JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Legislation to Expand Access to Rural Health Care, Bolster Workforce Become Law

New laws will help create a healthier Colorado

SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a slate of bills into law to expand access to rural health care and create a healthier Colorado.

SB22-200, sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, and Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, and Reps. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Matt Soper, R-Delta, invests $10 million in grants for rural hospitals aimed at increasing access to and improving the affordability of the lifesaving care rural Coloradans depend upon.

“Every Coloradan deserves quality and affordable health care, but that care is too often hard to come by, especially in the rural and underserved parts of our state,” Ginal said. “That’s why I’m proud to champion this new law that will better support Colorado’s rural hospitals and give them the tools and resources they need to reach even more patients. By increasing access and driving down costs, we can get more Coloradans the lifesaving care they need to thrive.”

“The bills signed into law today will increase access to critical services in rural Colorado and save people money on health care,” McCluskie said. “SB22-200 invests $10 million in federal pandemic relief funds to help our rural hospitals and clinics reduce costs, expand services and meet the needs of our communities. With rural parts of our state facing a shortage of providers, HB22-1005 will help talented individuals pursue careers in medicine, nursing, counseling, behavioral health and other frontline health care positions in our rural communities. Together, these laws advance our efforts to build a strong rural health care workforce and improve the services that keep communities healthy and thriving.”

SB22-200 will improve health care affordability by expanding access to telehealth services, supporting coordination and referral mechanisms between providers, and enabling coordinated and shared care management between rural providers.

The bill also provides millions to improve access and affordability through extended hours for primary care and behavioral health settings, innovations in emergency room settings to increase access to care, expanded access to telemedicine, and the replacement of unused inpatient hospital beds with in-demand inpatient services such as long-term care, skilled nursing facility recovery days, and behavioral healthcare.

Polis also signed SB22-172, championed by Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, as well as Senator Bob Rankin and Representative Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, which encourages and supports students who wish to pursue health care careers and practice in rural Colorado.

“Everyone deserves access to high quality, affordable health care, but for many folks in rural Colorado, accessing that care can be challenging,” said Winter. “By encouraging more people to enter the health care field, we can address the workforce shortage in regions of our state that are struggling to provide adequate care to patients, expand access to health care, and build a healthier Colorado for all.” 

“This new law is a win-win: it will improve access to affordable health care in our rural areas and it will create new, affordable pathways for providers to enter the workforce in our rural communities,” said Roberts. “Having too few health care workers is one of the reasons we face higher costs of care in rural Colorado. This legislation builds on our efforts to boost our health care workforce and attract doctors, nurses, and therapists into our rural communities to live and work. I am thrilled to see this bipartisan bill become law today.” 

SB22-172 establishes the Colorado Rural Health Care Workforce Initiative, which will allow an institution of higher education to establish a rural health care professional track or expand an existing track within a health care professional credential or degree program. 

The new law allows institutions of higher education to use funding from this program for staff compensation, scholarships, or housing costs for participating students. Students participating in the rural track program are eligible for scholarships if they commit to practicing in a rural or frontier county for two years. 

Finally, Governor Polis also signed HB22-1005, sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, and Senator Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale. The law builds on the existing state income tax credit offered to preceptors working in rural communities by increasing the number of health care preceptorships eligible for the credit. Health care preceptors help guide and train newer providers and play an essential role in growing the health care workforce. 

This major expansion makes addiction counselors, pharmacists, registered nurses, clinical social workers and other health care professionals in high demand eligible for the credit. The legislation increases the overall number of preceptors allowed to receive the credit and extends the credit until 2033. It was currently set to expire next year.