Behavioral health was front of mind throughout the 2021 Legislative Session with the creation of several new behavioral health programs and increases to funding for current behavioral health services across Colorado for years to come. The 2021 long bill restored the 2020 line item cuts pertaining to community-based mental health, substance use treatment and prevention services, and integrated behavioral health services. Additionally, multiple behavioral health bills passed, appropriating an additional $120,980,000 to OBH. Check out the OBH blog for a rundown of the new legislation that demonstrates the General Assembly's dedication to supporting a behavioral health system that meets the needs of the people across Colorado.
- HB 21-1021 establishes an OBH approval of recovery support services organizations, which will support these organizations in having their services be reimbursed by Medicaid. HB 21-1021 also requires Managed Service Organization contracts to include terms and conditions outlining the expectations for organizations to invest in the state’s recovery services infrastructure.
- HB 21-1085 creates a transportation licensing structure that after January 1, 2023, secure transportation services will provide urgent transportation to an emergency medical services facility, a mental health treatment facility, an approved alcohol and substance abuse treatment center, or a walk-in crisis center for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- HB 21-1097 requires the Department of Human Services to develop a plan for the creation of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), and to establish the BHA with specified duties by July 1, 2022.
- HB 21-1130 expands the community transition specialist program to individuals who are receiving voluntary behavioral health or substance abuse services and allows referrals from acute treatment services and facilities providing crisis stabilization services.
- HB 21-1211 prohibits a local jail with a bed capacity of over 400 beds from involuntarily placing an inmate in restrictive housing if the inmate meets certain mental or physical health conditions or is under 18 years of age. This bill allows OBH’s Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services funds to be used to meet the requirements of this bill, including facility changes.
- HB 21-1258 establishes a one-year Youth Mental Health Services Program within OBH to reimburse providers for providing up to three mental health sessions to youth screened into the program.
- HB 21-1276 places several restrictions and requirements on insurance carriers and health benefit plans relating to opioids and alternative treatments for certain plans issued or renewed beginning January 1, 2023. This bill also limits the supply of a benzodiazepine that a prescriber may prescribe to a patient and continues the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and requires health care providers to query the PDMP before prescribing or refilling a benzodiazepine. This bill requires OBH to convene a collaborative with institutions of higher education, nonprofit agencies, and state agencies to gather feedback on evidence-based prevention practices and other functions related to preventative health.
- HB 21-1305 requires OBH to specify the education requirements for licensed addiction counselors, and establishes new clinical supervision requirements for addiction counselors, updates scope of practice for a certified addiction technician and moves addiction counselor continuing competency program back to the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
- SB 21-129 establishes a pilot program starting in El Paso County to serve up to 700 veterans by providing free behavioral health services.
- SB 21-137 appropriated $95,800,000 to the Office of Behavioral Health for various behavioral health programs and services, including:
- Continuing the Maternal and Child Health Pilot Program;
- $4,000,000 for the housing assistance program;
- $1,600,000 for the recovery support services grant program;
- $50,000 for rural behavioral health vouchers;
- $200,000 for treatment and detoxification programs;
- $200,000 for recovery residence certification;
- $10,000,000 directed to the Managed Service Organizations for increasing access to effective substance use disorder treatment and recovery;
- $2,000,000 for services provided to school-aged children and parents by community mental health center school-based clinicians and prevention specialists;
- $5,000,000 for Colorado crisis system services in response to the effect of COVID-19 on the behavioral health of Colorado residents, including statewide access to crisis system services for children and youth;
- $2,000,000 for behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment for children, youth, and their families;
- $1,000,000 for a mental health awareness campaign;
- $18,000,000 for the workforce development program;
- $26,000,000 for statewide care coordination infrastructure;
- $9,000,000 for the county-based behavioral health grant program;
- $500,000 for community transition services for guardianship services for individuals transitioning out of mental health institutes;
- $5,000,000 for jail based behavioral health services;
- $3,250,000 for community mental health centers for unanticipated services and expenses related to COVID-19, including capacity building and strategies to address the direct care workforce for the purpose of increasing access to meet the growing demand for services; and
- $5,000,000 for a pilot program for residential placement of children and youth with high acuity physical, mental, or behavioral health needs.
- $3,000,000 to the High-risk Families Cash Fund
- SB 21-154 creates the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network enterprise funded by a 988 cell phone surcharge and a prepaid wireless 988 charge. This enterprise will oversee the implementation of a 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network that will: have an active agreement with the national 988 hotline; meet national suicide lifeline requirement guidelines; deploy mobile response units and co-responder programs; and coordinate access to walk-in centers; and provide follow-up services.
- SB 21-199 repeals the broad prohibition of providing state and local public benefits to individuals not lawfully present, and repeals specific requirements that individuals must be lawfully present when applying for professional licenses, public works contracts, and local business licenses. The bill also expands what forms of identifications may be accepted by state agencies and repeals the Secure and Verifiable Identity Act.
- SB 21-239 requires OBH to contract with the Colorado 2-1-1 Collaborative to ensure specialized personnel are hired that can assist in referring individuals to behavioral health services.