h_hie_2016a_2016-05-03t10:54:05z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/03/2016

12:03 PM -- SB 16-135



Representative Ginal, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-135. The bill allows health insurance plans to provide coverage for health care services provided by a pharmacist as part of a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement if certain conditions are met. Specifically, the health plan must provide coverage for the same service if it is provided by a licensed physician or an advanced practice nurse and the pharmacist must be included in the insurers network of participating providers. The State Board of Pharmacy, the Colorado Medical Board, and the State Board of Nursing must jointly create rules governing collaborative pharmacy practice agreements.



Collaborative pharmacy practice agreements are voluntary agreements between a licensed pharmacist and a physician or advanced practice nurse that allow a pharmacist to provide evidence-based health care services to one or more patients pursuant to a specific treatment protocol delegated to a pharmacist by a physician or advanced practice nurse. Collaborative pharmacy practice agreements also may include a statewide drug therapy protocol developed by the State Board of Pharmacy and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for public health care services, including health care services for smoking cessation, travel health services, and self-administered hormonal contraception.. Representative Ginal referenced the unofficial preamended version of the bill that she distributed to the committee (Attachment D).



12:08 PM



Representative Ginal answered questions from the committee.



12:10 PM



Representative Ginal explained amendments L.008, L.015, L.016, L.017, L.019, and L.020 (Attachments E, F, G, H, I, and J).



160503 AttachD.pdf160503 AttachE.pdf160503 AttachF.pdf160503 AttachG.pdf160503 AttachH.pdf160503 AttachI.pdf160503 AttachJ.pdf



12:13 PM -- Dr. Ralph Altiere, University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Altiere answered questions from the committee.



12:23 PM -- Brad Young, Rx Plus Pharmacies, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Young answered questions from the committee.



12:27 PM -- Ann Clement, Colorado Retail Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Clement answered questions from the committee.



12:33 PM -- Charlie Sheffield, Colorado Association of Health Plans, answered questions from the committee.

12:39 PM



Representative Ginal made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill.

12:41 PM



The committee adjourned.