Dem Governor Vetoes Ban on Surprise Ambulance Bills in Shocking Move

newrepublic.com /post/195932/democratic-governor-colorado-polis-veto-ban-surprise-ambulance-bills

EMS @lemm.ee

conditional_soup @lemm.ee

6d ago

newrepublic.com /post/195932/democratic-governor-colorado-polis-veto-ban-surprise-ambulance-bills

26 comments

Saving you a click:
Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis
The governor wrote in his veto statement that drafting errors in the bill made it “unimplementable” and estimated that it would make insurance premiums go up by as much as $0.73 to $2.15 per person.
The sticking point: two dollars.
Two.
Dollars.
I wonder how many multiples of that the ambulance companies lobbied his campaign with
- I can answer that:
  At least one in particular. AMR (American Medical Response) and its holding company GMR (Global Medical Response) are about as evil as it gets in the ambulance industry, and they're also HUGE businesses, not to mention that they also run something like 1/3-1/4 of all US private EMS operations. Oh, did I mention that they're based out of Greenwood, CO?
  I'd bet a pretty healthy sum that those vampiric fucks are behind it.
  
  1/3-1/4
  1/3rd is bigger than 1/4th
- Oh no's, $2 extra/month, but you might get surprise billed bullshit prices, but that's cool.
  Despite federal and state laws addressing surprise out-of-network medical billing, public ground ambulances, interfacility transfers, and non-emergency ambulance rides were left out of those laws. This legislation closes that loophole that left patients vulnerable to outrageous and unexpected charges for out-of-network ambulance services.
  A recent study found that more than half of ground ambulance rides result in surprise bills, with patients paying an average of $435 out-of-pocket, more than three times the cost of in-network rides. Patients are often left with surprise out-of-pocket bills that are much higher: a Denver resident was saddled with a $1,500 bill after a health emergency in 2023. In Colorado, out-of-network ambulance charges forced consumers to shoulder nearly $16 million in costs in 2022.
  https://cohealthinitiative.org/media-releases/consumer-advocates-praise-senate-approval-of-bill-to-close-surprise-billing-loophole-for-ambulances/
- Polis also recently vetoed a labor rights bill, a ride share safety bill, and a ban on using algorithmic websites like real page to set rents. Dude is pro business 100% if the time, and cosplays a cool hip progressive guy.
- Two dollars adds up.
  I have been provided with estimates on premium impact that range from $0.73 to $2.15 per member per month, which means a family of four would likely pay as much as one hundred dollars more per year in insurance premiums if I were to sign this bill
  
  Golly, it's almost like private, for profit insurance and for-profit ambulance companies really aren't the most efficient way to run a healthcare system. =\
  
  And three grand for an ambulance rides doesn't add up!?
Democrats keep grasping failure from the jaws of victory. Unforced error.
Also why the actual fuck is that State Congress convened for 7 entire months?!? What is the point of a government that isn't even present for the majority of the year?
- Same reason school stops in the summer: Gotta have time for farm chores.
  
  Golf, baby!
- https://www.ncsl.org/resources/details/legislative-session-length
  That's pretty standard for state legislatures. A lot of states treat the legislature as a part-time job and expect their elected representatives to have other responsibilities as well. It used to even be common for states to only convene every other year.
- Hell in my state they aren't even convened that often. The more and more the governor's been calling special sessions. Either way I'm actually grateful for it because the longer they're in session the more damage they do.
Dem Governor Vetoes Ban on Surprise Ambulance Bills in Shocking Move
I said "Jared Polis. Colorado." without even even opening the article.
Then I opened the article.
It was actually Jared Polis.
I'm not surprised at all...
https://prospect.org/labor/2025-05-19-democrats-union-busting-governor-polis-colorado/
https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/gov-polis-vetoes-colorado-union-bill-that-would-have-eased-union-formation/
He is a pretty smart guy. I agree with many of his policies. But electing a filthy-rich businessman wasn't perhaps a great idea. He has vetoed some good bills.
- He is a pretty smart guy.
  He knows to get paid in advance.
  But electing a filthy-rich businessman wasn’t perhaps a great idea. He has vetoed some good bills.
  Unfortunately, the only candidates Dems seem willing to field over the last few election cycles have been larded up business goons, tacti-cool military vets, and slavishly loyal Israel supporters. The working class simply is not invited to the table.
- I assumed Newsome
- Lol same. Polis is excellent at disappointing his voters.

26 comments