Reimbursing Certain Pharmacists’ Services: A New Colorado Bill
Colorado House Bill 18-1112 (HB 18-1112) was approved by the Colorado State Legislature earlier this year and signed by Governor Hickenlooper on April 9, 2018. The Bill is set to take effect on August 8, 2018.
HB 18-1112 requires a health benefit plan to provide coverage for health care services provided by a pharmacist if:
- The services are provided within a health professional shortage area; and
- The health benefit plan provides coverage for the same services provided by a licensed physician or advanced practice nurse.
The new legislation provides an opportunity for Colorado pharmacists to bill and get reimbursed for their non dispensary services, such as immunizations, smoking cessation and contraception services, while also expanding health care access to patient in rural communities.
Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care providers and remain a critical part of the health care team. The passage of HB 18-1112, is a small, yet critical step, towards further expanding the role of the pharmacist and will hopefully lead to pharmacists expanding their services to more urban settings around Colorado.