Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Healthcare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House passes bill letting occupational therapists prescribe durable medical equipment
Summary
The Colorado House approved House Bill 1016 on second reading to allow certified occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment, lawmakers said this will speed care for patients — particularly in rural areas. The bill passed without a recorded roll-call tally and will be placed on the calendar for third reading.
The Colorado House of Representatives on 2025-01-22 passed House Bill 1016 on second reading to authorize occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment.
Proponents said the change will expand access to care, especially in rural Colorado where patients can face delays reaching prescribers. "This bill gives occupational therapists the ability to prescribe durable medical equipment, expands access to health care in rural Colorado, and I'm asking for a yes vote," Representative Stuart Kaye said on the floor.
Supporters said the authority would let patients get needed equipment more quickly and reduce care delays. "We gotta be advocates for our patients... for them to have prescriptive authority to help patients be safer and to stop falling, full support of this bill," Representative Bradley said during debate.
Representative Kelty asked whether the bill specifies that the prescribers must be credentialed. "When you mentioned occupational therapy ... are those who are certified?" Kelty asked. Representative Stuart Kaye replied, "Yes. They are certified occupational therapist," and indicated an amendment could explicitly add a certification requirement.
Members voted verbally on the floor and the presiding chair announced, "House bill 1016 passes." No fiscal note was cited on the floor during debate.
The committee of the whole later recommended placing the bill on the calendar for third reading and final passage.
The measure now moves toward third reading after passing second reading in the House.
