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Hickenlooper supports efforts to curb the pandemic, including "testing, contact tracing, social distancing, wearing masks, and providing PPE to first responders and essential workers." In addition, he supports increasing the federal share of Medicaid spending to 12% to fund these efforts. He also intends to "shore up our long-term preparedness by supporting pandemic research efforts, global health funding, and engagement with international bodies such as the World Health Organization."
Hickenlooper supports the ACA public option and endorses universal coverage.
Hickenlooper did not support Colorado Amendment 64 in 2012, which passed with over 55% of the vote and legalized recreational marijuana use for adults in Colorado. Despite his lack of support for the amendment, he carried out the will of the voters by signing the legalization of marijuana. As Governor, he signed into law bills that would assist farmers in cannabis production, allow marijuana businesses to work with banks in Colorado, and create testing infrastructure for cannabis products. He has since stated that his worst fears regarding legalization “have not come to pass.” In his run for President, Hickenlooper stated that he would sign legislation to federally decriminalize marijuana.
As Senator, Hickenlooper intends to work to expand access to mental health services. Specifically, he has committed to funding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, supporting community-led efforts to end the stigma associated with seeking help, and investing in telehealth for counseling. Hickenlooper supports expanding resources available to those struggling with opioid addiction. As Governor in 2013, he signed a bill requiring substance misuse treatment to be included in individual and group coverage plans. In the Senate, he intends to scale up Colorado's best practices, such as improved access to naloxone treatment, research into alternative pain management therapies, supporting medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and updating prescribing guidelines.
As Senator, Hickenlooper intends to work to reduce prescription drug costs by "allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly with drug companies; permitting the importation of safe medicine from Canada; requiring more transparency in drug pricing and curtailing significant increases in the price of both generic and specialty drugs; and investigating potential anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry. "
As Senator, Hickenlooper intends to "be an advocate for our nation’s Veterans, working to ensure we provide programmatic support commensurate with their sacrifice."
Hickenlooper is pro-choice. As Senator, he pledges to "protect the right to choose, fully fund critical government programs for reproductive health such as Title X, and work to reduce racial disparities across the spectrum of reproductive care." He has been endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund as well as NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Hickenlooper supports work to end surprise medical billing, increased federal funding for rural hospitals, advocating for improved coverage for Americans with disabilities, increased funding for research institutions such as NIH and the CDC, and improved access to telemedicine.
