First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 25-0629.01 Renee Leone x2695
HOUSE BILL 25-1016
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AUTHORIZING AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST TO101
PRESCRIBE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT .102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill authorizes an occupational therapist to directly
recommend or prescribe durable medical equipment to a patient without
requesting the prescription from a licensed physician.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 11, 2025
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
January 23, 2025
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
January 22, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Stewart K., Bacon, Bird, Brown, Camacho, Duran, Espenoza, Froelich, Garcia, Gilchrist,
Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Mabrey, McCormick, Rutinel, Stewart R., Valdez, Velasco,
Weinberg, Willford
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Michaelson Jenet and Rich,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-270-104, amend1
(10) introductory portion; and add (10)(d) as follows:2
12-270-104. Definitions - rules. As used in this article 270, unless3
the context otherwise requires:4
(10) "Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of5
occupations, including everyday life activities with individuals, groups,6
populations, or organizations, to support participation, performance, and7
function in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community,8
and other settings. Occupational therapy is provided for habilitation,9
rehabilitation, and the promotion of health and wellness to persons10
INDIVIDUALS who have, or are at risk for developing, an illness, injury,11
disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or12
participation restriction. Occupational therapy uses everyday life activities13
to promote mental health and support functioning in people INDIVIDUALS14
who have, or who are at risk of experiencing, a range of mental health15
disorders, including psychiatric, behavioral, emotional, and substance use16
disorders. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive,17
psychosocial, sensory, perceptual, and other aspects of performance in a18
variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in19
occupations that affect physical health, mental health, well-being, and20
quality of life. The practice of occupational therapy includes:21
(d) T
HE AUTHORITY TO DIRECTLY RECOMMEND AND PRESCRIBE22
DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO A PATIENT WITHOUT REQUESTING THE23
PRESCRIPTION FROM A LICENSED PHYSICIAN . A PRESCRIBING
24
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SHALL CONSULT WITH THE PATIENT25
CONCERNING PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT .26
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act27
1016
-2- takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the1
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except2
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V3
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this4
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take5
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in6
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the7
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.8
1016
-3-