Colorado Enacts Law to Protect Preventive Health Coverage Amid Federal Uncertainty

Colorado's House has approved legislation (SB25-196) to safeguard insurance coverage for preventive health care services in the event that federal protections, specifically those under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are repealed or removed. The bill passed with a 40-22 vote, with all Republicans opposing the measure. Preventive health care services include screenings and routine checkups that have been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce emergency care expenditures.

The legislation empowers state insurance regulators to reinstate preventive care guidelines that were in effect as of January 2025 or follow recommendations from Colorado's Nurse Physician Advisory Task Force for Health Care (NPATCH). This action is contingent upon potential dismantling or disempowerment of federal entities such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or the Health Resources and Services Administration.

This state-level initiative is in response to federal actions perceived as limiting access to preventive health services, including recent significant budget cuts to state health programs. The Colorado bill aims to maintain access to essential preventive care services, which contribute to reducing health disparities and improving overall population health in the state.

The ACA established mandates for insurers to cover over 100 preventive services without cost-sharing, benefitting millions of Americans, including roughly 300,000 residents in Colorado. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the constitutionality of the ACA's no-cost preventive service requirements, heightening state-level efforts like Colorado's to ensure continued coverage amidst federal uncertainty.

With the ongoing federal regulatory environment in flux, Colorado's legislative move demonstrates a proactive approach to preserving access to preventive care, which is integral to long-term cost savings for insurers and better health outcomes for insured populations. This bill illustrates the increasing role of state governance in complementing or substituting federal health care protections in insurance policy.