House Bill 25-1317

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Bradley and Carter, Duran, English;

also SENATOR(S) Exum, Bridges, Jodeh, Mullica, Coleman.

Concerning the correction of a defect in law that incorrectly references the standard for provider self-pay estimates for health-care services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-49-106, amend (1)(b) as follows:

25-49-106.  Required disclosure to self-pay recipients - estimate of total cost of health-care services upon request - deceptive trade practice - definition. (1) (b) (I)  Except as provided in subsection (1)(b)(II) of this section, the final cost of the health-care service for which the self-pay estimate was made must be no more than fifteen percent higher than the total estimated cost indicated in the self-pay estimate or no more than four hundred dollars higher than the total estimated cost indicated in the self-pay estimate, whichever is less.

(II)  The final cost of the health-care service for which the self-pay estimate was made may be more than fifteen percent higher or more than four hundred dollars higher than the self-pay estimate or four hundred dollars if a medical emergency occurs that is associated with the health-care service or if an additional, unforeseen, medically necessary health-care service is required during the provision of the health-care service. The health-care provider or health-care facility shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of the recipient or, if the recipient is incapacitated, the recipient's authorized agent prior to providing any emergency or unforeseen, medically necessary health-care service that will increase by more than fifteen percent or by more than four hundred dollars the total cost indicated in the self-pay estimate. or four hundred dollars, whichever is less.

SECTION 2.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.