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. 25-0720.01 Owen Hatch x2698
SENATE BILL 25-226
Senate Committees House Committees
Appropriations Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AN EXTENSION OF THE RENAMED COMPLEMENTARY AND101
INTEGRATIVE
HEALTH PROGRAM FOR A PERSON WITH A102
PRIMARY CONDITION RESULTING IN A TOTAL INABILITY FOR103
INDEPENDENT AMBULATION , AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,104
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION .105
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/
.)
Joint Budget Committee. There is a pilot program for
complementary and alternative medicine for disabled people. The bill
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 9, 2025
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 3, 2025
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 2, 2025
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Amabile and Kirkmeyer, Bridges, Catlin
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Bird and Taggart, Sirota
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. changes the name of the program to the "complementary and integrative
medicine program". The bill extends the program and clarifies that the
program covers persons with a primary condition of multiple sclerosis, a
brain injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy, when one
of these diagnoses directly results in a total inability for independent
ambulation.
The bill makes an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-6-1201, amend2
(1) as follows:3
25.5-6-1201. Legislative declaration - repeal. (1) The general4
assembly finds that there may be a more effective way to deliver home-5
and community-based services to the elderly, blind, and
disabled; to6
DISABLED, disabled children; and to persons with spinal chord injuries7
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE that allows for more self-direction in their care and a8
cost savings to the state. The general assembly also finds that every9
person who is currently receiving home- and community-based services10
does not need the same level of supervision and care from a licensed11
health-care professional in order to meet the person's care needs and12
remain living in the community. The general assembly, therefore, declares13
that it is beneficial to the elderly, blind, and disabled members of home-14
and community-based services, to members of the disabled children care15
program, and to members enrolled in the spinal cord injury waiver pilot16
COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH program for the state17
department to develop a service that would allow the members to receive18
in-home support.19
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 25.5-6-130120
as follows:21
25.5-6-1301. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly22
226-2- finds that:1
(a) A person
LIVING with a spinal cord injury, MULTIPLE2
SCLEROSIS, A BRAIN INJURY, SPINA BIFIDA, MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY , OR3
CEREBRAL PALSY could benefit from complementary and
alternative4
medicine INTEGRATIVE HEALTH such as chiropractic care, massage5
therapy, or acupuncture; and6
(b) Complementary and alternative medicine INTEGRATIVE7
HEALTH could improve the quality of life and help reduce the need for8
continuous or more expensive procedures, medications, and9
hospitalizations for a AN ELIGIBLE person with a spinal cord injury and10
could allow a AN ELIGIBLE person with a spinal cord injury to be11
employed.12
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-6-1302, amend13
(1) and (3) as follows:14
25.5-6-1302. Definitions. As used in this part 13, unless the15
context otherwise requires:16
(1) "Complementary or alternative medicine INTEGRATIVE17
HEALTH" means a form of diverse health-care services not provided for18
under this article ARTICLE 6 or article 4 or 5 of this title TITLE 25.5 prior19
to August 5, 2009, but authorized by the rules of the state board adopted20
pursuant to section 25.5-6-1303 (4). The medicine HEALTH is limited to21
chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture performed by22
licensed or certified providers.23
(3) "Pilot program" "PROGRAM" means the pilot program24
authorized pursuant to section 25.5-6-1303 to allow an eligible person25
with a disability to receive complementary and alternative medicine26
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH.27
226
-3- SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-6-1303, amend1
(1)(a), (2)(a), (2)(b) introductory portion, (2)(b)(II), (2)(b)(III), (2)(d), (3),2
and (4); and repeal (2)(c), (5), and (7) as follows:3
25.5-6-1303. Complementary or integrative health - rules.4
(1) (a) The general assembly authorizes the state department to5
implement CONTINUE OPERATIONS OF a pilot program that would allow an6
eligible person with a disability to receive complementary or alternative7
medicine INTEGRATIVE HEALTH to the extent authorized by federal8
waiver. The pilot program may begin no later than January 1, 2012. The9
state department shall design and implement the pilot program with input10
from an advisory committee that must include, but need not be limited to,11
persons with spinal cord injuries who are receiving complementary or12
alternative medicine. The state department may seek any federal waivers13
that may be necessary to implement this part 13.14
(2) (a) The purpose of the pilot program is to expand the choice15
of therapies available to eligible persons with disabilities to study the16
success of complementary and alternative medicine, and to produce an17
overall cost savings for the state compared to the estimated expenditures18
that would have otherwise been spent for the same persons with spinal19
