ColoradoHB26-10692026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Availability of Emergency Medical Services

Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Katie Stewart (Democratic), Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Lisa Feret (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Health Care & Health InsuranceInsuranceLabor & Employment

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Emergency coverage for crisis-unit ambulance rides

For covered patients, emergency services now include ground ambulance rides to crisis stabilization units. Patients must meet clinically validated diversion criteria approved by the ambulance provider’s medical director. Providers must bill insurers at the basic life support rate for these rides. Emergency services also include examination and treatment at the scene or during transport. The law does not set a dollar rate or what patients owe.

Medicaid pays for more ambulance care

Beginning January 1, 2027, Colorado Medicaid pays ambulance services for rides to hospitals or other destinations their medical director approves. It also pays ambulance services for treatment at the scene that does not lead to transport. Qualified providers, ambulance services, and out-of-hospital agencies get payment for telemedicine evaluations during care, intended to prevent hospital transport. Telemedicine is paid at an office or outpatient rate, not an emergency department rate. Providers do not have to obtain telemedicine services to receive payment.

State funding to implement emergency-care changes

For budget year 2026–27, the law provides $26,353 in general funds to Colorado’s health department. Its Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division can use the money for administration and operations to implement the law. This funding is not a direct payment to households.

Conditional cuts to Colorado Medicaid funding

For budget year 2026–27, the law cuts $548,547 in general funds for specified Medicaid medical and long-term care services. It also cuts $124,822 from the hospital provider-fee fund, totaling $673,369 in state reductions. The adjustment assumes $1.458735 million less in federal funds. These cuts apply only if the 2026–27 annual budget act becomes law, starting on the later act’s effective date. No reduction is required if the relevant general fund appropriation is below the adjustment amount or absent from that budget. The law does not specify cuts to individual eligibility or benefits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Ava Flanell
Republican • House
Amy Paschal
Democratic • House
Brandi Bradley
Republican • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Carlos Barron
Republican • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Dusty Johnson
Republican • House
Dan Woog
Republican • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jarvis Caldwell
Republican • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Jacque Phillips
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Ken DeGraaf
Republican • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Matt Soper
Republican • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Ryan Gonzalez
Republican • House
Rebecca Keltie
Republican • House
Rebekah Stewart
Democratic • House
Ron Weinberg
Republican • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Stephanie Luck
Republican • House
Scott Slaugh
Republican • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Ty Winter
Republican • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
John Carson
Republican • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Frizell
Republican • Senate
Larry Liston
Republican • Senate
Lynda Zamora Wilson
Republican • Senate
Marc Catlin
Republican • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Rod Pelton
Republican • Senate
Scott Bright
Republican • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 258 • No: 3

House vote • 5/7/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 64 • No: 0

House vote • 5/7/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 64 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 4 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/30/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 3/9/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 62 • No: 0

House vote • 3/6/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 2/24/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
6/2/2026House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/29/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/28/2026Senate
Sent to the Governor
5/28/2026House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/7/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
5/6/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
5/5/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
5/5/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
4/30/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
4/21/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to
4/21/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/9/2026House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
3/6/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
3/6/2026House
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
2/24/2026House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
1/27/2026House

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
House Appropriations Preamend
PDF
House Health & Human Services Preamend
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Appropriations Preamend
PDF
Senate Health & Human Services Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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