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    Colorado Legislature - contact info and bill status
    SB11 Signed into LAW - Med Pay Offer
    2008 Colorado Auto Insurance Study
    Visit the Colorado Legislature's Web Site
    Legislative Action -
    How YOU & YOUR PATIENTS can help.
    Register to VOTE!
    FIND your legislators
    How to Talk to Your Legislator





    SB11 Signed Into LAW

    June 5, 2008 - View the FINAL version of SB11


    Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 11 (auto insurance med pay bill) into law today at noon.  In addition, the Governor signed several other consumer protection bills into law including HB1389 - the FAIR bill which requires insurance companies to justify rate increases.  View photos from bill signing.

    Senator John Morse overhauled his bill SB-011 (auto insurance med pay bill)  to include All Licensed Health Care Providers. The law is expected to take effect on January 1, 2009 and will apply to auto insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after this date.

    The bill provides that insurance companies offer $5,000 of auto insurance medical payments to consumers.  Consumers may then opt-out of this coverage  IN WRITING, if they have other insurance options.  This is similar to the way uninsured motorist coverage is currently handled in Colorado.

    Based on states with similar statutes, this will increase the percentage of people with Med-Pay 250% of what we currently have.  VIEW a copy of the FINAL version of SB11.

    This is not 100% of what we wanted - but, it will provide tangible benefits and may cause up to 75% of Colorado consumers, who do not now have coverage, to obtain it. This will be good for consumers, emergency medical providers, hospitals and chiropractors.

    Consumers may choose to purchase a higher level of med pay coverage. A policy may be issued without med pay coverage, only if the consumer rejects the coverage in writing and the insurance company must maintain proof of the rejection for three years. 

    In order to comply with the new priority payment system that is contained in SB11, without compromising existing prompt-pay rules, a 30 day/$5,000 “reserve” was created. Under the new rules, the first $5,000 of Med Pay coverage will be held in reserve for 30 days in order to allow provider bills to be submitted.  After 30 days, bills will be paid out according to the priority created by SB 11 (ie: # 1 licensed ambulance or air ambulance, # 2 trauma physicians, # 3 level 4 or 5 trauma centers, # 4 level 1, 2, or 3 trauma centers, # 5 other providers).  If higher priority providers do not submit their bills in 30 days, they will lose their priority status. Because there is a possibility that a higher priority provider could use up all available Med Pay coverage, we are recommending that all doctors continue to have clients sign liens even after Med Pay coverage is verified.
    Here are some examples of payment scenarios.

    The claim must be paid PROMPTLY, after the initial 30 days, as set forth in 10-4-642. This statute states that an insurance company must pay, deny, or settle a claim within 30 calendar days after the receipt of the claim if submitted electronically, and 45 days if submitted by other means.

    There are still some administrative details to be worked out such as if the law applies to REAPPLICATIONS for new or updated coverage OR all policies when they are renewed.  We will keep you posted on the details as they become available.

     The pace at the Colorado Legislature was fast and furious during this process.   CCA Lobbyists Terry Snyder and Erik Groves tirelessly worked to connect doctors of chiropractic, patients and staff members with key legislators.  Working side-by-side with our lobbyists, several doctors became regular fixtures at the Capitol, meeting with legislators face-to-face and garnering support for our bill. Chiropractors were asked by email and fax to contact their own Senators, Representatives, and Committee members to urge them to vote yes on SB11.  CCA Lobbyists reported that the legislators told them they received a good deal of communication from our doctors.

    This was a complicated bill and there were several different voting sessions on this bill - committees, amendments, floor motions, conference committees, House, and Senate.  We suggest that you write a brief note to both your Senator and Representative thanking them for their service during this year’s legislative session.

    Why SB11 is a good bill:
    1.      SB 11 is a fair compromise; 
    2.      No one will be forced to buy anything; 
    3.      Everyone will have an informed choice on whether to waive the protection provided by Med Pay;  
    4.      This is good for emergency providers who are in tough circumstances, hospitals, taxpayers, and other licensed health care providers.