cord injuries absent the pilot program.20
(b) In order to qualify and to remain eligible for the pilot program21
authorized by this section, a person shall MUST:22
(II) Be willing to participate in the pilot program;23
(III) Demonstrate a current need, as further defined in rule by the24
state board, for complementary or alternative medicine INTEGRATIVE25
HEALTH; and26
(c) The state department shall implement subsection (2)(b) of this27
226
-4- section no later than July 1, 2022.1
(d) The pilot program is available to all eligible individuals in2
Colorado.3
(3) The state department shall develop the accountability4
requirements for the pilot program necessary to safeguard the use of5
public moneys MONEY and to promote effective and efficient service6
delivery.7
(4) The state board shall adopt rules as necessary for the8
implementation and administration of the pilot program.9
(5) The state department shall cause to be conducted an10
independent evaluation of the pilot program to be completed no later than11
January 1, 2025. The state department shall provide a report of the12
evaluation to the health and human services committee of the senate and13
the public health care and human services committee of the house of14
representatives, or any successor committees. The report on the15
evaluation must include the following:16
(a) The number of eligible persons with disabilities participating17
in the pilot program;18
(b) The cost-effectiveness of the pilot program;19
(c) Feedback from members and the state department concerning20
the progress and success of the pilot program;21
(d) Any changes to the health status or health outcomes of the22
persons participating in the pilot program;23
(e) Other information relevant to the success and problems of the24
pilot program; and25
(f) Recommendations concerning the feasibility of continuing the26
pilot program beyond the pilot stage and changes, if any, that are needed.27
226
-5- (7) Unless the state department receives sufficient appropriations,1
the state department is not required to seek federal approval or implement2
the pilot program.3
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 25.5-6-13044
as follows:5
25.5-6-1304. Repeal of part. This part 13 is repealed, effective6
September 1, 2025 SEPTEMBER 1, 2030.7
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-6-1403, amend8
(4) as follows:9
25.5-6-1403. Waivers and amendments. (4) The state10
department shall seek federal authorization to implement a medicaid11
buy-in program for adults who are eligible to receive home- and12
community-based services pursuant to the supported living services13
waiver; the developmental disabilities waiver or its successor, part 4 of14
this article 6; the persons with brain injury waiver, part 7 of this article 6;15
and the spinal cord injury waiver pilot COMPLEMENTARY AND16
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH program, part 13 of this article 6. The state17
department shall prepare and submit any requests necessary for federal18
approval not later than January 1, 2023, and shall implement the medicaid19
buy-in program pursuant to this subsection (4) not later than three months20
after receiving federal approval.21
SECTION 7. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal22
year, $66,637 is appropriated to the department of health care policy and23
financing for use by the executive director's office. This appropriation is24
from the general fund. To implement this act, the office may use this25
appropriation as follows:26
(a) $65,487 for personal services, which amount is based on an27
226
-6- assumption that the office will require an additional 2.0 FTE; and1
(b) $1,150 for operating expenses.2
(2) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the general assembly3
anticipates that the department of health care policy and financing will4
receive $66,637 in federal funds to implement this act, which amount is5
subject to the "(I)" notation as defined in the annual general appropriation6
act for the same fiscal year. The appropriation in subsection (1) of this7
section is based on the assumption that the department will receive this8
amount of federal funds to be used as follows:9
(a) $65,487 for personal services; and10
(b) $1,150 for operating.11
(3) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $1,214,019 is appropriated12
to the department of health care policy and financing. This appropriation13
is from the general fund, which is subject to the "(M)" notation as defined14
in the annual general appropriation act for the same fiscal year. To15
implement this act, the department may use this appropriation for medical16
and long-term care services for medicaid eligible individuals.17
(4) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the general assembly18
anticipates that the department of health care policy and financing will19
receive $1,214,019 in federal funds for medical and long-term care20
services for medicaid eligible individuals to implement this act. The21
appropriation in subsection (3) of this section is based on the assumption22
that the department will receive this amount of federal funds.23
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act24
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the25
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except26
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V27
226
-7- of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this1
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take2
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in3
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the4
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.5
226
-8-