SB 25-152

Senate Bill 25-152, known as the "Know Your Health-Care Practitioner Act," requires health-care practitioners in Colorado to clearly identify their professional credentials when advertising services or interacting with patients starting June 1, 2026. This includes displaying identification tags during patient encounters and verbally communicating their specific license details at the first meeting with a new patient. The law does not apply to those working in non-patient care settings or under certain emergency conditions. Practitioners who violate these rules can face fines up to $500. Since the bill has been signed into law, it will go into effect as scheduled unless further actions are taken by regulatory agencies.

Official Summary

The act creates the "Know Your Health-Care Practitioner Act" that applies to certain health-care practitioners (practitioner) practicing in a health-care profession or occupation specified in the "Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010". The act does not apply to practitioners who work in a non-patient-care setting or do not have any direct patient care interactions, or when clinically not feasible. On and after June 1, 2026: In advertising health-care services using the practitioner's name, a practitioner must identify the type of state-issued license, certificate, or registration held by the practitioner and ensure that the advertisement is free from deceptive or misleading information; Except in certain circumstances, for practitioners providing services in a general hospital, urgent care center, ambulatory surgical center, or freestanding emergency department, the practitioner must affirmatively display an identification name tag or similar worn display that is visible during patient encounters. Except when emergent circumstances make it impracticable, while establishing a practitioner-patient relationship during the practitioner's first encounter with a patient, a practitioner must verbally communicate to the patient the practitioner's specific state-issued license, certificate, or registration or verbally identify themselves by a title or abbreviation authorized in statute to facilitate patient understanding. A practitioner does not have to display their name when interacting with a patient if the practitioner is concerned for their safety or if the patient is exhibiting signs of irrationality or violence. A practitioner may also use supplemental descriptors in advertising or identification, in the manner specified in the act. The director of the division of occupations and professions in the department of regulatory agencies may impose a fine of up to $500 if a practitioner violates the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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