protect and ensure the long-term sustainability of Colorado’s health care safety net by launching a Colorado Public Option, changing Medicaid payments ... and increasing support for rural hospitals.
Bennet promises to strengthen and protect Colorado's health care safety net, including increasing support for rural hospitals and strengthening Medicaid.
Occurrences
Evidence
Bennet’s health care plan says he will "strengthen Medicaid" and provide "true support for rural hospitals." The platform says he will protect Colorado’s health care safety net by changing Medicaid payments and increasing support for rural hospitals.
On the Baldwin amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to prevent a reduction in Medicaid funding that could lead to rural hospital closures, Bennet voted Yea; the amendment was rejected 49-50.
GovInfo lists S. 4141 as introduced by Mr. Bennet and Mr. Moran; the bill would authorize temporary zero-percent interest loans to construct or renovate certain rural hospitals.
The release says Bennet is "a leading voice in Congress on expanding access to affordable health care in rural communities" and that he "introduced, cosponsored, and voted on numerous amendments" that would have protected Medicaid.
Assessments
The evidence shows Bennet made concrete federal efforts related to the promise, including introducing the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act and voting for an amendment to protect Medicaid funding tied to rural hospital closures. However, the cited actions had not enacted the promised outcome: the rural hospital bill was introduced but not passed, and the Medicaid/rural hospital amendment failed 49-50. Because there is no evidence that Colorado's health care safety net, rural hospital support, or Medicaid protections were actually strengthened as promised, this is not delivered. The legislative activity merits an effort badge.