Colorado SB 6 — Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs

Colorado, 2026A. SB 6: Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

June 3, 2026 — Governor Signed

Summary

The act requires a health insurance carrier that provides prescription drug benefits to require that:The utilization review requirements, including prior authorization and step therapy, for a non-opioid drug prescribed and approved by the federal food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain (non-opioid pain management drug) are no more restrictive than the least restrictive utilization review requirements for opioid drugs prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain; andThe cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for a non-opioid pain management drug is not greater than the cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for an opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain.     The act requires each individual and small group health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and each large employer health benefit plan issued or renewed on and after January 1, 2028, to ensure there is at least one non-opioid pain management drug available as a clinically appropriate alternative for an opioid pain management drug. If the division of insurance determines that coverage for a non-opioid pain management drug offered by individual and small group health benefit plans requires state defrayal of the cost of coverage, the requirement to make a non-opioid pain management drug available is inoperative.     The state employee health benefit plan is excluded from the requirements of the act.     The act appropriates $15,415 to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

• J. Amabile — primary sponsor
• B. Kirkmeyer — primary sponsor
• K. Brown — primary sponsor
• R. Taggart — primary sponsor
• S. Bright
• M. Catlin
• J. Coleman
• L. Cutter
• L. Frizell
• B. Pelton
• K. Wallace
• J. Bacon
• A. Boesenecker
• M. Duran
• K. McCormick
• E. Sirota
• L. Smith

Bill text

Signed Act Read version ↗

Final Act Read version ↗

Rerevised Read version ↗

Revised Read version ↗

Reengrossed Read version ↗

Engrossed Read version ↗

Introduced Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. January 14, 2026Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2. April 2, 2026Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
3. April 8, 2026Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
4. April 17, 2026Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
5. April 17, 2026Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
6. April 20, 2026Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
7. April 20, 2026Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
8. April 22, 2026House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations
9. May 1, 2026House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
10. May 5, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
11. May 6, 2026House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
12. May 8, 2026Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
13. May 22, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
14. May 5, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - No Amendments
15. May 22, 2026Signed by the Speaker of the House
16. May 22, 2026Sent to the Governor
17. May 5, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Lost with Amendments - Committee
18. June 3, 2026Governor Signed

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