Better Health Care for Colorado

About the Better Health Care for Colorado Plan

The Better Health Care for Colorado proposal is a comprehensive health care plan that will:

Provide a path to affordable health care coverage for all Coloradans.
Preserve the dignity and independence of elderly residents by providing greater access to less restrictive and more cost effective long term care.
Help Colorado’s small businesses purchase quality, affordable health plans for their employees.
Result in greater health care choices and cost savings through the creation of an insurance exchange.

» Learn about all the key components of the plan.
» Find out about the Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform.
» Read the entire proposal. (pdf)

"Better Health Care for Colorado" Proposal Moves Forward

Watch Jennifer Jenkins, a member of the SEIU Nurse Alliance of Colorado, talk about the need for reform.

SEIU and CAPE's "Better Health Care for Colorado" proposal has been selected along with three other health care reform plans for further modeling by Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform. The commission must send three to five health care reform plans to the legislature -- likely in January 2008.

The SEIU and CAPE plan puts Colorado on a path to expand health care coverage for all residents and would ensure that Coloradans could access quality care at every stage of life. With the significant difference that the plan does not contain mandates, its approach is simliar to the health care reform plan that was recently passed in Massachusetts. It would also provide greater long term care choices to elderly residents.

» Learn more about the proposal.

» Read the Denver Post story.

Nurses Win Improvements to Protect Patients

Colorado nurses celebrate following the signing of new legislation to protect health care workers who advocate for patients.

Colorado nurses are celebrating a major breakthrough! On March 29, Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law protections for nurses who speak out on behalf of their patients, and an executive order creating a task force to ensure safer staffing in Colorado hospitals.

"For patients, nurse staffing levels in hospitals can be a life or death issue," said Patty Stewart, a nurse at the Medical Center of Aurora. "Our patients count on us to speak up for them to ensure they get the care they’re supposed to."

» Read the Rocky Mountain News story, "Ritter Signs Bill to Protect Patient Safety"

State Workers Call on Colorado to Lead on Health Care

Colorado public service employees meet with lawmakers, urging elected officials to show leadership on health care.

Noting that Colorado ranks 49th out of the 50 states in state employee health care, thousands of CAPE-SEIU members signed petitions and visited with lawmakers this spring, urging the state to start leading by example when it comes to health care.

"Saying Starbucks workers get better health benefits, three state employees delivered 3,000 petition signatures to legislative leaders Wednesday in support of lower insurance premiums.

"If baristas can make better health insurance than state troopers, that's just criminal," Lori Ganni told House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald during a morning meeting."

» Read the entire Denver Post story.

Building Momentum for National Health Care Reform: SEIU and Walmart Join Forces to Fix Broken System

Long time adversaries SEIU and Wal-Mart, the largest union and employer in the country respectively, recently joined forces to fundamentally change the nation’s broken health care system. SEIU also recently formed “Divided We Fail" with the AARP and the Business Roundtable to push for real solutions to the health care crisis.

» Learn more.