S_HHS_2018A 03/21/2018 10:53:06 AM Committee Summary

Senator Crowder, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1148.  The bill prohibits health insurers from requiring that a person undergo step therapy prior to receiving a federally approved drug for stage four metastatic cancer if the use of the drug is consistent with best practices for treatment of the cancer.  Step therapy is a protocol under which a health insurer first requires that a certain drug or sequence of drugs be tried before coverage is provided for the drug that was recommended by a health care provider.  Under current law, health insurers are only prohibited from requiring step therapy in instances where a prescription drug mandated under a step therapy protocol has previously been tried by the covered person but was discontinued due to lack of efficacy or adverse event.

Diane Robinson, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Crowder distributed a handout to the committee [Attachment A] and read a letter from a cancer patient.

Committee discussion followed.

Committee discussion and questions followed.

Ronne Hines, Colorado Department of Regulatory of Agencies, testified against the bill.  Ms. Hines responded to questions.

Frank Cornelia, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified against the bill.  Mr. Cornelia responded to questions,

Moe Keller, Mental Health Colorado, testified against the bill.  Ms. Keller responded to questions.

Dr. Reo Leslie, Colorado Mental Health Professionals Association, testified in support of the bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C).  Dr. Leslie responded to questions from the committee.

James Pinkney III, Colorado Mental Health Professionals Association, testified in support of the bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D).  Mr. Pinkney responded to questions.

Dr. Leslie responded to committee concerns.