[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6362070,"mediaKeyId","2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd","parentId",2168848,"title","Committee endorses bill to standardize medical‑necessity criteria for mental‑health coverage","audioSeconds",5755,"startMs",1911000,"endMs",7666000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd&start=1911&end=7666","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd/thumbnail_1911000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362070/Colorado/Committee-endorses-bill-to-standardize-medicalnecessity-criteria-for-mentalhealth-coverage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362070-deec08896650524933181411d2468edd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008192&Signature=M2YZFS66qNagTJch7RfJv6P7x9ReB3C2dQzS6ZRMCtU9rbwcgAVNxIg2rqjt7WNs6f59q4RDULyAd2v3VB~cidIl-avjYCr~OM1o0YfESq-OiyYAm09nkznca8Mpy0AfVYWzQTOV9R4cFsrlbDEOnRnNt6XMmf0a4Q26Ca0dgzfgv~WL2RHE6I00ZECuA6oLSZeumenBBPmKVcGGsz~yq-85iAAkCvtB1IBDdweNuNR4s0t-alP0WcQU9egVYZvLlg-9zxk3bwYueEPeZxRMLQORz0UjDHq2uo2ehW1vhBeAy58pcW3-Pi5YwuRLkrPb6vS64xPWKB9gwnhYvLfVug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Health & Human Services Committee","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","The House Health & Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 1002 on a unanimous 13‑0 vote after hours of testimony from patients, clinicians, advocacy groups and insurers. Sponsors said the bill intends to ensure that state‑regulated commercial health plans cover medically necessary mental‑health and substance‑use services using transparent, evidence‑based criteria and that insurers explain denials clearly when they occur.

Representative Dylan Brown (sponsor) said the bill “only addresses the benefits that should already be covered under state regulated commercial health benefit plans,” and described three core elements: (1) establish a standard definition of medical necessity using evidence‑based tools such as the LOCUS family of criteria, (2) require transparency when insurers deny care — including the criteria used — and (3) count out‑of‑network costs toward a patient’s annual cost‑sharing when in‑network care is not available within specified time and distance standards. He also said the bill would limit insurers’ ability to claw back payments for previously approved treatment without guardrails.

A broad coalition of provider and consumer groups supported the bill. Alexis Altop of Healthier Colorado said “consumers are more than twice as likely to pay their full out‑of‑pocket bill for mental and behavioral health services,” and argued inconsistent, proprietary utilization criteria are a major cause. The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council’s Edi Sun testified that nonprofit safety‑net providers support basing coverage decisions on nationally recognized standards and the provider’s judgment. Mental Health Colorado’s Vincent Achity and representatives from Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health described delays, denials and administrative hurdles that they said routinely interfere with treatment continuity and patient safety.

Several insurers and industry groups urged changes. Kevin McFatridge of the Colorado Association of Health Plans and Cara Van Strelen of America’s Health Insurance Plans opposed mandating a single, exclusive clinical tool and warned LOCUS is a placement tool that does not, on its own, define duration of stay or address all diagnoses. Anthem’s Dr. Patrick Fox, a psychiatrist and former state behavioral‑health official, urged caution about language that could unintentionally require treatment at higher levels of care when less‑restrictive resources would be preferable.

Sponsors said they had engaged in extensive stakeholder discussions and circulated amendment L001 to address several concerns. The amendment (adopted in committee) set the bill’s effective date to Jan. 1, 2026 (to align with plan years), clarified language about how plans support patients in finding care when in‑network options are unavailable, removed a Division of Insurance requirement for specified data testing, replaced an unclear reference to “clinical sociology” with “clinical social worker,” and added psychiatric nursing to the list of recognized clinician types. Sponsors said they would continue to refine language to address insurer implementation concerns while preserving transparent, evidence‑based criteria.

Public testimony included multiple personal accounts of families who said treatment was shortened or denied for children and adults in crisis, sometimes forcing families to pay tens of thousands of dollars or, in tragic cases, resulting in death. Witnesses urged the committee to require that coverage decisions use transparent, peer‑reviewed or consensus clinical standards and include provider input in medical‑necessity determinations.

After the amendment passed, Representative Brown moved the bill as amended to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed 13‑0. Sponsors and stakeholders said they will continue negotiations on implementation details before the bill proceeds to the full House.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health & Human Services [Jan 29, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","The House Health & Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1002, which would require state‑regulated commercial health plans to use transparent, evidence‑based criteria for medical‑necessity determinations in mental‑health and substance‑use treatment and to make denial criteria and decision rationale available to patients and providers.","taxTitle","Health & Human Services, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Colorado","taxId",77850,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362075,"Committee advances bill easing governance rules for four rural county hospitals",864,928000,1792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd&start=928&end=1792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd/thumbnail_928000.jpg","/articles/6362075/Colorado/Committee-advances-bill-easing-governance-rules-for-four-rural-county-hospitals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362075-cc567d29e22ca0003316e228cd5f6620/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008192&Signature=Vuo4rsFpVt~y5hnl4CQcqQCK691hT3Wdwti~MCYETD~n0hFa0EexI4cNqFvKUT2zBhMZ6AjPt5FIk8eXy8yBUtBAtPF6vfX6wmq9viqrPAVIk~vFaAvAsKawOiK4jX7Z3lSEWz9ztH9pLB52xwkvoEILz8hNiFUEm0C1bn5vuZBdTksQILo4QrqCcjBBeK65j4-t81MxCs9Hn7g9xOklMZxBeFAPnRjbKxBMVelxJPokxopYprJRnUNkJ4rg17Ma~zsG8Ymu1m6RyXjWF92GxBrMqb2OtCbS7kfgu27F~ELqqjMF-cC2No6XYvzIeXmct77eb7sj-3~d8iBilqtZug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health & Human Services Committee voted 13‑0 to advance House Bill 1085, which sponsors described as a technical package to reduce regulatory barriers facing four county hospitals in Colorado.

