96492B3C40C8A1A58725846D00559F4F Hearing Summary

Yelana Love, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the process for drafting interim committee bills and responded to questions. The committee discussed the rule related to the three day timeline for providing information about bills to the drafters.

Senator Pettersen discussed her expectations for the bill drafts.

Senator Kennedy discussed the process for discussing bill drafts. Committee discussion followed.

Dr. Rob Valuck, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention (Consortium), discussed the process committee members and stakeholders used to decide on the policies to be included in the bills.

Representative Kennedy discussed the following policy ideas related to the prevention bill:

• increase access to other pain management methods, including both other medications and nonpharmaceutical solutions;
• limit ability to prescribe opioids as the first option for pain treatment;
• continue seven-day prescribing limit and requirement that prescribers check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP);
• implement prescribing limits on benzodiazepines;
• increase competition for PDMP software;
• address ongoing continuing medical education (CME) competence-based standards;
• explore community based prevention programs and a grant program to provide training for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment programs;
• utilize evidence-based prevention programs and establish funding to help expand programs;
• explore safe disposal options, including implementing a study to evaluate locating a drug incinerator in the state; and
• expand drug drop box program.

Committee discussion followed about extending funding for grant writing assistance.

Jose Esquibel, Consortium, discussed provider education. Committee discussion followed about requiring CME to include a competence-based training regarding opioid prescribing.  Discussion followed about best practices for the CME requirements.

Representative Kennedy commented on including CME in the prevention bill.

Committee members discussed the possibility of drafting a bill concerning CME only.  Senator Pettersen assigned Representative Kennedy as the contact for the prevention bill.

The committee discussed topics to be included in the bill related to harm reduction, including extending the immunity from liability to individuals who administer expired naloxone and adding permissive language to statute to allow syringes to be sold at pharmacies.

Dr. Valuck commented on the issue of pharmacies selling syringes. Committee discussion followed.

The committee discussed increasing access to needle exchanges by allowing hospitals to operate needle exchange programs without the approval of the county board of health followed.

Mr. Esquibel responded to questions about needle exchanges. Committee discussion followed about the approval process required by law for needle exchanges. Currently, a county board of health must approve the establishment of a needle exchange located within its jurisdiction.

Committee discussion followed.

The committee members discussed funding for syringe exchange programs, best practices for harm reduction programs, and HIV and Hepatitis C testing. Committee discussion followed.

The committee discussed requiring insurers to reimburse hospitals that issue take-home naloxone kits and discrimination by insurance companies against individuals who fill a naloxone prescription.

Jamie Feld, Consortium, discussed the displacement of residents who live in or near a housing unit where methamphetamine contamination exists and the difficulty with being required to move.  She discussed an assessment tool used to determine the relative risk of coming into contact with the residue.  Committee discussion followed.

Mr. Esquibel commented on the issue of removing individuals from homes in close proximity to a home or room contaminated with methamphetamine residue.

Senator Pettersen assigned Representative Kennedy as the contact person for the bill.

The committee discussed criminal justice reform and requiring jails to provide at least one opioid agonist or partial opioid agonist to inmates who are being treated for addiction while incarcerated.

Dr. Valuck discussed federal regulations around Methadone clinics and other medication-assisted treatment (MAT) requirements.

Committee members discussed expanding the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program by expanding funding, sealing criminal records, and providing continuity of care for individuals leaving jail or prisons.

Senator Pettersen assigned Representative Herod as the contact person for the criminal justice bill.

The committee discussed the issues to be included in the treatment bill.  Senator Pettersen discussed adequate insurance coverage for substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health issues, and updating the community needs funding.

Ms. Feld discussed issues related to funding received under Senate Bill 16-202, concerning increasing access to effective substance use disorder services through designated regional managed service organizations.

Ms. Feld discussed issues related to the licensing of certified addiction counselors and the need for more qualified counselors. Committee discussion and comments followed.

Senator Pettersen will be the contact person for the treatment bill.

Senator Pettersen will be the contact person for the recovery bill.  Senator Pettersen discussed the process for bill drafting and stakeholder input.  She discussed the committee's desire to draft a letter to the Governor requesting support for the committee's bills. She also discussed continuing the authority of the committee to meet in non-election years.  She also suggested that the committee draft a letter to the federal government about federal policies regarding SUD.