You would think voter rejection of a single-payer, health-care system — Amendment 69 in 2016 — by nearly 80 percent should have put paid to the matter once and for all.

You would be wrong. It’s back, although if House Bill 24-1075 does pass this year, it would roll out much, much slower than Amendment 69.

In between it and Amendment 69, the Legislature did pass a public option alternative into law, which some believe comes through the back door of the single-payer house where Amendment 69 and HB 24-1075 attempt to enter through the front door.

If passed, HB 24-1075 would require the Colorado School of Public Health to analyze draft model legislation for implementing a single-payer, nonprofit, publicly financed, and privately delivered universal health-care payment system for Colorado that directly compensates providers. The school’s findings would be due by October 1, 2025.

In addition, the bill would create a statewide health-care analysis advisory task force consisting of 21 members appointed by the General Assembly and the governor, and other executive directors of specified state departments, the commissioner of insurance, and the chief executive officer of the Colorado health benefit exchange.

Proponents point out the final report of the Blue-Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform, issued in January 2008 and the 2021 report of the Health Care Cost Analysis Task Force before it’s repeal, both clearly showed that a single, nonprofit system for health care can save money, cover everyone in the state, and support better health care.

Opponents disagree, arguing that 24-1075 is another attempt to force Colorado citizens to accept a universal, single-payer health-care plan. Opponents point out the failure of the Blue-Ribbon Commission, and the Health Care Cost Analysis Task Force, to provide any creditable evidence supporting a single-payer system.

No group of people is more familiar with health care than small business owners. It has been our No. 1 issue for nearly 40 years, according to NFIB’s quadrennial Small Business Problems & Priorities report. NFIB’s Colorado members were unmistakably adamant about Amendment 69.

When asked in 2016 on a special ballot, ‘Should Amendment 69, which amends the Colorado Constitution by raising taxes by $25 billion to create a new healthcare financing system available to all Colorado residents, be approved Colorado voters in November?’ The vote was:

Yes 2%

No 98%

Und. 0%

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