Seed Newsvine
A bill to authorize civil unions for gay couples will receive its first hearing next week.
SB 11 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 pm.
Observers expect that the hearing will be the first in a series of steps leading to enactment of the legislation this year.
In 2012 the speaker of then-Republican House of Representatives stirred controversy by failing to allow a vote on a similar bill on the last day of the session after it had been cleared by the Senate. That bill, which had been approved by three House committees, appeared to have enough support to pass the chamber and head to Gov. John Hickenlooper for a promised signature.
Hickenlooper subsequently called a special session. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, who was speaker at the time, then referred the measure to the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee, where it died on a party-line vote.
The issue helped Democrats pick up five seats in the chamber in the November election.
SB 11 is sponsored by Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, and Reps. Mark Ferrandino, the current speaker of the House, and Sue Schafer, D-Arvada.
Showing posts with label Mark Ferrandino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Ferrandino. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Hickenlooper announces plan to save Medicaid dollars
Gov. John Hickenlooper thinks he can save taxpayers almost $300 million while extending Medicaid coverage to 160,000 more Coloradoans.
His plan has five elements and, except for one that focuses in part on eliminating redundant or unnecessary medical services, it does not contemplate a reduction in the extent of health care provided to participants in the program.
According to a Jan. 3 press release the cost savings would come from extending "clinically appropriate services" and "ensure use of the most effective care at the lowest cost." The proposal would also focus on rewarding better cooperation between healthcare providers and their achievement of "performance benchmarks."
The plan will also include an effort to pay providers based on the "value" of their care, as opposed to the frequency with which care is given, and encourage the use of more sophisticated technology capable of improving the efficiency of claim administration.
Finally, the governor's proposal suggests that additional efforts to reduce wasteful or inappropriate expenditures will help lower program costs.
“We are focusing on transforming our health system to ensure all Medicaid recipients have access to the right services, at the right time, in the right setting and at the right price,” Susan E. Birch, the executive director of the state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, said in a statement.
The cost of the expansion would be about $1.4 billion, but according to DHCPF the steps outlined in the proposal would offset all but about 20 percent of that amount.
House speaker-designate Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, thinks the governor's plan might work.
"If we combine cost controls and smarter, outcomes-oriented payment systems, we can expand Medicaid and not break the bank,” he said.
Republicans were less enthusiastic, with House minority leader-designate Mark Waller of Colorado Springs arguing that it might lead to an increase in spending on the program and cuts in the number of people who can be served.
"We’ve already scaled back Medicaid once because of costly and inaccurate forecasting, let us make sure we’re not repeating those mistakes under the Governor’s plan," he said.
Another leading GOP voice on health care issues, Rep. Cheri Gerou of Evergreen, said she is concerned that financing Hickenlooper's plan might mean a reduction in spending on education.
"The Governor will need to explain how adding 160,000 people to our Medicaid system will not further reduce the monies available to support our K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.”
If enacted into law, the governor's proposal would expand Medicaid eligibility up to an income level that equals 133 percent of Federal Poverty Level as of Jan. 1, 2014. That means a family earning no more than $30,657 per year could qualify.
Under current Colorado law children and pregnant mothers qualify for Medicaid coverage even if the income of their family is substantially higher than that threshold. Those two categories of beneficiaries are eligible if family income does not exceed 250 percent of FPL.
One sweetener of the proposed expansion could be a delay in Colorado's assumption of the expense it involves. Under the sweeping federal healthcare reform law passed in 2010 the U.S. government will pay for Medicaid expansion to the extent Hickenlooper has proposed until 2016. The federal treasury's contribution to the cost would then decline to a 90 percent share by 2020.
The state's general fund revenue is also not necessary to pay for the expansion. Legislation passed in 2009 that established a provider fee to be assessed on hospitals is the source of funds to pay for it.
Ferrandino and Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, will sponsor legislation aimed at implementing parts of Hickenlooper's proposal.
If enacted, according to a report published by the Colorado Center on Law & Policy in December, about 120,000 additional Coloradoans would gain access to health insurance coverage.
His plan has five elements and, except for one that focuses in part on eliminating redundant or unnecessary medical services, it does not contemplate a reduction in the extent of health care provided to participants in the program.
According to a Jan. 3 press release the cost savings would come from extending "clinically appropriate services" and "ensure use of the most effective care at the lowest cost." The proposal would also focus on rewarding better cooperation between healthcare providers and their achievement of "performance benchmarks."
