09C9ED2AF7FE401687258500005F1802 Hearing Summary

Representative Herod and Representative Alex Valdez, sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1061. The bill allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense HIV prevention medication if the pharmacist completes a training program approved by the Pharmacy Board. When prescribing the medication, a pharmacist must:

•   screen the patient for HIV;

•   provide counseling to the patient about the medication; and

•   notify the patient's primary care provider.

In addition to these requirements, when prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis a pharmacist must also advise the patient on current federal guidelines and recommendations on taking the medication, and must document the services provided. When prescribing post-exposure prophylaxis, the pharmacist must provide HIV testing or determine if the patient is willing to receive an HIV test. This bill also requires all individual and group health benefit plans to provide coverage for HIV prevention medication prescribed by a pharmacist. In addition, a carrier cannot require a patient to undergo step therapy or receive prior authorization before a pharmacist can prescribe and dispense a HIV infection drug. The carrier must provide the pharmacist an adequate consultative fee or dispensing fee when prescribing and dispensing HIV prevention drugs.

The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Singer proceeded with witness testimony.

Dr. Emily Zadvorny, Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in favor of the bill.

Dan Scales, representing himself, testified in favor of the bill.

Helen Burnside, Denver Health, testified in favor of the bill.

The previous witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Alexa VanEpern, Colorado Pharmacists Society and UCHealth, testified in favor of the bill. Dr. Kim Ward, Colorado Pharmacists Society and King Soopers, testified in favor of the bill. Dr. Robert Willis, Colorado Pharmacists Society and Albertsons Companies, testified in favor of the bill. Dr. Jasjit S. Gill, Colorado Pharmacists Society and UCHealth, testified in favor of the bill.

The previous witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Christopher Zivalich, Colorado Health Network, testified in favor of the bill. Corey Walsh, representing himself, testified in favor of the bill. Jordan Anthony, One Colorado, testified in favor of the bill.

Christopher Nicholson, representing himself, testified in favor of the bill. Glenn Madrid, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified about the bill. Barb Cardell, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, testified in favor of the bill. Bob Bongiovanni, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, testified in favor of the bill.

The previous witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Alex Valdez and Representative Herod explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

The sponsors responded to questions about amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

The sponsors made closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.