Rodriguez’s Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rural Access to Essential Health Care Services Clears Committee

SB22-173 would expand telepharmacy services, improving access to life-saving prescription drugs for rural Coloradans

DENVER, CO – The Business, Labor, and Technology Committee yesterday unanimously passed Senator Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver)’s bipartisan bill to expand access to health care services for rural Coloradans by increasing the availability of telepharmacy services.

Cosponsored by Senator Jim Smallwood (R-Parker), SB22-173 would remove the current restriction requiring telepharmacy outlets to be located more than twenty miles from the nearest prescription drug outlet or other telepharmacy outlet. It would also require the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy to take into consideration areas of need when determining locations for new remote pharmacy sites.

“During the pandemic, we saw a need for greater flexibility in accessing health care services in every corner of the state, and telepharmacy emerged as a way to bring high quality services directly to underserved areas," said Sen. Rodriguez. “By increasing the availability of telepharmacy outlets, we can ensure all Coloradans, particularly in rural and remote areas, have access to the essential health care services they need to thrive."

Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmaceutical care via telecommunications to patients in locations where they may not have direct contact with a pharmacist. SB22-173 would also require the Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules to specify additional criteria for telepharmacy outlets.

SB22-173 now heads to the Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.