As Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, I led the fight against insurance companies that unreasonably delay or deny their customers’ valid claims. I know first-hand the lengths that industry will go to resist reform. I am deeply disappointed to learn that no member of the U.S. Senate is willing to offer an amendment to restore the public option to the health care bill.

Millions of Americans cannot afford to keep up with the soaring costs of health insurance. That is why a majority of the American people support a public option. The Congressional Budget Office has concluded that a public option will reduce the deficit. Last week I called on the leadership of the U.S. Senate to allow an up-or-down vote on the public option. We should not allow the insurance industry to kill the competition the American public wants.

A Record of Leadership

Thousands of Coloradans have been forced to do battle with their insurance companies just to get coverage they’ve already purchased. In 2008, I fought the insurance industry and won. The result: a new law that requires insurers to pay what they owe when they owe it – and stiffens penalties on those who don’t.

I voted to reduce Coloradans’ prescription-drug prices, by pooling our purchasing power with other states. I supported efforts to supply rural Coloradans and other underserved communities with greater access to care, by investing in local health clinics and expanding the use of telemedicine. I also authored laws to:

  • Help Colorado’s seniors get the care they need in their own homes and communities;
  • Save millions of dollars in state medical expenses by holding private insurers to higher standards of accountability;
  • Make contracts between health-care providers and insurers more transparent;
  • Provide health coverage – including access to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, mental health services, and drug and alcohol treatment – to thousands of Coloradans.

My leadership has been recognized by Colorado’s leading health and human service organizations, including the Colorado Psychological Association, the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Colorado Dental Association, the Colorado Community Health Network, the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the Colorado Association of Alcohol and Drug Service Providers, Peer Assistance Services, Crossroads Turning Points, and Advocates for Recovery. In 2006, the Colorado Medical Society named me Defender of the Patient –the physicians’ highest honor.

A Plan of Action

I will fight to secure high-quality health care for all Americans. My plan calls for coverage that is affordable, reliable, and portable. I believe our nation’s health care plan should:

  • Guarantee coverage for all Americans through a single-payer model.
  • Make coverage affordable, by reducing medical errors, minimizing administrative expenses, and promoting prevention and early intervention.
  • Make coverage reliable, by cracking down on companies that unreasonably delay or deny the payment of claims.
  • Make coverage portable, by allowing Americans to keep their insurance even if they change or lose their jobs.
  • Prohibit discrimination on the basis of preexisting conditions.
  • Expand consumer choice and encourage innovation among health-care providers.
  • Improve the quality of medical care by coordinating services and by reforming reimbursement formulas to reward value, not just volume.
  • Increase the use of information technology.
  • Promote personal responsibility for health decisions, by reducing co-payments for check-ups and wellness programs.