Colorado Senate Bill SB183

Colorado 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25
• Report Pass: 3/5/25
• Refer: 3/5/25
• Report Pass: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/7/25
• Engrossed: 3/13/25
• Refer: 3/13/25
• Report Pass: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25
• Report Pass: 4/4/25
• Refer: 4/4/25
• Engrossed: 4/10/25
• Engrossed: 4/11/25
• Enrolled: 4/14/25

Caption

Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services

Impact

The bill has significant implications for Colorado's healthcare policies, particularly in ensuring that abortion care is treated as an essential healthcare service akin to other pregnancy-related care. In amending existing statutes, SB183 will effectively eliminate barriers that could hinder women from receiving appropriate care funded through state resources. It also seeks to enhance the scope of family planning services by ensuring that other medical diagnoses, treatments, and preventive services delivered in a family planning setting are fully reimbursed.

Summary

Senate Bill 183, titled 'Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services', aims to address the reimbursement methodologies for abortion care services under state-funded Medicaid and the Children's Basic Health Plan. The main thrust of the bill is to mandate that abortion care services be reimbursed solely by state funds when provided in accordance with established family planning policies. The bill emphasizes a robust framework to ensure that women have access to comprehensive reproductive health services, supporting the notion that healthcare related to pregnancy should be fully covered without restrictions based on religious beliefs.

Sentiment

Discussions around SB183 have illustrated a considerable divide among lawmakers, with proponents arguing that the bill represents a forward movement in women's health rights and ensures equitable access to healthcare services for all pregnant individuals. Conversely, opponents express concern regarding the implications of state funding for abortion services, framing it as an infringement upon personal beliefs and advocating for the rights of individual employers to opt-out based on religious grounds.

Contention

Opponents of the bill argue that mandating state-funded abortion care may face constitutional challenges related to the separation of church and state, especially regarding employer obligations. There are also debates over the financial implications of increased state expenditures on healthcare policies, raising questions about alignment with Colorado's overall budget priorities.