Colorado is considering a bill, HB 20-1085, that would help increase affordable access to some types of pain care.

How it helps people with pain

For starters, the bill would require health plans to provide coverage for at least six physical therapy visits and six occupational therapy visits per year, or 12 acupuncture visits, with a maximum of one copayment per year for 12 covered visits. (The acupuncture coverage is dependent on a financial feasibility study.)

It would also prohibit requiring unfair insurance requirements — like step therapy or prior authorization — for nonopioid and atypical opioid pain medications.

We wish the bill went further in some areas, but we support it overall because it considers improvements in access to pain management as part of efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis. We appreciate its balanced approach.

Contact your legislator

Join our letter-writing campaign asking your state legislators to endorse it! It takes just a few minutes to customize our template letter.