Committee Advances Pair of Bills to Save Money on Prescription Drugs, Improve Hospital Transparency

DENVER, CO – The Senate Health & Human Services Committee today advanced a pair of bills that will save Colorado families money on prescription drugs and improve transparency for hospitals.

HB23-1201, sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, would lower prescription drug costs by cracking down on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who charge employers one price for prescription drugs and reimburse pharmacies for less, and pocket the difference in a practice known as spread pricing.

“Prescription drugs in Colorado are sometimes too expensive for working families to afford, and that’s unacceptable,” Mullica said. “Prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from skimming profits off the top of prescription drug prices will keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Colorado families and help more folks afford the lifesaving medication they need to survive.”

The HHS committee also advanced HB23-1218, sponsored by Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, which requires certain health care facilities to share details with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) of the health care services they provide. 

The bill requires CDPHE to create forms to compile a list of services that a health care facility may deny for non-medical reasons, like abortion and gender-affirming care. 

“Every Coloradan deserves quality care that meets their needs and allows them to thrive,” Jaquez Lewis said. “Shining a light on which health care services Colorado hospitals provide - and which services they deny - will help Coloradans make more informed choices about where they receive their health care.”

The forms will be shared with the public biannually so they have a better understanding of facilities that meet their specific health care needs. Providers must also make their forms available to their patients to disclose the care they offer due to the informed consent process.

HB23-1201 and HB23-1218 will both move to further consideration before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track HB23-1201’s progress HERE, and HB23-1218’s progress HERE.