Date: 03/03/2015
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1214
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES
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01:34 PM -- HB 15-1214
Representative Singer introduced House Bill 15-1214. The bill prohibits a pharmacist from substituting a non-abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic drug if the prescription issued for a patient includes instructions to "dispense as written" an abuse-deterrent version of the drug. Insurance carriers are required to cover the abuse-deterrent drug at the lowest cost-sharing level for opioid analgesic drugs. A carrier cannot require that a patient experience treatment failure with a non-abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic in order for an abuse-deterrent prescription to be filled. Representative Singer discussed the technology that makes a pill resistant to crushing, and demonstrated how easily pills without the technology can be crushed. He discussed amendment L.003 (Attachment A) which directs the Governor's consortium on drug abuse to study barriers to and the efficacy of the use of abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic drug products as a way to reduce abuse and diversion of opioid drug products. He responded to questions from the committee.
150303 AttachA.pdf
01:48 PM -- Dr. Gareth Shemesh, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and spoke regarding his practice as a physician managing patients' chronic pain. He discussed efforts to reduce the misuse, abuse, and diversion of opioid analgesics, including tamper-proof formulations of the medications, which he stated has reduced the abuse of the medications. He responded to questions from the committee. Representative Singer distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment B) and responded to questions from the committee regarding the cost of opioid medications.
150303 AttachB.pdf
02:05 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Association of Nurse Anesthetists, testified in support of the bill and stated that efforts that promote abuse-deterrent versions of opioid medication are valuable. She responded to questions from the committee.
02:10 PM -- Corey Candelaria, representing himself, testified regarding his practice as an addiction counselor and regarding prescription drug abuse, misuse, and diversion. He responded to questions from the committee.
02:24 PM -- Sara Orrange, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated her opposition to the provisions of the bill that require the medications to be covered at the lowest cost-sharing level for opioid analgesic drugs. She explained that Colorado law already allows prescriptions to be dispensed as written and that the bill will result in cheaper drugs in appearance only and the costs will be redistribute throughout the system. She stated that the drugs are tamper-resistant, rather than abuse-resistant, and noted that the drug manufacturers themselves acknowledge that the medications could result in abuse. She responded to questions from the committee.
02:29 PM -- Bridget Flavin, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated that abuse-deterrent opioid medications treat a symptom of abuse rather than the underlying abuse, and the medications are simply more costly versions of existing medications. She stated that the bill limits her company's ability to implement its evidence-based drug formulary.
02:33 PM -- Denese Clark, Kaiser Permanente, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated that the bill will increase insurance premiums for all patients, regardless of whether the patient is at risk for abuse and that even tamper-resistant versions of the medications can be abused. She stated that there are questions about whether these versions of medications can reduce abuse, and Colorado law already allows physicians to require that prescriptions be dispensed as written. Ms. Clark responded to questions from the committee.
02:37 PM
Representative Singer listed organizations that are in support of the bill. Representative Singer explained amendment L.003 (Attachment A). Representative Primavera laid the bill over.