Medicaid copays going up so businesses can get a tax break in CO.

https://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorado-lawmakers-finally-have-a-hospital-provider-fee-deal-here-s-what-s-in-it

snip:

Colorado Lawmakers Finally Have A Hospital Provider Fee Deal, Here’s What’s In It

"...The two sides were able to reach an agreement after compromising on a key point of division: hikes to Medicaid copays. Democrats scoffed at an original Republican proposal, which would have required the state to set Medicaid copays at the federal maximum. Instead, the two sides reached a compromise that would increase prescription copays from an average of $1.25 to $2.50. It also hikes copays on some outpatient services...."

"... the bill includes relief for many small businesses that pay taxes on things like office equipment and supplies, through the business personal property tax."
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This bill is a really big deal. " Without this bill, hospitals stand to lose $528 million, including federal matching dollars."

The main idea is this: "The bill — through the reclassification of a fund to pay for health care for low-income Coloradans — would allow the state to keep more of its revenue, in theory. That’s because the move allows the state to move hundreds of millions of dollars out from underneath the spending cap set forth by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which mandates tax refunds when revenues exceed the rate of inflation and population growth.
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Longtime Coloradoans will remember that the GOP has been trying to get this tax break for businesses for a while. They really had the Dems over a barrel on this hospital provider fee. Now, poor people, who don't have any extra money for higher Medicaid copays, can watch wasteful businesses contribute even less while demanding more wars, more tax cuts, more prisons, and all the GOP bs. The increase isn't a lot but it's way too much for the very poor while creeps like Trump burn tax dollars in trips to his resort or displays of power such as the bombing of Syria.