Timeline - Scheduled Events:

Tentative Dates - Public Hearings by 208 Commission via teleconferencing linking several cities -
March 22 & March 24 - Check 208 Commission website for posting of forums - Check website for updates:  www.colorado.gov/208Commission

The Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform ("the Commission") released a Solicitation for Health Reform Proposals on February 22, 2007. The Solicitation provides detailed instructions to individuals and organizations wishing to submit a Health Reform Proposal to the Commission. As required by Senate Bill 06-208, proposals considered by the Commission must ensure access to affordable coverage for Colorado residents. Due to time constraints, proposals submitted to the Commission which do not contain the required elements described in the Solicitation for Health Reform Proposals will not be considered by the Commission.

Proposals will be due to the Commission by 5:00pm on Friday, April 6, 2007.  Prospective proposers should submit, by mail or email, a "Notice of Intent to Submit a Proposal" by 5:00 PM March 13, 2007.  The solicitation can be downloaded from the Commission website at www.colorado.gov/208commission .

Purpose of Solicitation

The purpose of this Solicitation for Health Care Reform Proposals is to request health care reform proposals from interested individuals and organizations. The Commission will review all submitted proposals that meet the requirements of this Solicitation and will select three to five of the submitted comprehensive proposals for detailed technical analysis by the Commission's Independent Consultant. When the detailed technical analysis is complete, the Commission will report the results, as well as the Commission's recommendations, to the General Assembly. The Commission may also use the results of the detailed technical analysis to develop a preferred health care reform proposal for inclusion in the Commission's recommendations to the General Assembly. 

Minimum Requirements of Health Care Reform Proposals

The Commission seeks a variety of health care reform proposals that will further the Goals and Guiding Principles of the Commission. The Commission will consider for detailed technical analysis any proposal which is comprehensive. Proposals that do not propose a comprehensive reform will not be considered for detailed technical analysis, but may ultimately be considered for inclusion in the Commission's recommendations to the General Assembly.

Pre-Proposal Conference

A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for March 8, 2007 from 9:00 A.M. until noon at Old Supreme Court Chambers on the North 2 ^nd Floor, Room 220 of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.  All interested proposers are encouraged to attend.  

The conference will provide a brief overview of the Solicitation for Proposals, clarify questions relating to the Solicitation for Proposals, and allow interested parties to meet and possibly form partnerships for joint proposals. The conference will be presented by the Technical Advisor; Commissioners will not be in attendance.

Those who plan to attend the pre-proposal conference, are asked to email Sarah Schulte at sarahschulte@mindspring.com by March 5 with the number of people who will be attending.  However, this is not a requirement for attendance. 

Commission Background

According to the authorizing legislation (SB06-208), the purpose of the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform is to "study and establish health care reform models to expand health care coverage and to decrease health care costs for Colorado residents."  The Commission must:

?         "Work in a nonpartisan manner to examine health care coverage and reform models designed to ensure access to affordable coverage for all Colorado residents; "

?         "Solicit reform concept papers and detailed proposals from interested parties; "

?         "Select the top proposals for detailed technical analysis by an independent consulting firm;"

?         "Hold statewide informational meetings at least once in each congressional district for the purpose of receiving public comments;"

?         "Present a final report to the General Assembly on or before November 30, 2007, including an unbiased economic analysis, feasibility, and technical assessment of the favorable and unfavorable considerations and of the various reform options"

Given its overarching goal to increase coverage and reduce cost, the Commission has adopted the following guiding principles for its work:

?         Protect and improve the health status of all Coloradans.

?         Expand coverage of essential health care services for all Coloradans, with an emphasis on the uninsured and    underinsured.

?         Align incentives to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and coordinated care.

?         Support a system that is financially viable, sustainable, and fair.

?         Provide opportunities for meaningful choice and encourage personal responsibility.

?         Emphasize wellness, prevention, health education, and consumer empowerment.