Three-part plan launches ‘Primary Care for All’ to transform Colorado’s “sick care” system into a true “health care” system.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2026
Media Contact:
Nate Jackson
(903-638-1874)
[email protected]
DENVER, CO – As health care costs continue to skyrocket for Colorado families, Colorado Attorney General and candidate for governor Phil Weiser today unveiled his new “Healthy Colorado Plan,” which will focus on lowering costs and transforming Colorado’s “sick care” system into a true “health care” system. Weiser’s plan to deliver quality, affordable health care for all Coloradans includes three parts: Primary Care for All; Best Care, Best Price; and a Health Consumer Pact.
“Our health care system is broken: It costs too much, it’s too hard to access, and too many Coloradans are getting squeezed,” Phil Weiser said. “Every Coloradan should have accessible, quality health care for the lowest cost. We need to fix what’s driving costs, expand access, and build a system focused on keeping people healthy. Rather than scale up a broken system, my plan will lower costs and deliver better care – because in Colorado, health care should actually care about your health.”
Weiser’s “Healthy Colorado Plan” builds on the health care proposals outlined in his Colorado Blueprint and was developed in partnership with health care leaders and experts from across Colorado. The plan includes three parts:
Primary Care for All: Weiser will launch a systemwide mandate to move Colorado from our current “sick care” system to a true “health care” system. This will include universal preventive care that keeps people out of hospitals and emergency rooms; whole-person care focused on physical, mental and behavioral health; and real support for our kids through “Hope,” Weiser’s youth mental health initiative.
Best Care, Best Price: Weiser will expand ways for Coloradans to afford and access care. This will include smarter purchasing (including opening the state employee health plan to teachers and others), more affordable plans (including leveraging the Colorado Option for individuals and families on the health exchange), and enhanced care delivery – in rural Colorado and beyond – including more virtual and at-home care; and reducing drug prices because no one should have to choose between medicine and rent.
Health Consumer Pact: Weiser will protect consumers and public health, building on his work as attorney general to reduce cost and increase access. This includes ending surprise billing and crushing medical debt, cracking down on corporate consolidation and monopolistic practices, and enhancing our public health infrastructure in the face of unprecedented federal cuts.
Weiser’s plan also focuses on rebuilding our health care workforce through ColoradoCorps and beyond, aligning state government and health care stakeholders to protect care – including for those on Medicaid – and public health from federal cuts, and activating “Tech for Good” to advance new ideas to improve quality and access and protect consumer data and information.
“We need an innovator like Phil Weiser as our next governor – someone who knows state government inside and out, has fresh ideas, and can bring people together to solve problems,” Sue Birch, former executive director of the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing, said. “Phil’s comprehensive health care plan will help Colorado harness its purchasing power and drive us to new ground where all Coloradans have access to better, high quality health care they can afford.”
“Phil Weiser is respected by state leaders as someone who works collaboratively with them to solve problems and understands how state government works – from top to bottom,” Joan Henneberry, former executive director of the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing, said. “Phil has developed a detailed, smart health care plan, and he will ensure that our state health care system is ready to respond to unprecedented federal cuts. I have no doubt that Phil is the leader Colorado needs at this critical moment.”
“Phil hit the nail on the head that the twin problems for Coloradans in health care are affordability and access,” Patty Gabow, former CEO of Denver Health, said. “He will tackle the first with his Health Consumer Pact and the second one with his proposed ColoradoCorps. Phil also understands that access to behavioral and mental health care is crucial, and has demonstrated his resolve in addressing it through his work as AG on the opioid crisis. As Phil says, we made great progress nationally and in Colorado with the ACA, but he also points out that the federal government is eroding that progress. But Phil knows how to push back. Phil will work to help Colorado build a more affordable and accessible health care system.”
For more information, visit https://philforcolorado.com/.
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