Advocacy

Bill Fact Sheet

Colorado PA practice is regulated by laws and rules. Laws are statute passed by the Colorado Legislature and signed into law by the Colorado Governor. Rules are made by the Colorado Medical Board based on statute and oversee the medical practice of PAs.

Check out the Colorado PA Regulations page for more information and a sample Collaborative Agreement. 

Colorado Legislative Priorities

CAPA is active in sponsoring legislation specific to PA practice in the state. CAPA also weighs-in on other legislation related to PA practice in line with CAPA's mission to advocate for PA practice in the state of Colorado and increasing access to quality healthcare for all Coloradans.

CAPA’s presence grew larger this Legislative Session as PAs weighed in and testified on a variety of bills that impacted their profession and patients.

HB25 1082, concerning Qualified Individuals Death Certificates, authorizes PAs and NPs to sign death certificates after they attest they have reviewed training materials and registered with the electronic death registration system. HB 25-1082 passed the legislature.

SB25-083, Concerning Limitations on Restrictive Employment Agreements, prohibits employers from requiring that certain healthcare providers, including PAs sign non-compete contracts. The bill was successfully passed.

HB25-1176, Behavioral Health Treatment Stigma for Providers, modifies the requirements for registered medical professionals to disclose certain physical, mental, behavioral, and substance use disorders. The bill requires the application to reflect the recommendations of the Federation of State Medical Boards and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act; and not require the disclosure of, or ask questions about, medical or health information that is not relevant to the applicant’s ability to provide safe, competent, and ethical patient care. HB 25-1176 passed.

SB25-152, a bill that CAPA monitored, expands the Medical Transparency Act to require select regulated medical practitioners to communicate information about their state-issued qualifications in the following ways:

•        Verbally upon first meeting a patient, when practicable via name tag

•        If they are practicing at select facilities that are licensed or certified by the Department of

·         Public Health and Environment; and

•        In any advertisements (including business cards and letterheads) that identify them by name

The bill also prohibits these advertisements from falsely representing any of the practitioner’s qualifications. Exemptions for communicating state-issued qualifications are provided for practitioners who have safety concerns or who do not interact with patients directly. Lastly, the bill specifies that the requirements do not apply when not clinically feasible and do not create a private right of action. SB25-152 passed. 

SB25-032, Naturopathic Doctor Requirements Formulary, failed in its first committee in the Senate. The bill would have updated the prescription and nonprescription drugs that a naturopathic doctor can obtain, dispense, administer, order, or prescribe, and modified registration requirements to practice with the new naturopathic formulary. The bill further specified the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors. 

Click here for more information on CAPA legislative involvement.

Optimal Team Practice

Optimal Team Practice (OTP) occurs when PAs, physicians, and other healthcare professionals work together to provide quality care without burdensome administrative constraints.

Click here for more information on Optimal Team Practice.

Do you have $20 you can spare to help CAPA's 2023 advocacy efforts?

You can donate one time, or can set up recurring donations. Fill out the form to the right and donate to CAPA today!

CAPA is classified as a nonprofit corporation 501 C (6).

Please note that donations to CAPA are not tax-deductible.