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DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to proactively protect insurance coverage for preventive health care should the existing federal protections be repealed or eliminated. SB25-196 passed by a vote of 40-22. All House Republicans voted against the measure.
“From cancer screenings to routine checkups, preventive health care saves lives,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “In the wake of federal threats to cut fundamental health care coverage, we’re stepping up to protect preventive health care in Colorado. Preventive care saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes for everyone.”
“We know preventive care is one of the most impactful ways to improve patient health outcomes and save money on costly emergency care,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora. “We won’t sit idly by as preventive health care coverage is put at risk. Preventive care helps level some of the racial disparities in our health care system, and this bill protects access to essential care.”
SB25-196 would give state insurance agencies the authority to reinstate guidelines on preventive care from federal agencies that existed in January 2025 or comply with recommendations by the Nurse Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care (NPATCH).
The state could reinstate preventive care guidelines if the following federal entities are repealed, dismantled, or disempowered: the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or the Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
It would also permit the state to consult the NPATCH to develop recommendations about updating and modifying the current list of preventive coverage.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case to determine the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement to cover no-cost preventive services, such as cancer screenings and HIV medication.
Since January, the Trump Administration has made devastating cuts to essential services for Americans. Recently, the administration cut $250 million from state health services, prompting measures such as this one to protect Coloradans’ access to health care.
The ACA has laid a strong foundation for a healthier future for Americans by making health care coverage more affordable and prioritizing no-cost clinical preventive services. The ACA covers more than 100 preventive health care services, including annual check-ups and screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and some cancers. More than 44 million Americans rely on ACA health care coverage, including nearly 300,000 Coloradans.