The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senators Benavidez and Mullica, primary bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 26-167, which requires a carrier of an individual or group health benefit plan in Colorado (plan), beginning on January 1, 2028, when calculating a covered person's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum or cost-sharing requirement under the plan (contribution), to account for and credit to the covered person's contribution an out-of-pocket expense that the covered person incurs by purchasing a prescription drug directly from a pharmacy, health-care provider, or direct-to-consumer platform (direct purchase of a prescription drug). The carrier shall apply the credit to the covered person's contribution that is applicable in the plan year in which the expense from the direct purchase of a prescription drug was incurred. To receive a contribution credit for an out-of-pocket expense that a covered person incurred because of a direct purchase of a prescription drug, the covered person must provide proof of payment to the carrier. If the covered person does not provide proof of payment, the carrier is prohibited from applying the contribution credit. The bill also prohibits a carrier from applying the contribution credit in certain other instances.

Ms. Lila Cummings, representing Colorado Division of Insurance, testified in support of the bill. Leslie Kalechman, representing AARP Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The primary bill sponsors provided closing remarks.