CO HB1069

Expands the definition of "emergency services" to include transportation to appropriate locations other than hospitals and the use of telemedicine by ambulance services to prevent unnecessary emergency department transports

Defines "first responder" to include peace officers, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and mental health professionals responding to medical emergencies

Requires the executive director of public health and environment to adopt rules by June 1, 2027 authorizing community paramedics to inventory, administer, and manage medications, procedures, and diagnostic testing

Beginning January 1, 2027, requires Medicaid to reimburse ambulance services and community integrated health-care agencies for transportation to non-hospital destinations, treatment on scene without transport, and telemedicine evaluations to avoid hospital transport

Prohibits insurance carriers from requiring ambulance services to procure telemedicine as a condition of payment, and mandates telemedicine be billed at outpatient rates rather than emergency department rates