    If you have questions, please feel free to call CCA Lobbyist
    Terry Snyder at 303-629-6360 or terrancesnyder@yahoo.com

    THANK YOU to the CCA Legislative Team and all doctors, staff, and patients who took the time and energy to contact their legislators.  It's because of all of YOU that this bill was passed.

    View the FINAL version of SB11.

    New Auto Insurance Study Supports Mandatory Med Pay

    Governor’s report finds switch to tort auto insurance system injured

    providers and consumers - Cuts in payments to providers and increased consumer health insurance premiums quantified in report

    View the FULL REPORT

    February, 19, 2008 - A report released today by Governor Ritter’s Office of Policy and Initiatives verifies what trauma care providers have been saying for four years: the sudden switch from a no-fault auto insurance system to a tort system left Colorado’s trauma care providers with millions of dollars in unpaid costs after providing medical transports and treatments. These costs are shifted onto health insurers and consumers through higher charges for other services and increased co-pays or deductibles.

    The Governor’s office contracted with BBC Research and Consulting, an independent research firm, to study the effects of Colorado’s change from a no-fault auto insurance system to a tort system in July 2003. The scope of work for the study was developed through a collaborative process with the Trauma Care Preservation Coalition (TCPC) and representatives of the auto insurance industry.

    BBC’s key findings are as follows:

      Insurance coverage for medical payments would benefit consumers. If the Colorado State Legislature were to mandate that all Coloradans carry medical payments coverage (‘med pay’) on their auto insurance policies, it would help consumers cover out-of-pocket medical expenses such as co-pays and deductibles (page 16). Contrary to the arguments of the auto insurers, very few Coloradans have the extremely high level of health care coverage that would make a mandatory med pay truly duplicative of health insurance.

      Many factors have led to reductions in auto insurance premiums in the last few years, with the switch from no-fault to tort only one factor. The report cites a 35% decrease in auto insurance rates, based on auto insurance reports to the state. But the report also indicates that auto insurance rates after the switch decreased as a result of many factors, including a significant drop in auto insurance coverage since no-fault and a statewide decrease in the number of accidents that result in injuries or fatalities. Additionally, the report shows actual expenditures by consumers for their auto insurance policies does not reflect the same decreases.

      Health insurance premium increases have negated any auto insurance savings for consumers. Savings that consumers may have experienced in their auto insurance policies have been negated by the increases seen in health insurance premiums as a result of the switch to a tort system.

      Hospitals are losing tens of millions of dollars every year for treating motor vehicle accident patients. In 2002, hospitals were reimbursed for 60 percent of the care they provided to motor vehicle accident patients. But by 2006, after the switch to tort, that percentage had plummeted to only 36 percent.

     Ambulance companies and fire departments have suffered similar declines in reimbursement. For Colorado’s first responders, 18 percent of patient transports from motor vehicle accidents went uncompensated in 2002. By 2006, that number had more than doubled, rising to 37 percent (page 12).

    By substantiating a small portion of the economic losses that Colorado’s trauma system has incurred since the switch from no-fault auto insurance to a tort system, the report demonstrates the unintended consequences.

    It is important to note the report significantly underestimates the financial impacts on Colorado’s trauma system. It does not quantify the impacts of unreimbursed care on physicians who treat auto accident patients; nor does the report address the majority of auto accident patients who are treated in the emergency departments and discharged the same day. Researchers were only able to report data that relates to the small percent of patients admitted to hospitals.

    Additionally, the report makes the case for all drivers to carry medical payments coverage on their auto policies. (The Trauma Care Preservation Coalition is advocating this private sector solution for a small, reasonable med-pay; state funding solutions are not feasible under current budget and taxing constraints.) This solution would ensure that their health care would be fully covered if they were at fault in a car accident. Currently, bodily injury coverage is required in Colorado, but it only covers the people who are injured by the at-fault driver. Without med pay, the at-fault driver has no bodily injury coverage for him/herself or any relatives in that car.

