GOV. RITTER CRITICIZES ATTORNEY GENERAL’S BID TO BLOCK REFORM

Gov. Bill Ritter today criticized Attorney General John Suthers’ decision to join a lawsuit that seeks to block national healthcare reform, saying that Suthers’ action is not the right thing to do for Colorado .


“Our focus the past few years has been to control healthcare costs, improve quality and increase access to care and coverage. We are making tremendous strides, but we can’t do it alone,” Gov. Ritter said. “ Colorado and all states need national reform to ensure that people with pre-existing illnesses do not lose coverage or are denied coverage. We need national reform to help drive down costs, and we need national reform to stop annual double-digit insurance premium increases that are devastating small businesses and families alike.

“I am confident the reforms poised to become law in Washington will complement and support Colorado ’s efforts, that they are within Congress’s power to regulate commerce, and that they are constitutionally sound.”

An estimated 750,000 to 770,000 Coloradans lack health insurance. Over the past three years, Gov. Ritter’s administration has enacted the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act and other initiatives that will provide coverage to 200,000 uninsured Coloradans.

Pending national reforms would provide coverage to an additional 300,000 uninsured Coloradans.