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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly
SB23-144

Prescription Drugs For Chronic Pain

Type Bill
Session 2023 Regular Session
Subjects
Health Care & Health Insurance

Concerning prescription drugs for the treatment of chronic pain.

Bill Summary:

The act allows a health-care provider to prescribe, dispense, or administer a schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance (drug) to a patient in the course of treatment for a diagnosed condition that causes chronic pain. The act also clarifies that the prescribing health-care provider is not subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate regulator for prescribing a dosage of a drug that is equal to or more than a morphine milligram equivalent dosage recommendation or threshold specified in state or federal opioid prescribing guidelines or policies.

The act prevents a health-care provider from being required to taper a patient's medication dosage solely to meet a predetermined dosage recommendation or threshold if the patient is stable, compliant with treatment, and not experiencing serious harm.

The act also prohibits a pharmacy, health insurance carrier, or pharmacy benefit manager from having a policy in place that requires a pharmacist to refuse to fill a prescription for an opiate issued by a health-care provider solely because the prescription is for an opiate or because the prescription order exceeds a predetermined morphine milligram equivalent dosage recommendation or threshold.

The act also prohibits a health-care practice or clinic from having a policy in place that requires a health-care provider to refuse to prescribe, administer, or dispense a prescription for an opiate solely because the prescription order exceeds a predetermined morphine milligram equivalent dosage recommendation or threshold.

APPROVED by Governor May 4, 2023

EFFECTIVE May 4, 2023
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Prime Sponsors

Senator Joann Ginal

Senator

Joann Ginal

Representative Javier Mabrey

Representative

Javier Mabrey

Representative Mary Young

Representative

Mary Young

Committees

Senate

Health & Human Services

House

Health & Insurance

Status

Became Law

Introduced

Passed

Became Law

Related Documents & Information

Date Version Documents
05/04/2023 Signed Act PDF
04/27/2023 Final Act PDF
04/13/2023 Rerevised PDF
04/12/2023 Revised PDF
03/09/2023 Reengrossed PDF
03/07/2023 Engrossed PDF
02/08/2023 Introduced PDF
Date Version Documents
03/03/2023 PA1 PDF
Date Version Documents
06/30/2023 FN3 PDF
03/23/2023 FN2 PDF
02/21/2023 FN1 PDF
Activity Vote Documents
Refer Senate Bill 23-144 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-3. Vote summary
Hearing Summary
|
Committee Report:  PDF
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 5-4. Vote summary
Refer Senate Bill 23-144, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0. Vote summary
Hearing Summary
|
Committee Report:  PDF
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
04/17/2023 House Amendments REPASS
33
AYE
1
NO
1
OTHER
 		Vote record
04/17/2023 House Amendments CONCUR
34
AYE
0
NO
1
OTHER
 		Vote record
03/09/2023 Third Reading RECONSIDERATION
33
AYE
1
NO
1
OTHER
 		Vote record
03/09/2023 Third Reading BILL
30
AYE
4
NO
1
OTHER
 		Vote record
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
04/13/2023 Third Reading BILL
44
AYE
19
NO
2
OTHER
 		Vote record
Date Amendment Number Committee/ Floor Hearing Status Documents
04/12/2023 L.013 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
03/07/2023 L.010 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF
03/07/2023 L.011 Second Reading Lost [**] PDF
03/02/2023 L.009 SEN Health & Human Services Passed [*] PDF
03/02/2023 L.005 SEN Health & Human Services Passed [*] PDF
03/02/2023 L.003 SEN Health & Human Services Passed [*] PDF
03/02/2023 L.002 SEN Health & Human Services Passed [*] PDF

* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

Date Location Action
05/04/2023 Governor Governor Signed
04/27/2023 Governor Sent to the Governor
04/27/2023 House Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/26/2023 Senate Signed by the President of the Senate
04/17/2023 Senate Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/13/2023 House House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
04/12/2023 House House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor
04/10/2023 House House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
03/31/2023 House House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
03/28/2023 House House Committee on Health & Insurance Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/11/2023 House Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Insurance
03/09/2023 Senate Senate Third Reading Reconsidered - No Amendments
03/09/2023 Senate Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
03/08/2023 Senate Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
03/07/2023 Senate Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
03/02/2023 Senate Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/08/2023 Senate Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
Effective Date Chapter # Title Documents
05/04/2023 154 Prescription Drugs For Chronic Pain PDF

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