Why It Matters

University of Colorado Health is lobbying intensely on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement as hospital finances face unprecedented strain. Rural hospitals are closing at accelerating rates, urban providers face potential Medicaid cuts, and modest Medicare payment increases fail to match inflation. For UCHealth—operating facilities across Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska—federal payment policy determines whether rural locations remain viable.

UCHealth’s strategy is straightforward: hire Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, one of Washington’s most influential firms with deep healthcare expertise, and maintain exclusive focus on core reimbursement issues. This mirrors tactics deployed by peer systems like UPMC and Vanderbilt, creating unified industry pressure on Congress.

By the Numbers

University of Colorado Health spent $50,000 on federal lobbying in the last quarter, maintaining consistent quarterly investment since September 2023. The Colorado-based health system has invested $480,000 across 11 quarterly filings over two years.

UCHealth exclusively retained Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP for all lobbying efforts, signaling a long-term partnership. The firm represents over 120 organizations including Johnson & Johnson Services Inc. and AbbVie Inc..

UCHealth has focused consistently on Health Issues (HCR) category priorities: Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, hospital operational reforms, billing transparency, and Medicaid provider tax issues.

The Agenda

University of Colorado Health is lobbying on healthcare reimbursement and hospital operations, specifically focused on Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment rates, hospital billing transparency requirements, and Medicaid provider tax policies.

UCHealth has also previously advocated on clinical trial diversity, supporting H.R. 3503, the NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act of 2023, reflecting its mission as an academic medical center involved in research.

Broader Context

A December 2025 Gallup poll found 24 percent of Americans say the U.S. healthcare system is in crisis, with roughly eight in ten Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans citing major problems. Rural hospitals face particular strain, with over 700 at risk of closure nationwide and 48 percent operating at financial losses.

Medicaid payment cuts are looming under GOP control, with CMS already delaying hospital Medicaid payments. Meanwhile, Medicare telehealth flexibilities expire January 30, 2026, creating a "telehealth policy cliff" threatening reimbursement for services UCHealth delivers across multiple states.

Workforce shortages compound these pressures. Projections show an 86,000-physician shortage by 2036. As an academic medical center, UCHealth has strategic interest in graduate medical education funding.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively engaged in healthcare system reform, directly aligning with UCHealth’s lobbying priorities. The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee heard testimony on post-acute care access and Medicaid funding, while joint subcommittees explored Medicare Advantage payment models.

Congress is pursuing telehealth expansion through the Telehealth Modernization Act and House companion bill extending crucial Medicare telehealth flexibilities. The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act targets adequate Medicaid payment rates for rural obstetric services.

The bipartisan Fair Billing Act would require unique billing identifiers for off-campus hospital locations to curb facility fee practices.

Competitive Landscape

UCHealth operates within a crowded advocacy space where peer health systems lobby Congress on nearly identical issues. UPMC lobbies on DSH payments, Medicaid provider assessments, and telehealth reimbursement, while Vanderbilt University Medical Center shares UCHealth’s focus on federal research funding and GME funding.

This unified industry voice reflects collective financial pressure facing hospital systems nationwide. UCHealth’s $50,000 quarterly investment must compete with well-resourced associations for congressional attention on issues where bipartisan concern exists but resources remain finite.

The Bottom Line

University of Colorado Health spent $50,000 in the last quarter of 2025 lobbying on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement through Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP. UCHealth’s advocacy priorities—payment rates, hospital transparency, and workforce funding—reflect industry-wide concerns as provider finances tighten nationwide. Congress is actively addressing these issues through multiple hearings and bills.

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