Ritter dives deeper in to healthcare debate

One reason I support Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill Ritter - besides the little (D) after his name on the ballot - is that his healthcare position is more rational and comprehensive than his Republican opponent's. Both men admit that the system is broken, and that spiraling costs are breaking the backs of consumers and businesses across America. But Beauprez's solution, as articulated in the KBDI debate, is unfunded tax incentives and mandating "light packages for the younger population." He has also advocated tapping into the tobacco settlement.

Ritter doesn't support what I'd call universal healthcare or even a voucher system. But he has pledged to get all of Colorado's 770,000 uninsured covered with some sort of basic primary care package. He has pointed to Republican Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's comprehensive plan as proof that it can be done at the state level.

Yesterday, in a release timed to coincide with a gubernatorial healthcare forum, Ritter dove into his plan to reduce healthcare costs, increase insurance availability, and improve our quality of care. His plan calls for a series of specific short-term fixes and a new long-term solution that addresses the concerns of patients, doctors and insurance agencies. A release states:

"We can no longer afford the ills of our system - people using emergency rooms as their primary care centers; people putting off basic health-care needs until they erupt into more costly and life-threatening situations; businesses no longer able to afford to offer their employees insurance."

You can read the whole plan on the Ritter for Governor website.

Photo of Ritter marching with CD6 nominee Bill Winter courtesy of Bill Ritter for Governor.