The plan will also include an effort to pay providers based on the "value" of their care, as opposed to the frequency with which care is given, and encourage the use of more sophisticated technology capable of improving the efficiency of claim administration.
Finally, the governor's proposal suggests that additional efforts to reduce wasteful or inappropriate expenditures will help lower program costs.
“We are focusing on transforming our health system to ensure all Medicaid recipients have access to the right services, at the right time, in the right setting and at the right price,” Susan E. Birch, the executive director of the state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, said in a statement.
The cost of the expansion would be about $1.4 billion, but according to DHCPF the steps outlined in the proposal would offset all but about 20 percent of that amount.
House speaker-designate Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, thinks the governor's plan might work.
"If we combine cost controls and smarter, outcomes-oriented payment systems, we can expand Medicaid and not break the bank,” he said.
Republicans were less enthusiastic, with House minority leader-designate Mark Waller of Colorado Springs arguing that it might lead to an increase in spending on the program and cuts in the number of people who can be served.
"We’ve already scaled back Medicaid once because of costly and inaccurate forecasting, let us make sure we’re not repeating those mistakes under the Governor’s plan," he said.
Another leading GOP voice on health care issues, Rep. Cheri Gerou of Evergreen, said she is concerned that financing Hickenlooper's plan might mean a reduction in spending on education.
"The Governor will need to explain how adding 160,000 people to our Medicaid system will not further reduce the monies available to support our K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.”
If enacted into law, the governor's proposal would expand Medicaid eligibility up to an income level that equals 133 percent of Federal Poverty Level as of Jan. 1, 2014. That means a family earning no more than $30,657 per year could qualify.
Under current Colorado law children and pregnant mothers qualify for Medicaid coverage even if the income of their family is substantially higher than that threshold. Those two categories of beneficiaries are eligible if family income does not exceed 250 percent of FPL.
One sweetener of the proposed expansion could be a delay in Colorado's assumption of the expense it involves. Under the sweeping federal healthcare reform law passed in 2010 the U.S. government will pay for Medicaid expansion to the extent Hickenlooper has proposed until 2016. The federal treasury's contribution to the cost would then decline to a 90 percent share by 2020.
The state's general fund revenue is also not necessary to pay for the expansion. Legislation passed in 2009 that established a provider fee to be assessed on hospitals is the source of funds to pay for it.
Ferrandino and Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, will sponsor legislation aimed at implementing parts of Hickenlooper's proposal.
If enacted, according to a report published by the Colorado Center on Law & Policy in December, about 120,000 additional Coloradoans would gain access to health insurance coverage.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Ferrandino warns of huge higher education cuts
A member of the Joint Budget Committee warned a Greeley audience Saturday that Colorado could be facing drastic cuts in higher education funding within the next few years.
A report in Saturday's Greeley Tribune says that Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, told people attending an open forum at Evans Community College that the requirements of federal stimulus funding, which have protected the colleges' budgets during the last two years, are ending.
Gov. Bill Ritter's FY 2011 budget proposal would set higher education funding at $555 million. If that amount, or less, is adopted by the General Assembly, Colorado would rank last among the 50 states in the amount of money budgeted for colleges and universities.
Unlike other areas of the state budget, such as Medicaid and K-12 education, there is no law that mandates a minimum level of funding for higher education.
A report in Saturday's Greeley Tribune says that Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, told people attending an open forum at Evans Community College that the requirements of federal stimulus funding, which have protected the colleges' budgets during the last two years, are ending.
Gov. Bill Ritter's FY 2011 budget proposal would set higher education funding at $555 million. If that amount, or less, is adopted by the General Assembly, Colorado would rank last among the 50 states in the amount of money budgeted for colleges and universities.
Unlike other areas of the state budget, such as Medicaid and K-12 education, there is no law that mandates a minimum level of funding for higher education.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Foreclosure Delay Measure on Way to Ritter
A bill that will impose a 90-day waiting period before mortgage lenders can foreclose on properties in default cleared the Senate this morning and is on the way to Gov. Bill Ritter's desk.
HB 1276, which was approved on a 26-8 vote, requires homeowners to contact a counselor certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development within 20 days of receiving a notice of foreclosure. If the counselor determines, after an examination of the homeowner's finances, that he or she is eligible for participation in the 90-day delay program allowing for negotiation of loan changes.
If the counselor finds that the homeowner is a good candidate for loan modification, the 90-day delay in foreclosure in order to allow for such negotiations kicks in.
