So Coloradans Can Move
Thanks to the tireless efforts of So Every BODY Can Move advocates, Coloradans living with limb loss and limb difference will now be able to access prosthetic care for physical activity and exercise! HB-1136 was signed into law on May 25, 2023 and goes into effect January 1, 2025. Help us get the word out and maximize the positive impact of this new law for the disability community in Colorado.
ENACTED
Colorado HB-1136
Bill Number:
Status:
Enacted
Date Signed Into Law:
5/25/2023
Date Law Goes Into Effect:
1/1/2025
Insurance Plans Affected:
State Commercial Plans
Age Group:
All Ages
Types of Devices Covered:
Prostheses
State Lead:
Angela Montgomery, CPO
Primary Bill Sponsors:
Rep. David Ortiz, Rep. Anthony Hartsook, Sen. Faith Winter, Sen. Larry Liston
State Lead
Owner, Prosthetist-Orthotist, Prosthetic & Orthotic Group of Boulder, LLC Founder & President, Rocky Mountain Orthotic & Prosthetic Coalition (RMOPC)
Lobbyist
Principal, Aponte-Busam Public Affairs
Legislative Liaison
Marketing/CommunicationsAssistant, Prosthetic & Orthotic Group of Boulder, LLC
Community OutreachClinical Social Worker, University of Colorado
Project Management Community Organizer, The Center for People with Disabilities
Data Analyst
Chief of Staff, Auraria Higher Education Center
At a Glance
Colorado Statistics
Physical activity is one of the most important factors in maintaining overall health throughout one’s lifetime. Whether it’s vigorous exercise or simple day-to-day movement, being physically active increases strength and balance, improves mental health, supports better-quality sleep, and reduces the risk of disease and cancer for every body, including people with disabilities.
4.5X
American College of Sports Medicine, Why We Must Prioritize Equitable Access to Physical Activity for Children with Disabilities
Click Here
1 in 2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Inactivity Related to Chronic Disease in Adults with Disabilities
Click Here
2X
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Disability and Obesity
Click Here
60 / 150 Mins
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition
Click Here
$44 Billion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Disability and Obesity
Click Here
“F”
Physical Activity Alliance, The 2022 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Click Here
Prior to the enactment of HB-1136, the majority of Coloradans with limb loss, limb difference, and mobility impairment faced difficulties in obtaining affordable and accessible prosthetic and orthotic care for physical activities and exercise because state, federal, and private health plans deem this care “not medically necessary.”
Without health plan coverage, adults, children, and families are forced to:
HB-1136 will now ensure Coloradans with disabilities that are covered by state-regulated commercial insurance plans have access to all facets of society including physical activity and exercise through coverage of recreational prostheses. Help us get the word out and maximize the positive impact of this new law for the disability community in Colorado!
This bill amends Colorado’s previous prosthetic coverage law (enacted in 2000) so state-regulated commercial insurance plans are required to cover an additional prosthetic device necessary for physical activity.
This new law will have a minimal impact on insurance premiums (estimated at $0.01-$0.09 PMPM), and result in annual benefits of $73,307.81-$724,923.63 due to healthcare savings. This bill will improve health equity for Coloradans with limb loss or limb difference, offering long-term social and fiscal advantages.
As a Paralympic athlete, Lacey always had to crowdsource – or have a sponsor or non profit cover – her running prosthesis. Her prosthetist would provide her prosthetic care pro bono as a sponsorship, however as she now transitions out of competitive sport she has found access to sport-specific equipment incredibly limited for everyday people with disabilities who want to remain recreationally active for their long term health and wellness. Lacey is now excited for the access HB-1136 will bring so all Coloradans can enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
Lacey Henderson
Denver, CO
As a Paralympic athlete, Lacey always had to crowdsource – or have a sponsor or non profit cover – her running prosthesis. Her prosthetist would provide her prosthetic care pro bono as a sponsorship, however as she now transitions out of competitive sport she has found access to sport-specific equipment incredibly limited for everyday people with disabilities who want to remain recreationally active for their long term health and wellness. Lacey is now excited for the access HB-1136 will bring so all Coloradans can enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
Lacey Henderson
Denver, CO
David is 17 and is from Steamboat Springs. In 2021, he was in a serious accident that left him with extensive fractures to both legs. Ultimately, he decided to amputate to have less pain, more freedom, and better mobility. He’s now back to skiing and being active thanks to a recreational prosthesis. David advocated for the passage of HB-1136 along with his family.