    Many people don’t realize that their auto insurance no longer covers medical expenses unless they specifically elect (and pay for) an optional med-pay coverage.  Chiropractic clinics and many other health care providers are treating auto accident patients, but resources are being bled away. More and more Coloradans don’t have health insurance, and medical bills are not covered by their auto insurance anymore. As a result, in more and more cases providers are not paid for our services, and are left with no means to recoup those costs. Patients then face bills they cannot pay.

    For a copy of the complete report, visit www.coloradochiropractic.org/headlines/files/AutoInsStudy2_08.pdf   





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    Legislative Action and the CCA
    The Colorado Chiropractic Association is very active in promoting chiropractic at the state legislature.  The most effective voice we have is YOU AND YOUR PATIENTS.  
    FIRST OF ALL - REGISTER TO VOTE & VOTE in the primaries and general elections.  Get more power by knowing the candidates and legislators and developing releationships - work on their campaigns, take them to lunch, volunteer to help a political party.  From time to time, you may be asked to write or call your legislators on a bill of importance to the chiropractic profession. Find out who your legislators are and introduce yourself, BEFORE you’re asked to take action on a specific legislative issue.  Keep this information handy, so you can refer to it quickly.  (Your legislators are those who represent your HOME district.  You may also want to get to know the legislators that represent the area in which your OFFICE is located since many of your patients come from that area - and patients VOTE.) 

    The CCA Legislative and Insurance Committees and the CCA Lobbyist are continually working on bills and strategies for the Colorado Legislative Session.  Contact the CCA Legislative and/or Insurance Committee Chair.

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REGISTER TO VOTE!! 
Registering to vote is very simple.   You can register at the following locations:  the Election Department for the county in which you reside (see the list of county phone numbers below), any Motor Vehicle Department, or any Colorado State Driver’s License office.  Consider registering as Republican or Democrat, that way you can vote in primary elections. 
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OPTIONS  FOR FINDING YOUR LEGISLATORS 
If you do not know who your legislators are or what your districts are (NOTICE - Colorado districts have recently been re-drawn),  contact the CCA with your HOME address and we'll look it up for you, or visit www.vote-smart.org (it’s very easy) OR for the most accurate information & to register to vote, call your county elections office: 

Adams   303-654-6030 
Arapahoe   303-795-4511 
Boulder   303-413-7740 
Denver   303-640-2351 
Douglas    303-660-7444 
El Paso   719-575-8683 
Jefferson   303-271-8111 #5 
Larimer   970-498-7820 
Mesa    970-244-1662 
Pueblo   719-583-6620 

Contact the political parties for more information: 
Colorado Democratic Party 
(303) 830-8989   info@coloradodems.org - www.coloradodems.org 
Colorado Republican Party 
(303) 758-3333   comments@cologop.org - www.cologop.org 

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General Talking Points for contacting candidates or legislators 
Review these pointers so you can get to know the candidates before you vote & the legislators after they are elected.  
  • Introduce yourself as DOCTOR & refer to yourself as a doctor of chiropractic rather than simply chiropractor for added professionalism.
  • Be sure to clearly identify yourself & where you practice & that many of your patients would be voters & constituents too!
  • Get to know the candidates/legislators. Ask them their concerns. Ask open-ended questions. "What are you interested in?" "What legislative committees will you be serving on this year?"
  • Find out if he/she is familiar with chiropractic and/or has ever been treated by a doctor of chiropractic.
  • Focus on your patients' health care rights & how they would approach health care issues legislatively.
  • Inform the legislator that you are a licensed doctor who is required to have at least 5 years of education past an undergraduate degree (you could also expand on your own background & training).
  • Average of 1,000 patient files per doctor of chiropractic in Colorado.
  • Average of over 4,000 patient visits per doctor per year - OR 6 MILLION patient visits in Colorado every year!
  • Over 1600 doctors of chiropractic currently in practice in Colorado.
  • Ask how we can help them.
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8751 East Hampden Avenue #B-7 | Denver, Colorado 80231-4929 
Phone: 303-755-9011 or 800-829-0339 | Fax: 303-755-1010 
E-Mail: cca@coloradochiropractic.org 

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Colorado Chiropractic Association 
The voice of Colorado chiropractic since 1917. 
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