WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 25-198

Transparency Transactions Medical Care Entities

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kyle Brown and 2 co-sponsors

SB 25-198 aimed to enhance transparency in medical care by requiring providers to disclose financial ties, empowering patients to make informed choices about their care.

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 25-198

Summary of SB 25-198: Transparency Transactions Medical Care Entities

Bill Information:
- Bill Number: SB 25-198
- Title: Transparency Transactions Medical Care Entities
- Status: Postponed Indefinitely by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
- Introduced: March 05, 2025
- Prime Sponsors: Sen. Kipp, Sen. Weissman, Rep. Brown

Purpose and Intent

SB 25-198 aimed to enhance transparency in transactions involving medical care entities, including health care, long-term care, and veterinary care providers. The bill sought to modify existing reporting requirements and enforce stricter disclosure obligations to ensure that patients are informed about financial relationships between providers and entities to which they are referred.

Key Provisions

The bill included several significant changes to existing laws:

1. Reporting Requirements

  • Expanded Scope: Required health care, long-term care, and veterinary care entities to report certain transactions, including affiliations, mergers, and acquisitions, to the Attorney General.
  • Notification Timeline: Entities must provide notice at least 60 days before a material change transaction and report any modifications to the transaction terms.

2. Disclosure Obligations

  • Financial Relationships: Providers must disclose any financial relationships with entities to which they refer patients. If a provider fails to disclose this information, the referred entity cannot bill the patient or relevant payers.
  • Alternative Referrals: Providers are required to offer alternative referrals to entities with which they have no financial relationship upon patient request.

3. Enforcement Mechanisms

  • Attorney General's Authority: The bill expanded the Attorney General's powers to assess transactions and enforce compliance through civil penalties, court orders, and injunctions.
  • Deceptive Trade Practices: Non-compliance with disclosure requirements would be classified as a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, subjecting violators to civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation.

4. Annual Reporting

  • Entities involved in material change transactions must submit annual reports to the Attorney General for five years after the transaction, which must also be made publicly available.

Impact

Affected Entities

  • Health Care Providers: Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and veterinary care entities would be directly impacted by the new reporting and disclosure requirements.
  • Patients: The bill aimed to empower patients with information regarding potential conflicts of interest in their care.

Fiscal Implications

  • State Revenue: The bill was projected to generate minimal state revenue from civil penalties and court filing fees.
  • State Workload: There would be a minimal increase in workload for various state departments, including the Department of Law and the Judicial Department, to handle the additional reporting and enforcement responsibilities.

Procedural Aspects

  • Effective Date: The bill would take effect upon the Governor's signature or automatically upon becoming law without his signature.
  • Current Status: As of April 17, 2025, the bill was postponed indefinitely by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, meaning it will not advance further in the legislative process.

Conclusion

While SB 25-198 aimed to improve transparency and accountability in medical care transactions, its indefinite postponement means that the proposed changes will not be implemented at this time. The bill's provisions would have had significant implications for health care providers and patients alike, focusing on enhancing informed decision-making in medical care.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.