David Schlicht
Steamboat Springs, CO
David is 17 and is from Steamboat Springs. In 2021, he was in a serious accident that left him with extensive fractures to both legs. Ultimately, he decided to amputate to have less pain, more freedom, and better mobility. He’s now back to skiing and being active thanks to a recreational prosthesis. David advocated for the passage of HB-1136 along with his family.
David Schlicht
Steamboat Springs, CO
Braden is 5 years old and from Arvada. He was born with fibular hemimelia and had an amputation at 11 months. Braden struggles to “keep up with other kids” in his current prosthesis and wears it out faster than normal because of his high activity level. Braden now has access to his first running prosthesis which his mom says is now “his favorite leg.”
Braden McMahon
Arvada, CO
Braden is 5 years old and from Arvada. He was born with fibular hemimelia and had an amputation at 11 months. Braden struggles to “keep up with other kids” in his current prosthesis and wears it out faster than normal because of his high activity level. Braden now has access to his first running prosthesis which his mom says is now “his favorite leg.”
Braden McMahon
Arvada, CO
Bee lives in Durango and lost her leg after a rock climbing accident in 2011. Wanting to help others like her, she became a Prosthetist-Orthotist. She has benefited from donated care and access to a climbing-specific prosthesis as well as one for running. Because of HB-1136, she will now be able to provide her patients with the prostheses they need to be physically active.
Bee Mathis
Durango, CO
Bee lives in Durango and lost her leg after a rock climbing accident in 2011. Wanting to help others like her, she became a Prosthetist-Orthotist. She has benefited from donated care and access to a climbing-specific prosthesis as well as one for running. Because of HB-1136, she will now be able to provide her patients with the prostheses they need to be physically active.
Bee Mathis
Durango, CO
Max recently graduated from Silver Creek High School in Longmont. Growing up, he always loved sports. Thanks to access to an upper-limb recreational prosthesis, he has been able to become a competitive fencer and uses his prosthesis for balance and strength training.
Max Scherer
Longmont, CO
Max recently graduated from Silver Creek High School in Longmont. Growing up, he always loved sports. Thanks to access to an upper-limb recreational prosthesis, he has been able to become a competitive fencer and uses his prosthesis for balance and strength training.
Max Scherer
Longmont, CO
Lila is 11 and loves to ski, hike, and play lacrosse and basketball. She hopes to do her first 14er this summer. Born with fibular hemimelia, she had her leg amputated at age 9. She needs a specialty athletic prosthesis to do the activities she loves and to keep up with her little brother.
Lila H.
Denver, CO
Lila is 11 and loves to ski, hike, and play lacrosse and basketball. She hopes to do her first 14er this summer. Born with fibular hemimelia, she had her leg amputated at age 9. She needs a specialty athletic prosthesis to do the activities she loves and to keep up with her little brother.
Lila H.
Denver, CO
Colorado bill would require insurance companies to cover athletic prosthetics for kids
Read More
Bipartisan Colorado Bill Would Require Insurance to Cover Prosthetics For Sports, Recreation
Read More
Disability rights activists have ambitious goals for Colorado, from outdoor recreation to the halls of government
Read MoreCoalition Support
Rocky Mountain Orthotic and Prosthetic Coalition (RMOPC)
The Association of Colorado Centers for Independent Living (ACCIL)
Colorado Cross Disabilities Coalition (CCDC)
Center for People With Disabilities (CPWD)
Limb Preservation Foundation
Mental Health and Inclusion Industries
Colorado Trauma Network
Family Voices Colorado
Disability Law Colorado
ARC Thrift
Colorado Poverty Law Project
Personal Assistance Services of Colorado (PASCO)
Chronic Care Collaborative
Paradox Sports
The Arc Colorado
Ignite Adaptive Sports
Mental Health Colorado
Colorado Academy of Family Physicians
Alliance Colorado
Casting Scarlett's Way
The Independence Center of Colorado Springs
Colorado Medical Society
Next 100 Colorado
Boulder City Council
Scroll to view full list
We believe movement is medicine and physical activity is a right, not a privilege.
Do you believe in the rights of the disability community?
Join us in the movement for change!
