S_HHS_2022A 02/09/2022 01:32:15 PM Committee Summary

Mrs. Valerie Cuzella, representing Colorado Dental Hygienists Association, Current President, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Brett Kessler, representing Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Simpson introduced and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A)

Senator Smallwood and Senator Jaquez-Lewis, co-prime sponsors, presented on Senate Bill 22-052, which increases the eligibility level for children and pregnant women under the Children’s Basic Health Plan (CHP+) to up to 260 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and increases the Medicaid income eligibility level for pregnant women from 133 percent of the FPL to a federally approved specified percentage of the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size as set forth in state board rule. Senator Smallwood also distributed a fact sheet (Attachment B).

Marivel Klueckman, representing Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill and answered questions from the committee.

Ms. Bethany Pray, representing Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.

Senators Jaquez-Lewis and Smallwood introduced and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment C)

Senators Jaquez-Lewis and Smallwood answered questions from the committee.

Senator Smallwood and Senator Rodriguez, co-prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 22-027, makes modifications to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program(PDMP), including: requiring each prescriber holding a Colorado license and a current federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration to register and maintain a PDMP user account; requiring a prescriber to query the PDMP prior to prescribing any opioid or benzodiazepine; clarifying that each pharmacist holding a Colorado license is required to maintain a user account with the PDMP; and requiring that the Prescription Drug Monitoring Task Force evaluate and make recommendations to the Executive Director of DORA regarding balancing enforcement of the PDMP with its use as a healthcare tool.

Mrs. Jenny Page, representing Office of the State Auditor, was available to answer committee questions.

Ms Ronne Hines, representing Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony can be found in Attachment C.