Denver Post: Colorado at the center of national debate over controlling health care costs

One of the biggest fights of the Colorado legislature this year is about to start, with the introduction of a highly anticipated bill to create a statewide health insurance option coming as soon as next week.

The bill is a key piece of Colorado Democratic lawmakers’ agenda to tackle rising hospital costs, an issue that state governments and presidential candidates alike have been trying to address. Colorado Republicans are pursuing counterproposals they say would reduce health care costs with less emphasis on hospitals’ portion.