A measure that would ask insurance companies to draw up ways they could cover Colorado’s uninsured population garnered second-reading approval Monday in the state Senate.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Denver, said he expected it to clear the Senate on a voice vote today.

Called Centennial Care Choices, the bill is “the antithesis of what Massachusetts has done,” Hagedorn said.

Senate Bill 217 would have carriers submit plans to the state rather than have the state dictate the kinds of plans it would require carriers to offer, Hagedorn said.

Two features of the measure raise the possibility that Colorado could require individuals to carry health insurance and that voters might be asked to put up the money for it.

His measure also would emphasize management of conditions instead of merely treating illnesses, Hagedorn said.

Diabetes poses just such an opportunity to save money by encouraging people to manage the symptoms “and not be solely dependent on medication,” he said.

Similarly, people with high blood pressure could be encouraged to lose weight, stop smoking and take other measures that would lessen the need for medication, he said.

Disease management, he said, “could save billions.”

The measure will move to the House, where it’s being carried by Rep. Anne L. McGihon, D-Denver.

Proposals for Centennial Care Choices plans would have to be presented to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing by Aug. 1, 2009.

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E-mail Gary Harmon at gharmon@gjds.com.