State report finds excessive Colorado hospital profits

A new state report suggests that Colorado hospitals’ per-patient profits reached their highest levels in a decade in 2018.

The report by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing comes amid mounting industry opposition to a potential public health insurance option.

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ administration wants to curb hospital pricing as part of its health care affordability agenda. It supports a public option designed to lower insurer rates across the board.

Health industry groups are waging an ad campaign against the idea. And hospital associations insist profits aren’t excessive.  They say the state should focus instead on the low reimbursement rates they receive for Medicare and Medicaid patients.