CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB26-006
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Apr 8, 2026
Location Old Supreme Court
SB26-006 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
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| Attachment Tag |
File Name |
| Attachment C |
https://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf/0/A8AA40E7B8A5790087258DD9005F9908/$File/Attachment C - Combined.pdf?OpenElement
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| Attachment D |
https://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf/0/225B17798376A4E587258DD9005F9EC8/$File/Attachment D.pdf?OpenElement
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| Attachment E |
https://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf/0/8FEAEFB450C26B4387258DD9005FA614/$File/Attachment E.pdf?OpenElement
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11:23:31 AM |
Senators Amabile
and Kirkmeyer, primary bill sponsors, introduced and explained Senate Bill
26-006, which requires parity in insurance coverage between non-opioid
pain management drugs and opioid drugs in several areas. Specifically,
the bill requires state-regulated private insurance carriers to cover at
least one non-opioid drug that is a clinically appropriate alternative
for each covered opioid drug; and not impose cost-sharing requirements
on non-opioid drugs that are more restrictive than the requirements for
opioid drugs. In addition, the bill requires state-regulated private insurance
carriers and public health insurance plans operated by the Department of
Health Care Policy and Financing to ensure that utilization review requirements
on non-opioid drugs are more restrictive than the requirements for opioid
drugs, including prior authorization reviews and step therapy. Committee
members asked the primary bill sponsors questions. |
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11:38:59 AM |
Mr. Kevin McFatridge, representing Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Patrick Boyle, representing PCMA, testified in opposition to the bill. Committee members asked the panel questions. |
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11:44:47 AM |
Ms. Kathy Sapp, representing
The American Chronic Pain Association, testified in support of the bill.
Dr. Roland Flores, representing Colorado Society of Anesthesiology, testified
in support of the bill. Wendy Buxton-Andrade, representing Mental Health
Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Sarah Tompkins, representing
Chronic Pain Patients of WA, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Billy
O'Bryan, representing Young People in Recovery, testified in support of
the bill. Dawn Reinfeld, representing Blue Rising, testified in support
of the bill. Irene Alvarez, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Committee members asked the panel questions.
Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment C).
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12:13:01 PM |
Senator Amabile introduced and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment D). |
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12:14:16 PM |
Committee members asked questions about the amendment. |
12:20:12 PM
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Motion |
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment D). |
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| Moved |
Jodeh |
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| Seconded |
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Bright |
Yes |
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Cutter |
Yes |
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Daugherty |
Yes |
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Frizell |
Yes |
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Weissman |
Yes |
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Jodeh |
Yes |
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Mullica |
No |
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YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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12:20:29 PM |
Senator Amabile introduced and explained amendment L.004 (Attachment E). |
12:21:36 PM
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Motion |
Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). |
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| Moved |
Jodeh |
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| Seconded |
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Bright |
Yes |
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Cutter |
Yes |
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Daugherty |
Yes |
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Frizell |
Yes |
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Weissman |
Yes |
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Jodeh |
Yes |
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Mullica |
No |
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YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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12:21:36 PM |
The primary bill sponsors provided closing remarks. |
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12:26:21 PM |
Committee members provided closing remarks. |
12:37:41 PM
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Motion |
Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. |
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| Moved |
Jodeh |
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| Seconded |
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Bright |
Yes |
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Cutter |
Yes |
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Daugherty |
Yes |
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Frizell |
Yes |
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Weissman |
Yes |
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Jodeh |
Yes |
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Mullica |
No |
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Final |
YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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