The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Young and Holtorf, introduced Senate Bill 24-121 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Under current law, critical access hospitals are licensed as general hospitals with the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The bill requires critical access hospitals to be licensed separately, and directs CDPHE to adopt rules for this new license.

Kelly Erb Zager, representing Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Kevin Stansbury, representing Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium (EPHC), testified in support of the bill.

Joshua Ewing, representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill.

A handout was provided to members of the committee (Attachment G).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.