U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar is so impressed with a blue ribbon panel's work on Colorado health care reform that he wants to bring its members to Washington to address the U.S. Senate.

"You are doing more work in a comprehensive way on health reform than anyone in Washington," Salazar, a Democrat, told the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform at a meeting in Denver on Friday. "It's time for the U.S. Congress to hear from you."

Salazar said the panel's analysis of the opportunities and roadblocks on the way to near-universal health care can serve as a model for other states and Congress.

"I will figure out a way to get a formal interface between the U.S. Senate and you," he said.

"That would be wonderful," said Bill Lindsay, chairman of the 27-member committee.

Salazar also said he would work to get the Senate to loosen regulations so a state such as Colorado can propose ambitious health-care changes without losing the federal money it receives for Medicare and Medicaid.

The panel, appointed by the governor and state lawmakers, is examining four proposals and crafting a fifth. All five will be presented to the state legislature, along with recommendations.

The panel was created last year, and began work in November. The process:

• April: Thirty-one proposals from a variety of coalitions and groups were delivered to the panel.

• May: Statewide public hearings helped the panel choose four plans from the 31. The plans ranged from a market-based solution to a Canada-like single-payer plan.

• June to August: The panel analyzed the plans' costs and strengths.

• July to September: The panel is in the process of developing a fifth proposal.

• September to November: The panel will receive a cost analysis of the fifth proposal.

• October: Statewide public hearings on the five proposals.

• January 2008: The panel will present its final report to the state legislature, with recommendations and comments on the strengths of all five plans.

• January to May: Legislature will consider the plans and may come up with one plan to present to voters.

• November, 2008: Possible statewide vote on a health care plan, necessary because it likely would require a tax increase.

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-442-8729