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Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB23-1225

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Apr 19, 2023       Location SCR 357

HB23-1225 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
12:21:43 PM  
The committee recessed.
12:52:11 PM  
The committee resumed.
12:52:18 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis and Senator Buckner presented House Bill 23-1225 which makes several changes to the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board (the board) in the Division of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). These changes include:
  • limiting conflict of interest recusal requirements to board members only (excluding staff and contractors);
  • changing various cost thresholds for different types of drugs that prompt the board to conduct a review;
  • requiring the board to produce a report summarizing drug affordability data that it uses;removing the cap on the number of prescription drugs for which an upper payment limits may be established by the board annually;
  • making minor changes to the board’s appeal process;
  • extending the repeal date and associated sunset review of the board from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2031; and
  • expanding when an individual may request a review to include cases when the drug is no longer available in the state.
01:06:09 PM  
Hope Stonner, representing the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.

Austin Blumenfeld, representing Centennial State Prosperity, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Bethany Pray, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.
01:08:33 PM  
Mrs. Ethnie Treick, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Jennifer Kordell, representing the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Natalia Tucker, representing the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.
01:17:39 PM  
Ms. Dana Malick, representing PhRMA, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Amy Goodman, representing the Colorado BioScience Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs. Nina Anderson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.
01:46:56 PM  
Brett Michelin, representing AAM, testified to amend the bill.

Brian Warren, representing the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, testified in opposition to the bill.

Rachel Beck, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.
01:50:42 PM  
Commissioner Michael Conway, representing the Colorado Division of Insurance, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lila Cummings, representing the State of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.
02:09:03 PM  
Stacy Suniga, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony can be found in Attachment B.
02:13:04 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis explained amendment L.019 (Attachment C).

Committee members provided comments on the amendments and asked the bill sponsors questions.

02:23:19 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.019 (Attachment C).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica Excused
Rich
Smallwood Excused
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:23:20 PM  
Committee members provided additional comments.
02:24:54 PM  
Senator Smallwood explained amendment L.015 (Attachment D).

Committee members discussed the amendment.
02:29:43 PM  
The committee members recessed.
02:29:53 PM  
The committee resumed.
02:33:15 PM  
Committee members continued to discuss amendment L.015.

02:35:01 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.015 (Attachment D).
Moved Smallwood
Seconded
Buckner No
Cutter No
Jaquez Lewis No
Mullica No
Rich Yes
Smallwood Yes
Will Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields No
YES: 4   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
02:35:59 PM  
The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

02:40:04 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 23-1225, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Cutter Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Mullica Yes
Rich No
Smallwood No
Will No
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS