ColoradoColorado reimburses ambulance transport, scene care, and telemedicine evaluations
Starting January 1, 2027, the state department reimburses ambulance services for transport and scene care, and certain providers for telemedicine evaluations.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, the state department reimburses ambulance services for ground transportation and emergency care at the scene, even when care does not lead to a ride.
Starting January 1, 2027, the state department reimburses certain providers for telemedicine evaluations meant to prevent a hospital trip. The service uses an outpatient rate, and providers do not have to arrange telemedicine to be paid.
The advisory council recommends whether the state board of health should approve or deny emergency medical and trauma service rules and changes.
Within existing program funds, the pharmacy board may share prescription information and electronic health records with health information networks to work with designated statewide exchanges. Privacy and security protections apply.
Argument forPayment for emergency care at the scene could help ambulance services treat people who do not need a ride to a hospital.
Argument againstAn outpatient billing rate could mean less payment for telemedicine evaluations than an emergency department rate.
More detail
The state department reimburses ambulance services for ground transportation and emergency care at the scene. Transportation must use an ambulance or another appropriately situated vehicle and go to a hospital or another destination chosen by the ambulance service’s medical director. The department also reimburses emergency care at the scene when it does not lead to ground transportation. These reimbursements apply on and after January 1, 2027.
The state department reimburses certain providers for telemedicine evaluations. The law covers a qualified provider, ambulance service, or agency providing out-of-hospital services. Those services are care outside a hospital for an emergency or other health care condition; they do not include prehospital transport. The evaluation must be for someone receiving ambulance or out-of-hospital care and aim to prevent a hospital trip. Telemedicine is billed at an office or other outpatient rate, not an emergency department rate. An ambulance service or out-of-hospital care agency does not have to arrange telemedicine to receive payment. These reimbursements apply on and after January 1, 2027.
The emergency medical and trauma services advisory council makes recommendations to the state board of health on whether to approve or deny certain rules. This applies to new emergency medical and trauma services rules and changes to rules that existed before July 1, 2000. The state board of health adopts rules or changes after receiving the council’s recommendation.
The pharmacy board may share prescription information and electronic health records with health information networks through an approved vendor and method. The sharing is for collaboration with statewide health information exchanges designated by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. The board may act only within existing program funds. State and federal privacy and security protections apply.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 29Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 28Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 28Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 7House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment J.002. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- Apr 30Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment D). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human ServicesMinor
- Apr 21Introduced In Senate - Assigned toMinor
- Mar 9House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment J.001. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Feb 24House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment J). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.007 (Attachment K). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment I). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 27Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human ServicesIntroduced
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