Senate Approves Bill to Preserve Rural Access to Health Care

HB25-1222 would safeguard independent pharmacies that rural communities rely on

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, to preserve rural access to independent pharmacies passed the Senate today. 

“Independent rural pharmacies are so important to the people who live in the rural and mountain communities that I represent. They rely on them for essential services like prescription refills, medical supplies, immunizations, and so much more,” Roberts said. “This bipartisan bill would ensure fair reimbursement rates and audit recovery practices so that drug delivery for independent and rural pharmacies are adequate enough to level the playing field against corporate health care giants and safeguard essential health services.”

HB25-1222, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, would preserve access to rural health care by: 

• Ensuring a fair reimbursement for rural independent pharmacies,

• Enabling the delivery of drugs by rural independent pharmacies to underserved communities,

• Clarifying fair audit recovery practices so rural independent pharmacies don’t close, and

• Allowing remote supervision for pharmacies to improve accessibility for Coloradans.

For Coloradans living in rural communities, these modifications would maintain access to vital prescriptions and healthcare services close to home without having to travel long distances or face unnecessary delays.

HB25-1222 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress HERE.