On August 12th, Healthesystems attended the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation (DoWC) 2025 Legislative Update Webinar, which focused on the recently enacted House Bill 1300, which significantly alters access to care and treatment decisions for injured workers. 

Changes in direction of care can disrupt provider alignment, impact cost control strategies, and challenge continuity of care. Engaging with regulators in meetings like this allows stakeholders to help shape this policy, sharing payer network insights and data to advocate for care transitions that support continuity, that control costs, and that improve outcomes for injured workers.

The DoWC clarified that while HB 1300 is now law, it has not been incorporated into the Workers’ Compensation Act due to its distant effective date and the potential for revisions in the 2026 or 2027 legislative session. While the Division is in communication with the Governor and legislature, it does not currently have insight into what, if any, changes may be proposed.

The Governor has directed the DoWC to convene a stakeholder workgroup tasked with developing implementation recommendations and informing the 2026 legislative session. To support this effort, the DoWC will launch a Legislative Listening Tour this fall to address concerns raised prior to the bill’s enactment, including:

• Clarifying the use of in-house clinics
• Ensuring employers may still offer recommended provider lists
• Improving the functionality of the DoWC provider directory
• Enhancing the provider accreditation process, including tracking licensure and malpractice status
• Defining implementation timelines

A recording of the legislative update will be available on the DoWC Events and Training website soon.