First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThis memorandum focuses on ground-level ozone, the harmful air pollutant that is the main ingredient of “smog.” Ground-level ozone significantly impacts the health of Coloradans and the environment. It is also important to note that ground-level ozone differs from “good” ozone, or stratospheric...
Many bills were introduced this year addressing health care and the insurance industry in Colorado. Recurring topics this session including reproductive health care, hospital and facility policies, prescription drugs, and consumer protections.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health benefits and services to Coloradans who meet eligibility requirements. Each state administers its own Medicaid program, and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set standards for the program to receive...
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of measures related to Medicaid, insurance carriers, and health care facilities. It also considered measures concerning substance use disorders, health care costs, and the health care workforce.
Pursuant to Section 10‑16-221, C.R.S., the Statewide Health Care Review Committee was created to study health care issues across the state.
The Colorado General Assembly considered many bills related to public health this legislative session over multiple subject matters including mental health, environmental health, and health in the education system.
Report No. 2023-TE18
The Interim Committee on Opiod and other Substance Use Disorders was created pursuant to Section 10-22.3-101.
Colorado currently administers ten Home- and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the four waivers available to children.
Colorado currently administers ten Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the six waivers available to adults.
The committee studies the implementation of Colorado's health exchange. It reviews and approves grants applied for by the exchange's board of directors to implement the exchange, approves the exchange's executive director, and recommends legislation on the operation of the exchange.
The relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health has prompted a rise in regulatory policy across the nation and in Colorado. This memorandum examines social media use and adolescent health outcomes, the predominant policy frameworks in this domain, and federal and state...
The 74th General Assembly passed numerous pieces of legislation regarding public health. While not all of the public health legislation fell into these groups, three major themes for public health were: screenings and early prevention, maternal health, and increasing access.
Addressing the substance use disorder epidemic and providing behavioral health resources to communities throughout Colorado were the two major behavioral health care themes that emerged during the Second Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly. Important behavioral health bills are...
Health insurance is a method of paying or receiving reimbursement for health care costs from covered services. Health insurance companies spread the costs and risk of covered health care services across all members of a plan in exchange for premiums and other cost-sharing mechanisms, such as...
The harmful effects of secondhand smoke and emissions from tobacco, marijuana, and electronic smoking devices continue to be an issue in Colorado. Since 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer.
Legislative Council Staff produces greenhouse gas emissions reports (GHG reports) that estimate the emissions impact of certain bills. Utilization of these reports has been low. The reports repeal following the 2025 session unless extended by legislation.
Section 10-22-107, C.R.S., establishes the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee (oversight committee) for guiding the implementation of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, which currently does business under the name Connect for Health Colorado (exchange), and making...
Many pieces of legislation regarding health care and health insurance made their way through the 74th General Assembly. Most of the legislation fell into the following categories: removing barriers to treatment, and licensing requirements.
Prior authorization—sometimes referred to as preauthorization or precertification—is a process by which an insurer reviews a request for health care services or drugs before consenting to cover the costs of the proposed treatment. Upon receiving a request, an insurer can approve or deny the...
Section 10-22-107, C.R.S., establishes the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee (oversight committee) for guiding the implementation of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, which currently does business under the name Connect for Health Colorado (exchange), and making...
This memorandum provides an overview on the federal immigration system, Colorado’s role in immigration, and patterns of immigration in the state and nationally. It then discusses the impact of immigration on different sectors of the economy and state government programs and services, and...
Report No. 2025-TE4