Rep. Labuda on Healthcare

I support accessible, affordable health care for all Coloradoans. That includes preventive care, the base of first-class health care. Prevention reduces sickness and disease, and it leads to us living longer, more active lives.

Government-backed health plans are the primary source for about 60% of Coloradoans—beyond Medicare and Medicaid, there are TriCare (the military health care plan), the Veterans Administration for many of our vets, and health care for government employees. 

There are real strengths to our health care in Colorado, and there are problems that we can do something about.  Over 700,000 Coloradoans do not have access to quality care. Many are children of poor families. Many are farmers and ranchers in rural counties with no hospital, no clinic and in some places no doctor. That’s life for many rural citizens, the very people we depend on to provide our meat, grains and vegetables. 

Another problem: When uninsured people have heart attacks and injuries, the for profit hospitals don’t want them in their emergency rooms, so they are channeled to public hospitals like Denver Health at 6th Avenue and Speer. Most of Denver Health’s public support comes from Denver taxpayers, but it has become the refuge for about 75% of the emergencies in the entire metro area!

My father was right when he used to say, ”You and I are just one major illness away from poverty.”  Did you know that over half of family and seniors’ bankruptcies are caused by a major medical expense that insurance won’t cover? The Republican Party way of every man for himself does not work when our health is at stake.  How many of us have the savings to cover a $200,000 hospital stay?  (Just 30 days!)

I will continue my work to improve access and affordability of Colorado health care:

• Address the out-of-balance support of emergency care at Denver Health.

• Remove unnecessary legal barriers to private clinics and emergency medical services in our rural counties.

• Improve the access of our children to basic preventive care.

Yes, we’ve taken some good steps.  There’s more we can do.