HB 26-1069

HB 26-1069, which has been signed into law, expands the definition of emergency medical services in Colorado. It now includes transportation to places other than hospitals and crisis stabilization units when clinically appropriate, as well as telemedicine options for emergencies. The bill also clarifies that first responders include mental health professionals and requires certain entities to be reimbursed by the state for providing these services starting January 1, 2027. This means more flexible and potentially less costly emergency care options will be available to patients who need them.

Official Summary

The bill clarifies that 'emergency services' includes transportation of an individual to an appropriate location other than a hospital or community integrated health-care service agency (agency) : A medical screening examination that is within the capability of the emergency department of a hospital or a freestanding emergency department, including ancillary services routinely available to the emergency department, an ambulance service, or an agency providing out-of-hospital services (agency), to evaluate an emergency medical condition ; Further medical examination and treatment as required to stabilize the patient to ensure material deterioration of the patient's condition is not likely to result from or occur during patient transport; The ground transportation of a person entitled to receive benefits or services under a health coverage plan (covered person) to an appropriate location other than a hospital, if the destination is a crisis stabilization unit and the patient meets clinically validated criteria ; The examination and treatment of a covered person at the scene of a medical emergency or during transport from the scene of a medical emergency by an ambulance service or an agency.     The use of telemedicine when an insured person has encountered an ambulance service or agency to prevent the need to transport the person to an emergency department is included in the definition of 'emergency services', which services are required to be made available to insured persons 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.     The bill defines 'first responder' to include:A peace officer;A firefighter;A volunteer firefighter;An emergency medical service provider; orA mental health professional who responds in a professional capacity to a justifiable medical emergency.      The bill requires the executive director of the department of public health and environment to adopt rules by June 1, 2027, authorizing an emergency medical service provider with a community paramedic endorsement who is employed by, volunteering for, or contracting with a licensed agency to provide for the inventory, compliance, and administration of, or to directly administer, medications, procedures, or diagnostic testing.     Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to reimburse the following entities under the 'Colorado Medical Assistance Act':An ambulance service or an agency for ground transportation by an ambulance or other vehicle to a hospital or other destination as deemed appropriate by the ambulance service's or agency's medical director;An ambulance service or an agency for treatment on the scene of a medical emergency, which treatment does not result in ground transportation; andA qualified provider, an ambulance service, or an agency for evaluation by telemedicine of a person being treated by an ambulance service or an agency for the purpose of preventing the need to transport the person to a hospital.     If certain conditions are met, and based on an assumption of decreased federal funds, appropriations made to the state department in the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year are decreased by $673,369.     For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $26,353 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of public health and environment for use by the health facilities and emergency medical services division.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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