equity firms, and large corporate medical, dental, and even veterinary providers—are evaluated not only for financial implications but for their impact on patients, providers, workers, small businesses, and communities.
This bill was sponsored by Sen. Mike Weissman, Sen. Cathy Kipp, Rep. Kyle Brown, and Rep. Karen McCormick.
“Given that Coloradans need more transparency and options in health care, killing this bill is mistake,” said Priya Telang, Communications Manager for the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. “Consolidation in health care is known to harm patients; it drives up costs without improving the quality of care. Instead, consumers are left with fewer care options and higher medical bills. This bill simply created more oversight and accountability in health care mergers, ensuring they align with consumer needs. At a time where costs are increasing, our legislature should be prioritizing real people over private equity and hospital profits.”
Corporate consolidation is reshaping health care, with 90% of US hospital markets highly consolidated. This consolidation increases corporate control, reduces competition, and prioritizes short-term financial gains over long-term patient and community health. Unchecked consolidation can harm Coloradans through higher costs, reduced access and disrupted care, delayed treatment, loss of independent providers, and a loss of community control over local health care decisions.
“I worked at Mercy Hospital in Durango for 22 years, and saw the negative impacts of consolidation firsthand,” said Dr. Gus Hallin, a retired physician in Durango. “In 2016, things progressively worsened when a new Centura administration persuaded our local Board of Trustees to forgo their fiduciary responsibilities, and Centura took over all financial and re-investment decisions without informing the public or medical staff. Further cuts ensued, affecting continuity and quality of care in both the inpatient and outpatient arenas long-term. Which is why community leaders and providers need to be involved in merger and acquisition decisions. We are all impacted.”
CCHI will continue to advocate on this issue.
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Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, membership-based group advocating for equitable access to high-quality, affordable health care. CCHI serves Coloradans whose access to health care and financial security are compromised by structural barriers, affordability, poor benefits, or unfair business practices of the health care industry.