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Colorado Bill: Doctors Get 3 Days for Cancer News
1 May
Summary
- Patient portals deliver serious news without doctor support.
- Colorado bill seeks delay for critical cancer test results.
- Similar laws passed in Kentucky, Texas, and California.
Patient portals, while revolutionary for accessing medical information, can expose individuals to frightening health news without immediate medical guidance. Colorado State Senator Lisa Frizell shared her experience of receiving a concerning bone scan result via her patient portal late at night in 2025, leading to significant distress before her doctor could clarify the findings.
In response, Frizell, alongside Democratic State Senator Kyle Mullica, has introduced Bill SB26-162. This legislation aims to provide doctors with a three-day window to inform patients about critical test results, specifically for cancer diagnoses or genetic markers, before they are automatically posted to patient portals. This change acknowledges that not all test results are routine and some require sensitive delivery.
The bill, supported by the Colorado Medical Society and Colorado Oncology Society, passed the Colorado Senate and is now heading to the House. This legislative effort follows similar measures already enacted in Kentucky, Texas, and California, highlighting a growing concern over the delivery of sensitive health information through digital platforms.
