Denver Health Faces Financial Struggle, City Council Proposes Sales Tax Increase to Alleviate Burden

Denver Health is facing a financial burden due to unpaid medical bills and population growth. To address this issue, the Denver City Council is considering a bill that would increase the city’s sales tax by 0.34%. The purpose of this proposed increase is to assist Denver Health in covering costs for patients who are unable to pay their medical bills, largely due to a lack of health insurance.

According to Denver Health, there were $140 million in unpaid medical bills in 2023. This financial burden has made it difficult for Denver Health to sustain its current level of care. A contributing factor to this issue is that city funding designated for unpaid medical bills has not been raised in 15 years.

If the proposal is approved by the city council, Denver voters will have the opportunity to vote on it in the November election. Some council members are concerned about passing the proposal as it would make Denver’s sales tax the 11th highest in the state, while others see it as a necessary step to support the health and well-being of the community.

The bill will be presented for its first reading at Monday night’s meeting, with the final vote scheduled for June 24. The decision will ultimately be in the hands of Denver residents, who will have the chance to determine the city’s approach to addressing medical debt and providing essential healthcare services to those in need.