Representative Lukens, a sponsor, said the bill was a direct constituent request intended to help small, rural hospitals recruit trustees and operate with flexibility. “Out in rural Colorado we have lehi populations but the same board needs and many of our folks out there wear multiple hats,” she told the committee, urging support for rural hospitals in Craig, Gunnison, Hugo and another county referenced in testimony.

The bill’s sponsors said the measure would: allow county hospital trustees to hold concurrent political positions; provide flexibility in the organization of county hospital boards; give additional time to finalize annual budgets; and remove an unnecessary visit requirement. Joshua Ewing, vice president of rural health for the Colorado Hospital Association, said the association worked with the four county hospitals to identify regulatory relief items that “would make their jobs just a little bit easier.”

Alan Reischus, a board member at Memorial Hospital in Craig, described his personal experience: after accepting a county public health medical officer appointment he was later appointed to the hospital board but was told existing statute barred him from serving in both roles. He resigned his volunteer role so he could accept the board appointment; sponsors said the bill would remove that conflict and allow rural communities to keep volunteers engaged without forcing paid replacements.

Sponsors moved an amendment (L001) that struck language about elected officials so the bill would broaden eligibility for board service; the amendment was moved by Representative Johnson and seconded by Representative Stewart and passed without objection. After witness testimony and one amendment, Representative Johnson moved the bill as amended to the Committee of the Whole; Representative Stewart seconded. A roll call recorded a 13‑0 vote.

Supporters said the bill updates a portion of the Colorado Revised Statutes that was written for a different era and applies to only four county hospitals. The Colorado Hospital Association described the changes as technical and designed to align oversight of the four county hospitals with other hospitals in the state.

The measure now goes to the Committee of the Whole.","The committee unanimously advanced House Bill 1085, a technical bill aimed at regulatory relief for four county hospitals in Colorado that would allow trustees to hold concurrent political positions, give greater flexibility on board organization, extend time for finalizing budgets and remove an unnecessary visit requirement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362080,"House panel advances bill requiring med‑spa disclosures, license postings",767,157000,924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd&start=157&end=924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168848-55f8afe82ed1625f5949157b49cb15dd/thumbnail_157000.jpg","/articles/6362080/Colorado/House-panel-advances-bill-requiring-medspa-disclosures-license-postings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362080-4ec758657771c61faf770113f1c11994/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008192&Signature=HzEcXXAwO5-Vv3pxhubT7u0VlY1jrog2UhMXyUjswibewQflQB55DDDkVSZRGL0N4yAV2pZMJL49aLglgRnbw0DCgaWgc59hekwZ8sDl-QXZSMStuZ0u-dDt9fiarriaER59lt-QRFdPUn-x~8kLvFfmId3JfHcGH0Hh3vs-NM4FnyfPf4BxcgfUWBNyoqVZrg1Ep7wKZH~RWHCrzDpiUbz2koZ7yA3kzAJxGhjjK~8E87Lu7vL2fu8kMEljnk7NhXeUT2PjX~mp1P08-byCua6UBfWXIyHq3W5~fAd9ZJqlutFc2OHQuZZNhFHI5f-ftHJSUkOvq~Xx0A66nrUVoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health & Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1024, which would require medical spas to disclose to consumers when medical procedures are delegated to unlicensed individuals and to post the medical director’s license and Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) contact information in conspicuous locations.

The measure aims to give patients clearer, written notice about who is performing injections, IVs and other medical aesthetic services and where to file complaints if care causes harm. Committee sponsor Representative Wilford told members “med spas are becoming increasingly popular” and that consumers “often have no idea that they may be receiving services from an unlicensed person.”

DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations director, Sam Delp, told the panel the department supports the bill because it would require public posting of delegation information and a patient acknowledgement of that information. “Consumers will have a better understanding of who is performing the services as well as where to turn if they experience harm,” Delp said.

The Colorado Nurses Association raised similar concerns about patient confusion; Mark Longshore, RN, executive director, described cases in which people assumed a person in scrubs was a nurse or physician and said the bill’s required signage, advertising and consent‑form disclosures would “empower [patients] to give informed consent.”

Sponsors and supporters stressed the bill is designed to increase transparency, not to ban delegated care. Representative Bradley, a co‑sponsor, said the measure “is not adding additional regulations, just a layer of protection for the consumer.” Representatives asked about stakeholder outreach; sponsors said they had engaged the Colorado Medical Society, the Nurses Association and DORA and expected further testimony from those groups.

With no amendments offered, Representative Bradley moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole; Representative Wilford seconded. The roll call returned a 13‑0 vote in favor. The committee clerk recorded the motion as passing 13‑0.

If enacted, the bill would require med spas to make delegation status and the identity/contact information of licensed medical or nursing directors visible to consumers and to include a disclosure for patients indicating when services may be performed by delegated (unlicensed) personnel. The bill text referenced DORA contact information and the existing practice acts that allow delegation by physicians and advanced practice registered nurses; DORA testified that the change is intended to increase consumer protection and make it easier to file complaints.

The bill now moves to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.","The House Health & Human Services Committee voted 13‑0 to send House Bill 1024 to the Committee of the Whole after testimony and stakeholder support for requiring med spas to disclose delegated providers and post medical director licensing and DORA contact information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee endorses bill to standardize medical‑necessity criteria for mental‑health coverage

Committee advances bill easing governance rules for four rural county hospitals

House panel advances bill requiring med‑spa disclosures, license postings