Quick take: committee passes a string of health bills — CO reform advances, several technical and pilot bills pass

In addition to lengthy debate on House Bill 819, the House Health Committee moved several other bills forward on Monday:

House Bill 2044 (medical-assistance cleanup) — Sponsor said the bill aligns last years medical-assistance changes with clinical practice, clarifies delegated tasks for certified medical assistants, and updates lists of permitted and prohibited tasks. The committee passed HB 2044 unanimously (24-0); it moves to Government Operations as amended.

House Bill 1899 (residential homes for the aged) — The bill raises the maximum occupants for tier 1 homes from three to five and changes the minimum for tier 2 homes from four to six; sponsors said the fire marshal and Department of Disability and Aging were consulted. HB 1899 passed and moves to Finance, Ways and Means.

House Bill 2599 (Alzheimer's/dementia respite pilot) — Sponsors described the bill as continuing a pilot to provide episodic respite to family caregivers; the committee approved the bill and forwarded it to Finance, Ways and Means.

House Bill 1470 (AI advertising in mental-health) — After public testimony and member questions, the committee passed HB 1470 unanimously (20-0); the bill bars AI systems from marketing themselves as licensed mental-health professionals.

House Bill 819 (CO reform) — See separate coverage for the substantive debate and the committees 23-2 vote to advance HB 819 as amended.