Betty Boyd
For State Senate
Blog
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Posted Apr 30 at 12 PM
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HB 1293: HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ACT
Posted Mar 16 at 3 PM
Under House Bill 1293, a monthly fee assessment on a percentage of the revenue produced by Colorado hospitals will be deposited into a cash fund in the state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financng. This revenue would then be matched by the federal government's Medicaid program. With this extra influx of dollars into the state's program, hospitals' reimbursement rates will increase. The extra money will also allow the State of Colorado to increase public health care benefits by:
- Offering coverage to parents of children who are eligible for CHP+ or Medicaid
- Offering coverage to pregnant women and children in CHP+ who are at 250% of the poverty level (formerly 205%)
- Creating a buy-in program for disabled individuals, allowing them, or their employers, to pay for Medicaid benefits on a sliding scale basis
- Providing continuous 12-month coverage for children covered by Medicaid
- Increasing eligibility of childless adults who are not currently covered by Medicaid
The extra dollars will also decrease the amount of hospital deficits which are passed on to private payers. The extra coverage is also designed to keep down utilization costs of urgent care centers by promoting greater usage of primary care physicians by program participants.
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HB 1025: QUALITY STANDARDS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Posted Mar 09 at 4 PM
If you contract an infection in a Colorado hospital with less than fifty beds, the health care worker reporting the data on your case must meet specific qualifications set by the Department of Public Health.
Senator Betty Boyd wants to extend this law to pertain to other Colorado health care workers. Under House Bill 1025, health care professionals who collect data on patient-contracted infections in ambulatory surgical centers, and dialysis treatment centers, would also be subject to the same qualifications.
Senator Boyd believes this bill, recommended by the Health Care Task Force, supports quality health care standards.
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HB 1023: ALLOW TEENS TO DONATE BLOOD
Posted Mar 09 at 3 PM
There are many ways to offer service to our community in order to make a difference. If you are a teenager, Senator Betty Boyd wants you to have the opportunity to help those with severe health problems. You can do this by donating blood.
Under House Bill 1023, sponsored by Senator Boyd, teenagers age 16 and over will be able to donate blood with the written consent of their parents.
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SB 108: FASTER
Posted Mar 09 at 3 PM
Senator Betty Boyd supported Senate Bill 108, the jobs/transportation package. Senator Boyd says, "I support this legislation because while creating thousands of jobs in Colorado, it will protect the safety of those traveling on our roads and bridges." Senate District 21 will directly benefit from this $250 million project.
Five bridges in heavily traveled portions of Senate District 21 are among those identified as needing maintenance. These include:
- the Sheridan bridge on Highway 285 (Hampden)
- the Wadsworth bridge on Highway 285 (Hampden)
- the Kipling bridge on Highway 285 (Hampden)
- the Wadsworth and 6th Avenue interchange bridge
Senator Boyd says Senate Bill 108 "moves Colorado forward" by creating 10,000 jobs, improving travel safety, and providing a sustainable way of maintaining the transportation infrastructure.
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SB 11: BEHAVORIAL HEALTH COMMISSION PUT ON HOLD
Posted Mar 09 at 3 PM
Senator Betty Boyd continues to champion quality mental health care in Colorado. This was most recently displayed by her sponsorship of Senate Bill 11 which called for the creation of a Behavorial Health Commission within the Department of Human Services. The commission was proposed to develop and implement an integrated behavorial health system throughout the state. SB 11 has been postponed indefinitely.
Commenting on the bill's postponement, Senator Boyd said, "I will be presenting a resolution that highlights behavorial health. The resolution will also present strategies that provide a consistent way to deliver behavorial health services across the state."
Senator Boyd says the bill was put on hold in order not to duplicate efforts across departments and organizations at the state and local levels. It may be reintroduced at a later time if these efforts to support an integrated behavorial health system prove unsuccessful.
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SB 9 POSTPONED: ADULT DENTAL SERVICES DERAILED
Posted Mar 09 at 2 PM
Senator Betty Boyd's drive to cover dental services for adults under Medicaid has reached a roadblock. Senate Bill 9 has been postponed indefinitely in the 2009 legislative session due to state budget restraints. The bill, recommended by the Health Care Task Force, would have added comprehensive dental care as a benefit for adults covered by Medicaid and the Children's Basic Health Plan (CBHP).
"This is a very important service that is lacking in our Medicaid program," Senator Boyd said when introducing the bill. "Unfortunately in these economic times the funds are not available to make this expansion in Colorado's program. I plan to reintroduce this bill when funds are available."
Adults with developmental disabilities, in addition to children, are currently eligible for dental services through the state medical assistance programs. Under current Medicaid guiudelines, adult access to dental care, including emergency benefits such as tooth extractions, is very limited.
Senate Bill 9 would have extended dental coverage and preventative care to all adults under these programs, including cleanings, root canals, and limited periodontal and denture services.
