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DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services today passed legislation to proactively protect insurance coverage for preventive health care in the event of federal action. SB25-196 passed by a vote of 9 to 4, all four House Republicans voted against the measure.
“A routine cancer screening can save a life; we can’t jeopardize Coloradans' access to this essential preventive health care,” 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 today means avoiding costly emergency events in the future.”
“Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes for patients and save money on health care,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora. “Despite the resounding benefits of preventive health care, recent federal attempts to strip away preventive health care coverage means Coloradans could lose coverage if we don’t act now. This bill steps up to protect health care coverage in Colorado so everyone can lead longer, healthier lives.”
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). This includes 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Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the event that any of these agencies are repealed, dismantled, or disempowered.
It would also permit the Commissioner of Insurance to consult the NPATCH in developing their recommendations about updates and modifications to the current list of preventive coverage.
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 Affordable Care Act (ACA) has laid a strong foundation to 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, annual check ups, 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.