Colorado Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Expand Preventative Health Care
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) announced support today for bill SB21-016, Protecting Preventative Health Care Coverage. This legislation would secure Coloradans rights to certain preventative health services. These services include blood pressure tests, lung cancer screenings, tests for sexually transmitted infections, and birth control coverage.
The bill is sponsored by Senators Brittany Peteersen and Dominic Moreno and Representatives Daneya Esgar and Kyle Mullica. If passed into law, the bill would reduce surprise billing, protect patient choice, and get rid of the need for multiple appointments.
“The lessons of the last year could not be more clear: communities need expanded access to health care, and we must remove obstacles that stand in the way of that access,” says Jack Teter, PPRM regional director of government affairs. “Preventive care plays a vital role in overall public health, reducing costly, chronic health problems and resulting in a healthier Colorado. By protecting preventive care in Colorado law, Governor Polis and the legislature can safeguard Colorado patients from federal changes and create common-sense health care policy with substantial long-term benefits for our state.”
The bill comes after a report last year that found a growing rate of STI’s in Colorado, which follows a national trend. The bill fights to combat this rising rate by making sure Coloradans have access to STI tests.
Currently, male-identifying patients are more likely than female-identifying patients to be charged a copay for a STI test. The bill would eliminate this inequity to provide equal and affordable access for all.
The consent of a parent would not be required for a child to receive preventative care, but the healthcare provider should discuss with a minor how important it is to include a parent or guardian to have knowledge of these services.
The bill was introduced to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 16 and is currently under consideration.
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