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As health insurance premiums continue to soar and Colorado examines wide-scale health care reform, there has never been a more important time for the business community to engage in the debate. The Forum is a new project to help you connect the dots and weigh in on solutions.

Health bills debated in last days of session
  While the Legislature is set to adjourn no later than May 7, lawmakers are still debating major bills that could affect the cost of buying health coverage, including a proposal that would tighten the regulation of insurers.
  On Tuesday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 217, by Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, which could lay the groundwork for covering part of Colorado's nearly 800,000 uninsured through a public-private partnership. Whether the bill will be significantly changed in the House remains unclear.
  On Wednesday, two insurance-related bills moved forward in the House, including House Bill 1389, which would require health insurers to justify rate increases to Colorado's Insurance Commissioner before the hikes take effect.
  Several organizations have noted the late introduction of several significant health-related bills and say there may not be enough time for thoughtful debate or to iron out feasible solutions. At least three health-related bills were introduced Tuesday in the House alone. For more information: Denver Business Journal

Top health care news

Denver Water program allows employees to walk while working
  Denver Water has a new program that allows customer care representatives, who spend a lot of time on the phone, walk while they work.
  The Walkstation by Steelcase Inc. is a treadmill and computer workstation all in one. Workers at Denver Water have agreed to take part in a six-month study of how the Walkstation impacts their health and productivity. One employee said she lost 8 pounds in 5 weeks.
  Sandra Miller, manager of healthcare and benefits services, brought the Walkstation to Denver Water. "If you have a device that let's people get work done in a different way, and let's them get the same work done in a different posture and let's them burn calories at the same time, why not?" Miller said.
  Denver Water has gotten such good feedback on the Walkstation, they're adding another one to the customer care center so more employees can work and workout during their day. CBS4

Congressional vote could protect Colorado from Medicaid cut

  Congress took the first step Wednesday toward blocking federal regulations that could cut Colorado's Medicaid funding by $787 million over five years.
  By a bipartisan 349-62 vote, the U.S. House defied President Bush's veto threat and approved a moratorium on seven obscure regulations that impose new restrictions on federal funding for such things as rehabilitation services, case management and transportation.
  Without the moratorium, critics say the regulation changes would cost states a combined $50 billion in federal matching funds over the next five years. Colorado stands to lose  $787.2 million over five years.
  Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., called the rule changes "draconian," and said they would threaten "safety-net" hospitals like Denver Health, which faces an estimated $70 million cut. Rocky Mountain News

Wellpoint 1Q profits drop, fueled in part by rising medical costs
  Rising medical costs and pricing problems pushed WellPoint Inc.'s first-quarter profit down 25 percent, missing Wall Street expectations. The health insurer cut its full-year outlook Wednesday for the second time in about a month.
  Indianapolis-based WellPoint is one of the nation's biggest health insurers. It operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in several states, including Colorado, and has more than 35 million members.
  WellPoint reported Wednesday that its earnings dropped to $588.1 million, or $1.07 per share, from $783.1 million, or $1.26 per share, a year earlier. Investment losses of 6 cents per share hurt results. Revenue rose 3 percent to $15.55 billion from $15.09 billion.
  The company's benefit expense -- or medical cost -- ratio, which is the company's percentage of medical expenses over premium revenue, rose to 85.1 percent, up from 83.1 percent the previous year. WellPoint leaders traced much of that increase to its senior business, which lost $200 million in the quarter. Associated Press