House committee advances bill to let Medicaid and state plans cover abortion care

Representatives on the House Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 183 on a party-line committee vote, sending the measure to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation, after several hours of testimony from medical providers, advocates and opponents.

The bill, presented by Representative Garcia with co-prime Representative McCluskey, would remove statutory language that bans use of public funds for abortion care, create a state-funded abortion-care program for Colorado Medicaid recipients and require that state employee health insurance plans include abortion care. Sponsors said federal funds would not be used to pay for the services created under the bill.

Proponents including Isabel Cruz, policy director for the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Mariah Guerrero of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights and clinic medical directors argued the measure implements the will of voters who approved Amendment 79 in 2024 and would reduce financial barriers for low-income Coloradans.

"SB 183 will make important strides to implement the will of Colorado voters, eliminate financial barriers to needed reproductive care, and save the state money on health care," Isabel Cruz told the committee. Clinic director Shanti Meyer said private assistance funds and sliding fees are not a sustainable substitute for insurance coverage: "Allowing public funds to cover abortion care is important. People of color and low income people have been disproportionately impacted by the current regulations through no fault of their own."

Opponents urged the committee to reject the bill on budgetary and conscience grounds. Physician witnesses and representatives of faith-based organizations questioned the fiscal methodology used in the bill and warned of higher-than-estimated costs for later procedures and potential increases in out-of-state patients seeking care in Colorado. "Taxpayers will be forced to fund abortion to the tune of millions of dollars," said Britney Vesely of the Colorado Catholic Conference.

Committee members pressed the fiscal analysts and witnesses on assumptions in the fiscal note. Bill Zaepernick of the Legislative Council explained that estimates used an actuarial analysis and standard reimbursement assumptions; sponsors and analysts told the committee the fiscal note includes a $1,500,000 general-fund appropriation for initial costs and estimated roughly $200,000 annually for state-employee coverage lines. Committee members asked for more breakdowns by trimester and for the methodology behind utilization estimates.

After questions and extended testimony from health-care providers, patient advocates and opponents, the committee recorded the motion to advance the bill and took a roll-call vote. The motion passed and SB 183 was referred to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: the committee moved SB 183 to Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. Recorded committee votes on the motion were: Bottoms: no; Bradfield: no; Bradley: no; English: yes; Gray (Ray): yes; Garcia Sander: no; Gilchrist: yes; Emmerich: yes; McCormack: yes; Bridal: yes; Ryden: yes; Stewart: yes; Leader: yes; Chair: yes. The motion carried, and the bill was advanced.

Supporters said the bill enacts the 2024 voter-approved Amendment 79 into statute and reduces financial barriers to time-sensitive care for Medicaid enrollees and certain state employees; opponents warned the fiscal estimates undercount later-term costs and predicted state budget pressure. The committee requested additional fiscal detail from Legislative Council and said further analysis will follow in Appropriations.

The bill's next step is committee consideration of the appropriation and the Legislative Council fiscal note in Appropriations. If advanced there, SB 183 would return to the committee of jurisdiction and then the full House for floor action.