Senate Bill 175 was signed by Governor Polis in a room full of perinatal health advocates and supporters, marking a historic investment in CPCQC and healthier births for all Coloradans.

What this means for our work:

The new law allocates $1.3 million dollars to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for use by the prevention services division to address inequities in care and disparate outcomes among birthing people and their infants. Specifically, the bill directs the CDPHE to partner with CPCQC and:

• Authorizes CPCQC to track and facilitate implementation of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee’s recommendations to prevent maternal deaths and to issue an annual report on these statewide efforts;

• Creates a Hospital Perinatal Health Quality Improvement Engagement Program, ensuring that all Colorado hospitals with labor and delivery units and/or neonatal intensive care units provide information on disparities in perinatal health outcomes and engage annually in at least one maternal-infant quality improvement initiative that is led by CPCQC; and

• Creates a Quality Improvement Engagement Fund to support healthcare facilities that provide perinatal care services with their quality improvement efforts. Priority for financial support will be given to facilities serving the most vulnerable patient populations, including those in rural and frontier counties and those serving a disproportionate share of Medicaid members.

In addition to authorizing the state to formalize its relationship with CPCQC, SB175 includes two other perinatal health provisions aimed at advancing more equitable care and outcomes for birthing people and their infants.

What happens next:

CPCQC will work closely with the CDPHE, hospital leadership, and perinatal health partners statewide to facilitate implementation of the bill in accordance with the following key dates:

• JULY 1, 2025  – CDPHE launches a program to provide financial support for healthcare facilities to engage in quality improvement (QI)
• JULY 1, 2025 – Each hospital will begin data submission to CPCQC, including a minimum data set of key drivers of disparities in perinatal health care and outcomes
• DECEMBER 15, 2025 – Each hospital will participate in at least one CPCQC-led QI initiative

Our state is coming together to coordinate efforts to prevent maternal and infant deaths in Colorado and ensure that all birthing people receive more equitable care.

Have Questions?

Stay informed through our website and newsletter of new developments as we implement the bill. Please reach out to info@cpcqc.org with any questions.