Bill Tracker

The bill requires health-care facilities to follow standardized procedures for screening uninsured patients and informing them of their eligibility for public health insurance,s before initiating collections proceedings. The bill aligns with League policy for access and affordability of health care to all Coloradans, and transparency of costs and options.

House considered Senate amendments with result laid over daily from 6-4-21.

This bill increases and clarifies domestic violence training requirements for court personnel who are regularly involved in cases related to domestic matters, including child and family investigators, parenting responsibility evaluators, and legal representatives of children. Training for all personnel must include both an initial training requirement as well as an ongoing annual continuing education requirement as follows:

• Six initial hours of training on domestic violence and its traumatic effects on children, adults, and families;
• Six initial hours of training on child abuse and its traumatic effects; and
• Four subsequent hours of training every 2 years on domestic violence and child abuse and the traumatic effects on children, adults, and families.

Testimony and the discussion at the April 6 hearing uncovered the need for a much broader and comprehensive solution to address the underlying issues related to domestic abuse and parent alienation than the mandated training in the bill would provide. Concerns were also raised about the training itself, which may or may not be addressed in amendments. For these reasons the League has moved back to a Monitor position.

Consideration of Senate amendments to House bill on 6-7-21 resulted in concurrence and repass.  Bill should be on its way to the Governor.

The bill directs the Commissioner of Insurance to develop a standardized health insurance plan that private insurers must offer; sets targets for premium rate reductions; and creates a process whereby providers may be required to accept rates set by the state regulators. League program policy is supportive of health care reform which offers affordability, quality and access, and which may have government involvement as this plan does.

The bill had lengthy testimony in its original version before the Health & Insurance Committee. It had a significant strike-below, and many introduced amendments, with numerous failing and others passing. Passed the House and Senate on a party line vote. Senate Amendments to a House bill were considered on 6-8-21, and resulted in a repass. The bill was signed by the Governor on 6-16-21.

The bill directs the Department of Personnel to contract with a pharmacy benefit
manager for state employee health insurance using a reverse auction procurement process, for the purpose of having a more competitive prescription drug component. Reducing drug costs would potentially both save the individual state employees health care costs, but could also save the state general fund, which may in part be covering state employee benefit costs.

The bill is supported by League policy which encourages affordable, accessible and quality health care with participation by the government to assist with these objectives.

The bill had strong bi-partisan support, passing the House and Senate, and was signed by the Governor 6-7-21.

The bill creates the Insulin Affordability Program in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). It clarifies that $100 is the monthly maximum health plans can set for patient out-of-pocket insulin costs, regardless of number of insulin prescriptions. It establishes addional co-payment limits including for emergency and limits pharmacy charges for dispensing.

Consideration of Senate amendments to the House bill on 6-8-21 resulted in concurrence and a re-pass.  The bill was sent to the Governor 6-15-21.

The bill extends to 2028 the Michael Skolnik Transparency act, which requires disclosure of information about health care providers to the Department of Regulatory Affairs, so that consumers are informed and protected.  The bill is consistent with League policy to support quality health care, which is enhanced through transparency.

The bill was signed by the Governor 5-7-21.

The bill extends to 2028 the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), a program which tracks controlled substances. The program is a powerful tool for prescribers and dispensers to help reduce prescription drug misuse, abuse and diversion: helping them to make more informed decisions when considering prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance to patients. The bill is consistent with League program policy for ensuring quality health care and patient safety.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously 4-28-21. The bill passed Third Reading on 5-28-21. The bill was sent to the Governor 6-15-21.

The bill creates an alternative response pilot program for counties to use when they receive low-risk reports of mistreatment or self-neglect by an-risk adult. The pilot addresses opportunities for better outcomes for a modified response protocol. The bill is consistent with League policy for offering quality health care, which this proposed pilot would assess.

The bill passed and was sent to the Governor on 6-11-21.

The bill expands prescription drug importation from recently passed Canadian drug importation (SB19-005) to other countries, in order to provide Coloradans with affordable drugs.  The bill is fully consistent with League policy to provide all people with access, quality and affordability in health care. Importation will be subject to federal laws, which continue to move toward facilitation of states engaging in importation. HCPF has estimated a savings of as much as 61% on drugs imported

The bill passed both houses and was signed by the Governor 4-26-21.

The bill creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in order to provide Coloradans with affordable prescription drugs, particularly where there are extraordinary outliers of high cost drugs.  The bill is fully consistent with League policy to provide all people with access, quality and affordability in health care.

The bill passed the Senate on a party line vote 5-7-21 and passed the House 6-4-21.  One of the more contentious health care bills of the session, Senate amendments were considered by the House with a result to re-pass on 6-8-21, the last day of the session. The bill was signed by the Governor on 6-16-21.

This bill renames an entity as the Health Disparities Community and Grant Program and broadens grant-making scope to include social determinants of health for underrepresented populations. This bill aligns with League positions on addressing health inequities and underserved populations.

Senate Considered House amendments with result to Concur and Repass 6-1-21, and the bill is on the way to the Governor.