SB 6 CO

0likes☆Favorite🔕SubscribeShare

Became Law

The act requires a health insurance carrier that provides prescription drug benefits to require that:The utilization review requirements, including prior authorization and step therapy, for a non-opioid drug prescribed and approved by the federal food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain (non-opioid pain management drug) are no more restrictive than the least restrictive utilization review requirements for opioid drugs prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain; andThe cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for a non-opioid pain management drug is not greater than the cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for an opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain.     The act requires each individual and small group health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and each large employer health benefit plan issued or renewed on and after January 1, 2028, to ensure there is at least one non-opioid pain management drug available as a clinically appropriate alternative for an opioid pain management drug. If the division of insurance determines that coverage for a non-opioid pain management drug offered by individual and small group health benefit plans requires state defrayal of the cost of coverage, the requirement to make a non-opioid pain management drug available is inoperative.     The state employee health benefit plan is excluded from the requirements of the act.     The act appropriates $15,415 to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• J. Amabile Democratic · sponsor
• B. Kirkmeyer Republican · sponsor
• K. Brown Democratic · sponsor
• R. Taggart Republican · sponsor

1. Jun 3, 2026 Governor Signed · executive
2. May 5, 2026 House Second Reading Special Order - Lost with Amendments - Committee · lower
3. May 22, 2026 Sent to the Governor · executive
4. May 22, 2026 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
5. May 5, 2026 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - No Amendments · lower
6. May 22, 2026 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
7. May 8, 2026 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass · upper
8. May 6, 2026 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor · lower
9. May 5, 2026 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee · lower
10. May 1, 2026 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
11. Apr 22, 2026 House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations · lower
12. Apr 20, 2026 Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services · lower
13. Apr 20, 2026 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
14. Apr 17, 2026 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee · upper
15. Apr 17, 2026 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
16. Apr 8, 2026 Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations · upper
17. Apr 2, 2026 Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only · upper
18. Jan 14, 2026 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services · upper