Recent Accomplishments

• In 2022 CCHI supported consumer-focused implementation of the Colorado Option, Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and Hospital Discounted Care Regulations including hosting numerous webinars and outreach activities to bring community voices into these processes and raise awareness. CCHI also spearheaded HB22 1269 to bring greater transparency to health care sharing associations in Colorado and supported member organizations’ in passing crucial legislation on coverage for immigrant Coloradans, protecting reproductive health care, and promoting oral health. And, since 2018 the Consumer Assistance program saved almost $7 million in consumer medical and prescription drug costs and served 2,550 clients. 

• In 2021 our Consumer Assistance Program saved over $4 million in consumer medical and prescription drug costs and served 1,600 clients. Our field team connected with Coloradans through 82,870 texts and 3,574 calls. Unaffordable insurance, costs of prescriptions and hospital bills are top problems Coloradans face. CCHI championed high impact legislation like House Bill 21-1232, the Colorado Option, requiring standardized health insurance plans that meet coverage and equity goals and reduce premiums by 15 percent over three years. Senate Bill 21-175 creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and set payment limits on high-cost prescription drugs. CCHI also supported House Bill 21-1198 to strengthen hospital financial assistance for low-income patients.
• In 2020 CCHI helped pass the health Insurance Affordability Fee Enterprise which creates new revenue to reduce the cost of insurance premiums through reinsurance, and provides subsidies to low-income Coloradans and Coloradans who are excluded from health coverage due to restrictive federal eligibility rules. CCHI laid important groundwork toward advancing a prescription drug affordability board and a public option in 2021. CCHI launched a new organizing program in 2020 and ran virtual organizing campaigns to connect with Coloradans about their health care experiences and values. The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP helped 540 Coloradans from 34 counties save $1.1 million in medical bills. CAP caseload increased 46% over 2019, with average client savings of $8,800.
• Passed legislation to protect consumers from surprise out-of-network bills and set reasonable reimbursement rates to control costs. (2019)
• Passed legislation to start creating a public option to expand coverage options and affordability (2019)
• Passed legislation to create a reinsurance program and lower insurance premiums in the private insurance market (2019)
• Passed legislation to cap the monthly costs for insulin in Colorado insurance plans (2019)
• Passed legislation for greater accountability and consumer notification in free-standing emergency rooms (FSERs) (2018)
• Defeated state level legislation harmful to Coloradans on Medicaid (2018)
• Consumer Assistance Program launched! (2018)
• Protected Affordable Care Act and Medicaid as backbone organization for the Protect Our Care Colorado Coalition (POCC) (2017)
• Worked with state agencies to create robust insurance provider network adequacy laws (2016, 2017)

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