Behavioral Health Administration Service Organizations

Behavioral Health Administration Service Organizations (BHASOs) is the new way uninsured and underinsured people in Colorado get care coordination for behavioral health services starting on July, 1, 2025. 

Last updated: June 17, 2025

Overview

Starting July 1, 2025, BHA is taking bold steps forward to provide behavioral health services through one system. BHA is working with Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs) to launch and nurture a list of local providers to deliver a full spectrum of behavioral health services, including mental health, crisis, and substance use disorder services, across Colorado.

Establishing BHASOs was mandated in House Bill 22-1278, and it was one of the key recommendations made by the Behavioral Health Task Force. In alignment with one of the six key pillars of behavioral health reform, the task force recommended that BHA “develop a single point of entry (with ‘no wrong door’) to help individuals navigate the full continuum of behavioral health services.”

Think of BHASOs as a hub for all things behavioral health, offering care coordination to community members as well as helping with health care delivery administrative services like network development, contracting, payment, data collection, and quality improvement. Our shared goal is creating a streamlined and seamless model for the people of Colorado–including adults, children, and youth. We want to ensure people can get the community mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis services they need, no matter where they live in Colorado.

A new vision for Colorado’s behavioral health care system

When BHASOs launch on July 1, 2025, people will have one place to call to get mental health, crisis, and substance use disorder services. This will be an improvement from the current state behavioral health care model. For example, BHA’s current model funds different behavioral health services in different ways. That means the networks, vendors, approaches, and sometimes even standards of mental health, crisis, and substance use services have not always aligned in Colorado’s behavioral health system. In some cases, it was not clear where a person should turn to get their behavioral health needs met. With the BHASO system, people will work with a regional care coordinator to find services that are nearby and fit their situation.

How BHASOs improve care for the people of Colorado

Because BHASOs take a regional approach to care coordination, starting on July 1, 2025, when people look for services, a BHASO will help them find a local behavioral health service provider. BHASOs are part of the communities they serve, so they can work more effectively with BHA, local providers, and community leaders to address a person’s whole-health needs. 

BHASOs Regional Councils

Regional Councils are part of Colorado’s plan to improve mental health and substance use services. Each council includes people with lived experience, behavioral health providers, and local community members. These councils help make sure services meet the real needs of each region.

Regional Councils will be created to bring in local voices about what behavioral health services are needed—this is required by Colorado law (section 27-50-703, C.R.S.). Each of the four BHASO regions (Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations) will have its own Regional Advisory Council, and the goal is to launch them in fall 2025. 

BHASO map and regions

Colorado is divided into four BHASO regions, each with different counties and unique local needs. Each Regional Council will serve one of these areas.

View the BHASO regional map and see which region your county is in.

The awardees for each region are as follows:

• Region 1 Awardee: Rocky Mountain Health Plans
  • Region 1 includes the counties of Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Fremont, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit
• Region 2 Awardee: Signal Behavioral Health Network
  • Region 2 includes the counties of Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma
• Region 3 Awardee: Signal Behavioral Health Network
  • Region 3 includes the counties of Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park, Teller
• Region 4 Awardee: Signal Behavioral Health Network
  • Region 4 includes the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas

Knowing your region helps you apply to the right council and ensures your voice is part of the decisions in your area.

What committee members do

As a member of a Regional Council, you will:

• Join regular meetings (online or in person)
• Give your respective BHASO organization input on gaps in services that are needed to establish a full continuum of care in the region
• Talk about what’s getting in the way of people getting care—and how to fix it
• Help plan ways to better coordinate care across the state
• Work with others to find solutions
• Share your views with respect and honesty

What does “lived experience” mean?

People with lived experience have faced mental health or substance use challenges themselves, or have supported a friend or family member through it. These experiences are important. They help make sure the system understands and responds to real-life needs.

Payment for your time

Committee members who specifically fill the lived-experience seats outlined by the state statute may receive payment for their time.

Interested in serving?

Regional Advisory Councils will convene in fall 2025, with one in each of Colorado’s four BHASO regions. These councils will help guide local behavioral health services, in line with Colorado law (section 27-50-703 C.R.S.).

If you want to share your voice and help improve behavioral health in your community, fill out an application to serve on a Regional Council.

Want more information?

Please join BHA for a virtual information session to learn more about how you can get involved through an opportunity to serve as BHASO Regional Council member! This will include an informative overview followed by a question and answer session!
We look forward to connecting with you soon! Join using the links below.  

BHASO Region 1 Regional Council Recruitment
Mon Jul 28, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

BHASO Region 2 Regional Council Recruitment 
Mon Jul 7, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

BHASO Region 3 Regional Council Recruitment 
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

BHASO Region 4 Regional Council Recruitment
Mon Jul 14, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Impact on providers

Launching on July 1, 2025, BHASOs will combine the work of Managed Service Organizations (MSOs) and Administrative Service Organizations (ASOs) to create regional networks of safety net providers that serve uninsured and underinsured people in Colorado. This expanded network will provide regionally responsive care coordination for mental health treatment, substance use treatment, and crisis services.

I need help now

Please visit BHA’s For individuals and families page to learn how to access behavioral health services.