''Colorado isn't waiting for Washington to fix healthcare. We're taking immediate action to control costs, expand access and improve quality.'' - Bill Ritter

Improving Access & Quality

Bill Ritter isn't waiting for the federal government to reform our health care system. He has initiated a number of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare for all Coloradans, and to stem skyrocketing healthcare and insurance costs.

In 2009, Bill introduced and signed the most significant healthcare reform measure in Colorado in four decades. The Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act will provide coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans, at no additional cost to taxpayers or businesses.

As Governor, Bill has also improved access to care in numerous other ways:

• Ensuring that workers who lost their jobs during the height of the recession remain covered through Cobra, CoverColorado or other programs.

• Maximizing federal and private dollars for medically underserved and rural communities in Colorado.

• Allowing insurance companies to offer incentives and discounts to Coloradans who participate in health and wellness programs.

• Increasing child immunizations.

• Increasing incentives to ensure sufficient physicians to care for families on Medicaid.

• Increasing resources and programs to assist people with developmental disabilities.

• Requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for autism.

Reducing Costs

Skyrocketing healthcare costs hurt all Coloradans, including those who have health coverage. Uninsured patients and Medicaid underpayment cause providers to shift costs on to insured individuals, and businesses that provide coverage to their employees, by increasing premiums. Bill Ritter's Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act tackles cost-shifting head on, by expanding access to health coverage and increasing Medicaid reimbursements.

Bill has also pursued other initiatives to cut health costs and improve the quality of care, including establishing the Center for Improving Value in Health Care to pursue strategies for cost containment.