The House Health & Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 25-1016, which would authorize occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment (DME) within their scope of practice without requiring a physician’s signed prescription.

Sponsor Representative Stewart said the change mirrors last year’s expansion that allowed physical therapists to order certain equipment and argued it would reduce delays and improve patient safety, especially in rural areas where primary care access can be limited. “This bill would expand access to Coloradans across the state, but especially in rural Colorado where access to primary care physicians can have multiple barriers,” Stewart said.

Multiple occupational therapists testified in support. Marie Andrews, an OT with two decades of acute‑care experience and a board certification in gerontology, described how timely access to simple items such as shower chairs, raised toilet seats, grab bars and bedside commodes can reduce falls and avoid re‑hospitalization. “Safety and independence can be substantially improved by assessing and prescribing durable medical equipment for high risk areas such as the bathroom,” Andrews said.

Molly Hahn Floyd, president of the Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado, told the committee OTs routinely evaluate clients’ physical and cognitive abilities and that current practice requires an extra step: obtaining a physician’s prescription before ordering equipment. Members report delays “ranging from one week to as long as two months,” she said, and that the extra step can leave patients discharged without needed equipment.

Witnesses and the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ representative said OTs would remain bound by their scope of practice and existing professional rules; the testimony listed categories of equipment not typically in OT scope such as oxygen equipment, suction pumps, some infusion devices and certain blood‑monitoring devices. Representative Stewart said the bill has support from physical therapists and neutral stance from the Colorado Medical Society.

After witness testimony and sponsor comments, the committee moved HB 25-1016 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The clerk announced the bill “passes 130.” Supporters said the change will streamline care transitions and improve timely access to needed equipment without changing professional oversight.