SB134, which was sponsored by state Sen. Irene Aguilar, MD, (D-Denver), a primary care physician, will keep hospital prices for poor patients in line with what hospitals charge insurance companies. The bill also requires hospitals to better publicize their charity care policies.
The Colorado Hospital Association denounced the original bill, which had stricter guidelines and included a broader population of indigent patients, but praised the legislators for working on a bill that was more “fiscally palatable,” especially for rural hospitals, according to the report.
Gov. Hickenlooper said the bill will provide “real relief to vulnerable Coloradans who are facing medical debt” and will increase transparency on hospital medical services and charity care procedures.
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