The Colorado Division of Insurance is requesting public input on a draft bulletin that aims to guide Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in identifying and verifying rural independent pharmacies. This effort is part of the implementation of House Bill 25-1222, which seeks to protect rural independent pharmacies through specific measures related to reimbursement, prescription delivery, and audit procedures.
According to the Division, “The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) regarding the identification and verification of Rural Independent Pharmacies. The Division of Insurance (Division) offers the following framework to facilitate the implementation of HB 25-1222.”
House Bill 25-1222, titled “Preserving Access to Rural Independent Pharmacies,” was designed to maintain healthcare services for communities across Colorado by ensuring protections for these pharmacies.
The Division states, “House Bill 25-1222 (‘Preserving Access to Rural Independent Pharmacies’) provides specific protections for ‘rural independent pharmacies’ related to reimbursement, prescription delivery, and audit procedures, to preserve access to health-care services for Colorado’s communities. The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance to PBMs regarding the identification of rural independent pharmacies.”
Comments on the draft bulletin are being accepted until 5 PM on February 4, 2026. The document can be accessed alongside other draft regulations and bulletins open for informal public comment on the Division’s website.
The Colorado Division of Insurance operates as a state agency regulating the insurance industry throughout Colorado. It delivers consumer protection services and resources for insurance matters, provides tools for license verification and complaint resolution, and maintains statewide oversight with online access to information about insurance regulation according to its official website: https://doi.colorado.gov/.
