S_HHS_2025A 02/06/2025 01:32:32 PM Committee Summary

Senators Cutter and Amabile, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-042, which forms a behavioral health stakeholder group, creates new reporting requirements for departments and behavioral health facilities, and updates coverage of medical health care through Medicaid and emergency mental health hold practices.

Mr. Kevin Bishop,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Kate Rawlinson,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Wendy Buxton-Andrade,
representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked this panel questions.

Senator Amabile explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Senator Amabile explained amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

The committee discussed amendment L.002.

Senator Amabile provided closing remarks.

Committee members asked the bill sponsor questions and provided closing remarks.

Committee members asked the bill sponsors questions.

Landrey Fagan, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. William Blanchet, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Ryan Concannon, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Natalie Gustafson, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. Hilary Back,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Jennifer Trigg,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Shawna Kiker,
representing Colorado Naturopathic Doctor, testified in support of the
bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Ms. Pritika Parmar,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Laura  Edgerley-Gibb,
representing Colorado Academy of Emergency Physicians, testified in opposition
to the bill. Dr. Kim Warner, representing Colorado Medical Society, testified
in opposition to the bill. Kayla Sompel, representing themself, testified
in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. Roanne Houck,
representing Colorado Association of Naturpathic Doctors, testified in
support of the bill. Shayna Powell, representing CoAND, testified in support
of the bill. Don Brown, representing themself, testified in support of
the bill.



James Gilchrist,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gilchrist
provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C).



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. Brenna Polsinelli,
representing Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in opposition
to the bill. Dr. Allyson Westling, representing Colorado Academy of Family
Physicians (CAFP), testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Lynn Parry,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Gina Moore,
representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Erin Prestia-Robins,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. JoAnn Yanez,
representing Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC),
testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jan Burton, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Kelly Parcell, representing Naturopathic
Doctors, testified in support of the bill. David Jacobs, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Eric Dorninger, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment D).

Senator Snyder explained amendment L.001 (Attachment E).

Senators Pelton R. and Snyder provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

Senator Weissman,
primary bill sponsor, presented House Bill 25-1033, which conforms state
Medicaid statutes to recent changes in federal law by prohibiting third-party
payers from refusing to reimburse the Department of Health Care Policy
and Financing for items or services provided to a member without prior
authorization.



Senator Weissman
provided a handout to the committee (Attachment F).

Senator Weissman provided closing remarks.