A feature story on the state’s health co-op by Colorado Public Radio appeared to be a fluff and buff job but accidently contained some eyebrows-raising information.
Turns out that federal funding has dried up for Colorado HealthOP, Colorado’s non-profit cooperative, to the tune of $12 million.
The coop, which somehow “lost” $23 million last year, claims the feds repeatedly promised a 100 percent payment. However, Julia Hutchins, CEO of Colorado HealthOP, said they were informed last week that Uncle Sam will only fork over less than 13 percent of the money requested.
In the HealthOP’s view, the government essentially reneged on a promise. In a statement Department of Health and Human Services Press Secretary Ben Wakana said the agency recognizes that low payments for some insurers “may raise concerns,” and not all insurance startups “will succeed.” Hutchins said without the $12 million it was expecting it may be one of those casualties.
The government will essentially rip the Band-Aids off the scabs of 80,000 Coloradans who joined the coop, because Obamacare was not successful, the bureaucrat said.
The timing couldn’t be worse for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who voted for Obamacare and is up for reelection.
When 240,000 Coloradans lost their health insurance during former Sen. Mark Udall’s failed reelection campaign, he tried to bully state officials to cover-up the debacle.
But Todd Shepherd at Complete Colorado broke the story and it was all downhill for Udall after that and it cost Udall the election.
Like we said, the timing couldn’t be worse for Bennet.