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Colorado bills · 2026 Regular Session

Colorado SB 6

Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (13)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Colorado legislature· summary

The act requires a health insurance carrier that provides prescription drug benefits to require that:The utilization review requirements, including prior authorization and step therapy, for a non-opioid drug prescribed and approved by the federal food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain (non-opioid pain management drug) are no more restrictive than the least restrictive utilization review requirements for opioid drugs prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain; andThe cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for a non-opioid pain management drug is not greater than the cost-sharing, copayment, or deductible for an opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of chronic or acute pain.     The act requires each individual and small group health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and each large employer health benefit plan issued or renewed on and after January 1, 2028, to ensure there is at least one non-opioid pain management drug available as a clinically appropriate alternative for an opioid pain management drug. If the division of insurance determines that coverage for a non-opioid pain management drug offered by individual and small group health benefit plans requires state defrayal of the cost of coverage, the requirement to make a non-opioid pain management drug available is inoperative.     The state employee health benefit plan is excluded from the requirements of the act.     The act appropriates $15,415 to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:13 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
May 8, 2026
House		CONCURpassSet your home in Colorado to see
May 8, 2026
House		REPASSpassSet your home in Colorado to see
May 1, 2026
Senate		Adopt amendment J.002passSet your home in Colorado to see
May 1, 2026
Senate		Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.passSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 22, 2026
Senate		Refer Senate Bill 26-006 to the Committee on Appropriations.passSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 20, 2026
House		BILLpassSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 17, 2026
Senate		Refer Senate Bill 26-006 to the Committee of the Whole.passSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 8, 2026
Senate		Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E).passSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 8, 2026
Senate		Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment D).passSet your home in Colorado to see
Apr 8, 2026
Senate		Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.passSet your home in Colorado to see

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