Lawmakers tackle health care, tribal protections during end-of-session review in Durango – The Durango Herald

Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Senator Cleave Simpson with the library for a Q&A with residents

Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Sen. Cleave Simpson attended a legislative roundup Saturday at the Durango Public Library. Health care, agriculture and education were just some of the topics discussed before an audience of about 60 people. (Christian Burney/Durango Herald)

Colorado lawmakers Barbara McLachlan and Cleave Simpson addressed school funding, health care and annexations during a legislative briefing held Saturday in Durango.

More specifically, they handled a contractual dispute between CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that temporarily disrupted insurance coverage for thousands of Durango and La Plata County workers, and the city of Durango has strained relations with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

In a question-and-answer session moderated by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County, lawmakers talked about the bills they are most proud of, including those related to agriculture, education and the environment.

Rep. McLachlan reflected on her time in the Colorado House of Representatives and served as chair of the House Education Committee for six years. She said she is nearing the end of her final term, which ends on January 8, 2025.

Senator Simpson is seeking re-election to continue representing his constituents in Colorado’s District 6, which covers Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Dolores, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan and San Miguel. .

McLachlan said the Legislature successfully eliminated the budget stabilization factor this year, which should clear the way for schools to receive billions of dollars in the 2024-2025 school year, but that doesn’t mean schools are now fully funded.

Wealthier school districts benefited more from the budget stabilization factor than rural schools. With the new funding, rural schools will be able to hire new teachers and start new programs, she said.

McLachlan said she is proud of the Animas High School students who led the advocacy effort to draft and pass House Bill 1003, which expands policies that allow schools and staff to carry and administer Narcan, which can treat drug overdoses.

About 60 people showed up for the Legislative Closeout at the Durango Public Library.

McLachlan, who is a Democrat, said she and Simpson, a Republican, enjoy the bipartisan outing because, at the end of the day, it’s not about the parties, it’s about the people.

Durango and La Plata County residents packed an event room at the Durango Public Library Saturday to hear from Colorado legislators Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Sen. Cleave Simpson on Saturday. (Christian Burney/Durango Herald)

When asked what was done with a proposed study to examine the possibility of a single-payer health care system, which attendees noted would have spared Durangoans and Coloradans the fear and uncertainty of prompted by Anthems and CommonSpirits’ negotiations over an insurance contract, Simspson said he’s always been skeptical of a single-payer system, but he’s open to listening and learning from others.

He said he lived in Australia for several years and in his experience, single-payer systems come with longer waiting times for treatments. But after hearing different people’s opinions, he said he learned more about people’s needs and how health care is failing them. He just hasn’t had the chance to vote either way.

Simpson said he doesn’t know why the proposed study on the feasibility of a single-payer system hasn’t gotten off the ground, but he’s sure there are politics at play.

I was very clear about where I thought that policy was going to start, but I really approach each one with an open mind and commitment to see, am I missing something? he said. Now, we never got to the point where I was able to vote for or against.

Some residents wanted to know how the Colorado Legislature can prevent another episode like the Anthem/CommonSpirit dispute from affecting insured patients.

McLachlan said she doesn’t have an answer.

I know the insurance commissioner was very, very involved in this, she said.

Simpson said more information about the negotiations between the insurance and health care giants could be helpful in understanding how the dispute began and how it could be prevented in the future.

Regarding Durango’s interest in annexing private property within the Southern Ute Indian Tribes’ outer boundaries, Simpson said the legislation the tribe is pursuing to ensure its right to approve or reject annexations that occur within its lands is more very much an affirmation of federal laws and treaties with the tribe already. on the books.

The tribe felt it was really important to have (the proposed legislation) and so I supported it and followed that position which was an assertion of their jurisdictional authority based on federal policy and treaty language, he said.

The nuance of the issue concerns private property owners within the reservation and whether tribal sovereignty extends to their private land.

He said the city of Durango, the tribe and private property owners each have their sides of the story, and tensions between the tribe and the city probably shouldn’t have reached a boiling point to begin with.

Colorado Senate Bill 24-193, proposed legislation that if passed into law would reaffirm tribal protections from unauthorized land annexations, surprised Simpson and exceeded the expectations of local public officials when it passed with unanimous support in the House of Representatives. Representatives and the state Senate, Simpson said.

Gov. Jared Polis has yet to sign the bill into law, although he has a hefty backlog of bills that require his signature to pass, McLachlan said.

cburney@durangoherald.com

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