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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

State Senators Make Case for Universal Health Care Initiative

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Wednesday, January 27, 2016   

DENVER - The debate on whether or not Colorado should opt out of the Affordable Care Act made its way to Frisco yesterday. State Senators Irene Aguilar (D-Denver) and Jeanne Nicholson (D-Georgetown) attended a community forum on ColoradoCare, a ballot initiative proponents say would give all residents "Platinum Plus" coverage and save the state billions each year.

Nicholson, a licensed public health nurse, says the state can do better than Obamacare.

"I believe from my 50 years of practice that the patient is the priority not profits," says Nicholson. "I think right now we have it backwards, and profits seem to be more of a priority than the patient."

Nicholson cites a UnitedHealth CEO's earnings, more than $66 million in 2014, as one example of how a resident-owned plan could cut administration costs.

Governor John Hickenlooper, attending an earlier forum, suggested the measure could keep some health care businesses from moving their headquarters to the state. Nicholson notes the plan would not cut pay for doctors and nurses, but insurance and pharmaceutical companies could be impacted.

Nicholson says opponents who argue the plan will raise taxes by $25 billion are correct, but they are only telling half the story. She says if you add up insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, Colorado currently spends $30 billion, so the initiative could save the state almost $5 billion a year.

Nicholson says Summit County residents could see their costs drop from almost $6 million a year to $1.5 million if voters approve the measure.

"With ColoradoCare there will be no deductibles and there will be no co-insurance," she says. "That money that people are spending now can be freed up to spend on other things that will benefit Colorado's economy."

Nicholson says since the initiative, Amendment 69 on the ballot in November, will be decided by voters, it's critical for residents to get all the facts before deciding the future of health care in Colorado.

For a complete list of upcoming forums, visit ColoradoCareYes.co.




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