HomeMy WebLinkAboutGraham-Cassidy_VoteNo_Bennet 2017BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS I BOARD OF HEALTH
The opioid epidemic is not unique to eastern states. Even within the Roaring Fork Valley we are seeing
an increase in opioid related hospital visits. In addition, mental health and behavioral health continues
to affect rural Coloradoans. Without funding for drug treatment abuse and behavioral health, hundreds
of thousands individuals will go untreated, only increasing pressures on the existing health care system
because the proposed legislation elected to remove preventative care.
Medicaid expansion and behavioral health support has helped keep people healthy, improved the
quality of outcomes and reduced health costs. Any repeal of the Medicaid expansion would result in
nearly $1 billion a year to Colorado or else leave families and individuals without health care access and
coverage.
Compounding these broader concerns is Colorado's particular vulnerability to changes in federal
policy that shift the fiduciary responsibility to state budgets. The Colorado Health lnstitute's
analysis of the U.S. House version of the American Health Care Act shows that Colorado would lose
$14 billion in federal funding over 10 years. That is a loss of federal funding that would devastate
our state's budget- not just in health care, but in other priority areas such as education and
transportation as well.
As one of Colorado's representatives in the U.S. Senate, we urge to vote no and instead, work towards
a transparent, accountable process and bipartisan solution that is sustainable for all Coloradoans.
George Newman
Chair
Pitkin County Board of Commissioners
Pitkin County Board of Health
Cc: Senator Gardner