“Foreclosures are tearing apart many Colorado neighborhoods and communities,” Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, and the Senate sponsor of the bill, said. “During these times of economic uncertainty, thousands of people in our state are falling behind on payments and losing their homes. This bill will help homeowners negotiate a solution, get back on track and, most importantly, keep families in their homes."
According to the state's Division of Housing, there were almost 40,000 foreclosure filings in Colorado in 2008.
The bill was sponsored in the House by Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
HB 1276, which was approved on a 26-8 vote, requires homeowners to contact a counselor certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development within 20 days of receiving a notice of foreclosure. If the counselor determines, after an examination of the homeowner's finances, that he or she is eligible for participation in the 90-day delay program allowing for negotiation of loan changes.
If the counselor finds that the homeowner is a good candidate for loan modification, the 90-day delay in foreclosure in order to allow for such negotiations kicks in.
“Foreclosures are tearing apart many Colorado neighborhoods and communities,” Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, and the Senate sponsor of the bill, said. “During these times of economic uncertainty, thousands of people in our state are falling behind on payments and losing their homes. This bill will help homeowners negotiate a solution, get back on track and, most importantly, keep families in their homes."
According to the state's Division of Housing, there were almost 40,000 foreclosure filings in Colorado in 2008.
The bill was sponsored in the House by Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Bill Mandating Benefits for Domestic Partners Gets Committee OK
A controversial bill that would require the state to provide the same employee benefits for same-sex couples as it does for married employees advanced to the House floor Monday.
HB 1260, while not establishing domestic partnerships or requiring the state to recognize same-sex civil unions, has nevertheless drawn fire from Republicans who insist that it contradicts voters' rejection of Referendum I in 2006.
According to an article in this morning's Denver Post, the GOP's Bob Gardner, of Colorado Springs, insisted during a hearing on the bill that it creates "de facto civil unions."
But sponsoring Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, said the bill's impact is not limited to gay couples.
The Post report quoted Ferrandino as saying that HB 1260 is aimed at "making sure people can take care of each other."
He was supported in that view by Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, who voted with the majority Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee to advance the measure to the House Committee of the Whole.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census estimated in 2007 that there are more than 750,000 same sex couples in the country.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures 14 states mandate that public employee benefit programs recognize domestic partnerships.
HB 1260, while not establishing domestic partnerships or requiring the state to recognize same-sex civil unions, has nevertheless drawn fire from Republicans who insist that it contradicts voters' rejection of Referendum I in 2006.
According to an article in this morning's Denver Post, the GOP's Bob Gardner, of Colorado Springs, insisted during a hearing on the bill that it creates "de facto civil unions."
But sponsoring Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, said the bill's impact is not limited to gay couples.
The Post report quoted Ferrandino as saying that HB 1260 is aimed at "making sure people can take care of each other."
He was supported in that view by Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, who voted with the majority Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee to advance the measure to the House Committee of the Whole.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census estimated in 2007 that there are more than 750,000 same sex couples in the country.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures 14 states mandate that public employee benefit programs recognize domestic partnerships.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Payday Loan Rate Cap Subject of Odd Senate Maneuvering
A controversial bill that would cap the interest rates and fees that could be charged by "payday lenders" received initial approval by the Senate Tuesday, but then the Senate reversed itself and, in an unexpected move, sent the bill back to committee.
HB 1310 has drawn vociferous opposition from the industry because it caps the annual interest rate that can be charged on short-term loans at 45%.
Under current law so-called "payday" lenders can charge fees that add up to an equivalent annual interest rate of 390%.
Data collected by the Office of the Attorney General indicates that the average borrower of a short-term loan was loaned $353.88 for a period of about 5 1/2 months. That average borrower paid $573.06 in finance charges.
The Senate, after approving the bill by voice vote in a close divide, sent it back to the appropriations committee to consider an amendment by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, requiring establishment of a financial literacy program. That program would be funded by a ten cent per loan fee.
The ill-fated vote to initially approve HB 1310 was 19-16, with Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, joining the Republicans in opposition.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, and Senate president Peter Groff, D-Denver, are the principal sponsors of the measure.
HB 1310 has drawn vociferous opposition from the industry because it caps the annual interest rate that can be charged on short-term loans at 45%.
Under current law so-called "payday" lenders can charge fees that add up to an equivalent annual interest rate of 390%.
Data collected by the Office of the Attorney General indicates that the average borrower of a short-term loan was loaned $353.88 for a period of about 5 1/2 months. That average borrower paid $573.06 in finance charges.
