Legislative Roundup #5: What We’re Watching

Less than a month remains in Colorado’s legislative session, and the Capitol is buzzing with activity. The long appropriations bill has passed the House and Senate, and now differences must be reconciled by a Conference Committee, comprised of Joint Budget Committee members. (Check out last week’s blog for in-depth analysis of the long appropriations bill.)

Our team at CHI continues to track the progress of health-related legislation.  Here are the bills we are watching:

Bills New to Our Roundup (See our last roundup for other bill summaries):

House Bill 14-1323: Restrict Government Access Personal Medical Information
Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Primavera (D), Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R), Sen. John Kefalas (D)
Status: Passed House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee, referred amended to House floor

• Prohibits state or local government from accessing a person’s medical information or records without consent.

House Bill 14-1357: In-Home Support Services in Medicaid Program
Sponsors: Rep. Dave Young (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Assigned to House Public Health and Human Services Committee

• Changes rules and makes clarifications regarding in-home support services provided via Medicaid. Included are provisions allowing reimbursements for family members who provide in-home services, as well as provisions expanding eligibility to enrollees of the spinal cord injury waiver pilot program.

Senate Bill 14-155: Medical Marijuana Health Effects Grant Program
Sponsors: Rep. Crisanta Duran (D), Rep. Jenise May (D), Sen. Pat Steadman (D)
Status: Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee

• Creates a grant program funding scientific research to investigate the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Allocates up to $10 million from the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund to be used over 5 years.

Updated Status on Bills We’ve Been Watching:

House Bill 14-1045: Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Primavera (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D), Sen. Larry Crowder (R)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred to Senate Appropriations Committee

House Bill 14-1108: Copayments for Physical Rehabilitation Services
Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Primavera (D), Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D)
Status: Vetoed by governor

House Bill 14-1253: Recommendations Civil Commitment Review Task Force
Sponsors: Rep. Beth McCann (D), Sen. Linda Newell (D)
Status: Passed House committee, referred amended to House floor

House Bill 14-1288: Student Immunizations Prior to School Attendance
Sponsors: Rep. Dan Pabon (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed House, assigned to Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

House Bill 14-1301: Safe Routes to School Program State Funding
Sponsors: Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush (D), Sen. Andrew Kerr (D)
Status: Passed House committee, referred amended to House Appropriations Committee

House Bill 14-1336: Long Appropriations Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Crisanta Duran (D), Sen. Pat Steadman (D)
Status: Passed House and Senate, referred to Conference Committee

Senate Bill 14-016: CDPHE Regulate Freestanding Emergency Centers
Sponsors: Rep. Dominick Moreno (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred amended to Senate floor

Senate Bill 14-032: Alternative Health Care Providers Treat Children
Sponsor: Rep. Lori Saine (R), Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R)
Status: Failed in House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee

Senate Bill 14-050: Financial Assistance in Colorado Hospitals
Sponsors: Rep. Dominick Moreno (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate Appropriations, referred amended to Senate floor

Senate Bill 14-144: Family Medicine Residency Programs in Rural Areas
Sponsors: Rep. Joann Ginal (D), Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred to Senate Appropriations Committee

Senate Bill 14-151: Nursing Home Innovations
Sponsors: Rep. Dave Young (D), Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D)
Status: Passed Senate Finance Committee, amended, referred back to Senate Appropriations Committee

We will continue to monitor the progress of these and other bills. Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @CHI_butcherk for more updates from the Capitol this session.