The 2021 Colorado legislature has again put health policy front and center. This year’s session includes continued initiatives ranging from a public option to importation of prescription drugs, as well as an array of new policy discussions. This panel will offer an update on how the session is going so far, what lessons have been learned about legislating during a pandemic, and where health policy is likely headed in the weeks ahead.

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Time: 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm MST

Panelists:

• • Sen. Jim Smallwood: Chair, Senate Minority Caucus
  • Sen. Rhonda Fields: Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Committee 
    
  • Katelin Lucariello: Director, State Policy, PhRMA 
  • Amanda Massey: Executive Director, Colorado Association of Health Plans 

Senator Jim Smallwood represents Senate District 4 which covers much of Douglas County including Parker, Castle Rock, Sedalia and Larkspur. Sen. Smallwood learned about public service at an early age from his father who taught him that service to our country was the greatest calling available to every citizen and now champions affordable and accessible health care for Coloradans.

Senator Rhonda Fields  was elected to the State Senate in 2016, becoming the first African-American woman to serve Aurora’s concurrent Senate District 29. Rhonda has ushered in new laws designed to grow state economy, protect the environment, veterans, women’s rights, and basic human rights of the undeserved or homeless. She is an advocate for crime victims, and a champion of quality public education. 

Katelin Lucariello serves as Director of State Policy for PhRMA’s Rocky Mountain Region. Katelin is responsible for providing analysis and guidance on state legislative and regulatory actions impacting the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining PhRMA, Katelin spent a decade working in state health policy consulting for a range of health care stakeholders.

Amanda Massey was appointed Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans in February 2019. She works to represent the health plans to deliver a unified voice for achieving a competitive and affordable health care marketplace in Colorado.