The Senate, after approving the bill by voice vote in a close divide, sent it back to the appropriations committee to consider an amendment by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, requiring establishment of a financial literacy program. That program would be funded by a ten cent per loan fee.
The ill-fated vote to initially approve HB 1310 was 19-16, with Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, joining the Republicans in opposition.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, and Senate president Peter Groff, D-Denver, are the principal sponsors of the measure.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
House Committee Approves Interest Rate Caps on Payday Loans
A House committee approved Tuesday a bill that would cap the amount of interest that can be charged on short-term loans by "payday lenders."
The bill, sponsored by rookie Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, caps interest rates at a 45% annual rate. Under current law payday lenders can charge as much as 350% per year interest.
HB 1310 also limits the amount of fees a payday lender can charge to $60 per twelve-month period.
The bill now moves to the House floor.
The bill, sponsored by rookie Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, caps interest rates at a 45% annual rate. Under current law payday lenders can charge as much as 350% per year interest.
HB 1310 also limits the amount of fees a payday lender can charge to $60 per twelve-month period.
The bill now moves to the House floor.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Speaker Romanoff Announces New Committee Assignments
In the aftermath of the resignation of former Rep. Michael Garcia and the appointment of Rep. Karen Middleton, D-Aurora, to replace him, speaker Andrew Romanoff shuffled Democratic committee assignments Wednesday.
Middleton was assigned to the Education and State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committees. She replaces Rep. Edward Casso, D-Commerce City, on the education panel and Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, on the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Casso moves over to the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, where he replaces Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
Ferrandino moves to the Finance Committee.
Carroll, having recently been elected assistant majority leader, will remain only on the Judiciary Committee. He will keep his post as chair of that committee.
In addition, Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, switch committee assignments. Scanlan goes from the Transportation & Energy Committee to the Education Committee while Fischer moves from the education panel to Pueblo West Democrat Buffie McFadyen's transportation and energy panel.
Middleton was assigned to the Education and State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committees. She replaces Rep. Edward Casso, D-Commerce City, on the education panel and Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, on the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Casso moves over to the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, where he replaces Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
Ferrandino moves to the Finance Committee.
Carroll, having recently been elected assistant majority leader, will remain only on the Judiciary Committee. He will keep his post as chair of that committee.
In addition, Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, switch committee assignments. Scanlan goes from the Transportation & Energy Committee to the Education Committee while Fischer moves from the education panel to Pueblo West Democrat Buffie McFadyen's transportation and energy panel.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Romanoff Announces New Committee Assignments
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) announced new assignments to committees Sunday, including giving a convert from the GOP an important vice-chair slot.
Rep. Debbie Stafford (D-Aurora), who switched parties after last year's session, will be the new vice-chair of the Judiciary committee. She replaces Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora), who is replacing former Rep. Mike Cerbo as chair of the House majority caucus.
Rep. Stafford will also continue to sit on the Health and Human Services committee.
Romanoff also gave committee assignments to the chamber's two Democratic newcomers, Christine Scanlan and Mark Ferrandino.
Ferrandino, who replaced Cerbo, will sit on the Business Affairs and Labor committee and the State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee.
Scanlan, who replaced Sen. Dan Gibbs when he took the seat formerly occupied by Joan Fitz-Gerald, will sit on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources committee and the Transportation and Energy committee.
Romanoff also announced that Rep. Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge) will replace Cerbo on the Judiciary committee and that Rep. Gwyn Green (D-Golden) will replace Gibbs as vice-chair of the Transportation and Energy committee.
Rep. Debbie Stafford (D-Aurora), who switched parties after last year's session, will be the new vice-chair of the Judiciary committee. She replaces Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora), who is replacing former Rep. Mike Cerbo as chair of the House majority caucus.
Rep. Stafford will also continue to sit on the Health and Human Services committee.
Romanoff also gave committee assignments to the chamber's two Democratic newcomers, Christine Scanlan and Mark Ferrandino.
Ferrandino, who replaced Cerbo, will sit on the Business Affairs and Labor committee and the State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee.
Scanlan, who replaced Sen. Dan Gibbs when he took the seat formerly occupied by Joan Fitz-Gerald, will sit on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources committee and the Transportation and Energy committee.
Romanoff also announced that Rep. Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge) will replace Cerbo on the Judiciary committee and that Rep. Gwyn Green (D-Golden) will replace Gibbs as vice-chair of the Transportation and Energy committee.
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