Senator Moreno and Senator Cutter, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-189 concerning multiple changes to reproductive health care coverage requirements, including:

Women’s preventive health, abortion care and minor enrollment in Medicaid. The bill adds the Women's Preventive Services Guidelines of the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the mandatory preventive health care services coverage for health benefit plans. HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and sterilization. The bill requires that health care services cover sexually transmitted infections including HIV prevention drugs and related services. Carriers are prohibited from imposing any cost sharing on coverage for the treatment of a sexually transmitted infection; or sterilization services regardless of gender.

Abortion care. The bill requires large employer plans, to provide coverage for the total cost of abortion care without policy deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. To the extent required by binding federal jurisprudence, employers are exempted from providing coverage if providing coverage conflicts with the employer's sincerely held religious beliefs. Minor contraception. With the minor's consent, a health care provider may furnish contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information to the minor without notification to or the consent of the minor's legal guardian

Minor enrollment in Medicaid. The bill expands the reproductive health care program administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to include additional family planning services and family-planning-related services and allow individuals under 19 years of age to apply for and enroll themselves in the program. Provider reimbursement. HCPF must reimburse licensed health care providers for family planning and related services provided to a minor. The bill creates a new cash fund for this purpose, subject to annual appropriations by the General Assembly.

Committee members asked the co-prime bill sponsors questions.

Barb Cardell, representing the Positive Women's Network USA, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Mannat Singh, representing the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Miller, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Jack Teter, representing Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Sarah Rowan, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dan Scales, representing Vivent, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Christopher Zivalich, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Tash Berwick, representing New Era Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mar Galvez Seminario, representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill.

Melisa Hidalgo-Cuellar, representing the Cobalt Abortion Fund, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Michael Conway, representing the Division of Insurance, was available to answer committee questions.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Catherine Wheeler, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs. Brittany Vessely, representing the Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs. Kristy Neeley, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr.  Thomas Perille, representing Democrats for Life of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Thomas Jensen, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Nicole Hunt, representing Focus on the Family, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Pamela Anderson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

JoEllen Mitchell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Joni Shepherd, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Jennifer Allen, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Donna Labelle, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Brandon Arnold, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified to amend the bill.

Mrs. Tamra Axworthy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs. Jody Nickerson, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Jeff Hunt, representing the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Susan Hirsch, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Laurel Anne Flahive, representing themself, testified in opposition.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ms. Alison Altman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Annmarie Izuel, representing the Northern Colorado Chapter for the National Organization for Women, testified in support of the bill.

Ann Herrold, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Trevor Malloy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Lydia Hostetler, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
Committee members asked the panel questions.

Additional written testimony can be found in Attachment A.

Senator Moreno explained amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments B and C).

Senator Smallwood explained amendment L.004 (Attachment D).

Senator Smallwood explained amendment L.005 (Attachment E).

The committee discussed amendment L003.

Co-prime sponsors and the committee provided closing remarks.