HB 25-1309

House Bill 25-1309, also known as the "Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care" bill, ensures that health insurance plans in Colorado cover gender-affirming care such as medical treatments and mental health services for people with gender dysphoria. The bill stops insurers from denying or limiting medically necessary gender-affirming care based on a healthcare provider's recommendation. It also exempts testosterone prescriptions from certain tracking requirements to protect patient privacy. Since the governor signed this bill, it is now law and affects insurance companies and individuals seeking gender-affirming health care in Colorado.

Official Summary

Health benefit insurance plans (health benefit plans) include coverage for gender-affirming health care as part of individual and group health benefit plans. "Gender-affirming health care" is defined in the act as supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, psychiatric, habilitative, surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventive, rehabilitative, or supportive nature relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria (gender-affirming health care). The act codifies gender-affirming health care treatments in statute and prohibits a health benefit plan from denying or limiting medically necessary gender-affirming health care, as determined and prescribed by a physical or behavioral health-care provider. The act authorizes the health insurance affordability board to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations and to use those gifts, grants, or donations to cover abortion costs and to ensure access to legally protected health-care activity. The act exempts prescriptions for testosterone from the tracking requirements of the prescription drug use monitoring program and blocks archived records concerning testosterone use from view. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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