Senate Democrats defeat GOP health care transparency bills

DENVER (AP) — Majority Democrats on a Colorado legislative committee have defeated two bills their Republican sponsors say were intended to promote transparency in health care administration and pricing — two priorities touted by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ administration.

Colorado Politics reports the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to defeat the bills.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Dennis Hisey of Colorado Springs would have required the administration’s Office of Saving People Money on Health Care to undergo annual legislative hearings to report how its funding is accomplishing its mandate to cut health care costs for the public. Most executive agencies undergo the process.

Another bill sponsored by Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling would have allowed hospitals to show patients how much the hospitals pay toward a state fee that is designed to help cover care for uninsured and Medicaid patients. The fee is based on patient stays and certain outpatient care visits.

The bills were defeated with little debate.