A Republican bill to cut costs by making it easier for doctors and patients to deal with insurers passed a Senate Committee Thursday after picking up support from the governor's office.

Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, would require health insurers and health-care providers to develop and use a standardized card that contains vital information about patients’ health coverage. Currently, widespread clerical errors--due to insurance cards that are difficult to read--are believed to result in paperwork snafus that drive up insurance costs.

All Coloradans with private or public health insurance would be issued the electronically scannable card, which would immediately inform doctors and hospitals of the details of the patients’ insurance.

“I am proud to carry this bill to make health care better, more convenient and less expensive,” Mitchell said after the vote.

Mitchell believes that it is important that all stakeholders be involved in crafting a standardized health-benefits card because it affects everyone in the system.