SB 25-183

Senate Bill 25-183, which has been signed into law in Colorado, expands healthcare coverage for pregnancy-related services. It updates state laws to reflect Amendment 79, allowing Medicaid and the Children's Basic Health Plan to cover abortion care along with other family-planning services. This means that individuals enrolled in these programs will now have access to reimbursement for abortion services, funded by $2.9 million from the general fund. The bill affects people who use Colorado’s public health insurance programs, ensuring they receive comprehensive coverage for reproductive healthcare.

Official Summary

During the 2024 general election, Colorado voters approved Amendment 79, which: Repealed the state constitutional amendment prohibiting the use of public funds to pay for abortions; and Added a state constitutional amendment recognizing the right to an abortion and prohibiting Colorado state and local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance companies from excluding coverage for abortion. The act makes conforming changes to state law relating to abortion care as a result of Amendment 79. Current law requires the executive director of the department of health care policy and financing to authorize medicaid reimbursement for family-planning-related services. The act expands the definition of "family-planning-related services" to include abortion care. The act requires the medical services board to include abortion care in the schedule of health-care services available for pregnant persons enrolled in the children's basic health plan. $2,928,800 is appropriated to the department of health care policy and financing from the general fund for other medical services, including abortion care. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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