The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative deGruy Kennedy, prime bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-176, concerning measures to improve outcomes for individuals with an eating disorder.  The bill creates prohibitions and requirements related to health care services for individuals with disordered eating, including:

- prohibiting Medicaid, starting July 1, 2023, and health insurance plans, starting January 1, 2024, from using body mass index, ideal body weight, or any achieved weight standard to determine medical need or the level of care for individuals with disordered eating; and

- prohibiting retail establishments from selling over-the-counter diet pills to individuals under 18-years-old without prescriptions, with rules to be created by the State Board of Pharmacy within the Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Dr. AnneMarie O'Melia, representing the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Behavioral Health, testified to amend the bill.  

Leanna Sultan, representing the Eating Recovery Center, testified to amend the bill.  

Dr. Barbara Kessel, representing Equip Health, testified to amend the bill.  

Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.  

Dr. Maryrose Bauschka, representing Denver Health, testified to amend the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Lydia Rhino, representing The Eating Disorder Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Erin Harrop, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Lisa Brownstone, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Bridget Anshus, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Patricia Westmoreland, representing the Colorado Psychiatric Society, testified to amend the bill and responded to answer questions from the committee.

Hannah Norling, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Liz Selander, representing Children’s Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  

Steven Haden, representing Envision You, testified in support of the bill.

Kimberly Dufrense, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Serena Nangia, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Aimee Resnick, representing the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill.  

Devin Kelly, representing Denver Health, testified in support of the bill.  

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Justin Brown, representing the Eating Recovery Center, testified on the bill.

Jason Hopfer, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified on the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment B).

Representative deGruy Kennedy made comments to the committee regarding amendments.

Representative deGruy Kennedy made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members made comments regarding the bill.