Laws and rules

Update to Colorado’s Timeframe for Alignment with the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria

The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), along with the substance use disorder (SUD) provider community, are working to align Colorado’s behavioral health systems with the 4th Edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM, 4th Ed.).

To ensure the relevant behavioral health providers have sufficient time to transition effectively, Colorado’s implementation deadline has been extended to July 1, 2027. Impacted providers are expected to implement transition plans and achieve the necessary milestones for their agency to ensure full alignment with ASAM 4th Edition standards by July 1, 2027.

This is an important transition to ensure individuals are receiving the most appropriate and highest quality of care, in a manner that supports the needs of our communities. Participation in upcoming BHA- and HCPF-led community engagement opportunities is highly encouraged to support and inform the transition.

More information will be shared on the adjusted timeline and next steps. Please monitor this web page or HCPF’s SUD provider web page for updates. 

Iterative rule volumes

BHA is committed to ensuring the people of Colorado receive quality behavioral health services. This requires BHA rules and regulations to remain updated and relevant. BHA is responsible for the three (3) rule volumes found on the Secretary of State’s (SOS) behavioral health web page. 

• 2 CCR 502-1 contains Provider Rules that set licensing, designation, and approval requirements for programs and behavioral health facilities;
• 2 CCR 502-5 contains System/Commissioner Rules that address programmatic-specific rules and will be the mechanism for how BHA shares the vision of the behavioral health system; and
• 2 CCR 502-6 contains Administrative Rules that establish how programs, initiatives, or services are applied for and/or accessed. 

To learn more about these rule volumes, review this BHA Rules Fact Sheet. If you are interested in archived recordings about previous rule updates, please visit BHA’s YouTube channel.

Rule-related projects

This section provides highlights of rule-related projects to keep you informed and engaged. 

• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 4th Edition Criteria Alignment. These standards will update the behavioral health continuum to ensure alignment with the Adult Version (Volume 1) of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria. This is the national standard for substance use disorder and co-occurring services upon which Colorado’s behavioral health system is built.
  • Impacted Rule Volume(s): Provider Rules
  • Impacted Chapter(s): Ch. 1 - 14   
  • Draft language: Available in the “Proposed Rule Updates” part of this page
  • Open feedback period anticipated: January 1 through March 31, 2026
  • SBHS Read(s) anticipated: Fall of 2026
  • Effective date anticipated: July 1, 2027
  • Additional transition resources, tailored to Level 3.2-WM providers but available to all who are interested, may be found on the Provider Ambassador Program page
• Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program (HB25-1132), also known as “Prop KK.” The BHA Regulatory Affairs Unit has produced a first draft of the Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program (HB25-1132) that will be incorporated into System/Commissioner Rules 2 CCR 502-5. Additional information about the grant program and Community Canvassing sessions will be provided in early Spring of 2026.
  • Impacted Rule Volume: System/Commissioner Rules (2 CCR 502-5)
  • Impacted Chapter: 4
  • Draft language: Available in the “Proposed Rule Updates” part of this page
  • Open feedback period: Summer 2026
  • Commissioner Read(s) anticipated: Fall 2026
  • Effective date anticipated: November of 2026
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grant. Colorado was awarded a planning grant for the 2025 calendar year from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). BHA and Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) are partnering to lead the effort to explore how the CCBHC model may complement Colorado’s Safety Net System, promoting the overall goal of integrated and accessible behavioral health care with sustainable funding practices. Please visit HCPF’s CCBHC Planning Grant webpage for additional information and stakeholder opportunities.
  • Impacted Rule Volume(s): Provider Rules, Administrative Rules
  • Impacted Chapter(s): To be determined
  • Draft language anticipated: To be determined
  • Open feedback period anticipated: To be determined
  • SBHS Read(s) anticipated: To be determined
  • Effective date anticipated: July 1, 2027 (if awarded demonstration)

Adopted rule updates

One rule packet was formally adopted during the State Board of Human Services (SBHS) hearing on November 7, 2025.  

• Provider Rules (2 CCR 502-1): “Chapter 15: Designation of Facilities Providing Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery Services.” This adopted rule will take effect on January 1, 2026. Until these rules are published on the Secretary of State website, please find the adopted rules packet in this 11 - November folder on the SBHS website under “h. DOCUMENT 2 Designating Facilities for Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery.”

Proposed rule updates

The following rule drafts are available for review and written feedback. Redline versions that identify specific changes to existing Chapters are in development and will be added as they become available.

Provider Rules: 2 CCR 502-1 - ASAM 4th Edition Aligned standards (proposed)

• Feedback period: January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026
• A feedback form will be made available beginning on January 1, 2026. Please bookmark this page for easy access to the feedback form on that date! 

Resources

• Summary of Proposed Changes
• (Coming soon!) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Chapters

• Chapter 1: General Statutory Authority, Definitions, and Standards
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 2: Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) Licensing Standards
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 3: Recovery Support Services
  • These standards have been incorporated into another Chapter. There is no Chapter 3 content to review at this time.
• Chapter 4: Behavioral Health Outpatient and High-Intensity Outpatient Services
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 5: Behavioral Health Residential Services
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 6: Crisis Services Standards
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 7: Emergency and Involuntary Substance Use Disorder Commitment Services
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 8: Services for Children and Families
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 9: Maternal and Perinatal Behavioral Health Treatment
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 10: Services for Criminal Justice-Involved Individuals
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 11: Designation of Facilities for the Care and Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders
  • clean PDF coming soon / redline PDF
• Chapter 12: Behavioral Health Safety Net Provider Approval Standards
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 13: Controlled Substance Services (CSL)
  • clean PDF coming soon / redline PDF
• Chapter 14: Recovery Support Services Organizations
  • clean PDF / redline PDF
• Chapter 15: Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery Services
  • These standards were recently adopted and take effect on January 1, 2026. There are no currently proposed changes to Chapter 15 as a result.

System/Commissioner Rules: 2 CCR 502-5

• Chapter 4: Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program (HB25-1132)
  • Although this is all newly proposed rule language, it is presented in sentence case for accessibility needs.
  • Feedback may be provided via this 2026 System Rule Feedback form or by email to cdhs_bharulefeedback@state.co.us.

Proposed rule feedback meetings

BHA invites all community members to preview the rule drafts and join one (1) or more of the scheduled in-person or virtual meetings to share their feedback. We will offer numerous opportunities for community input, both in-person and virtual, during this open comment period. ASAM transition-focused events are scheduled to run from January 5th, 2026, through the end of March 2026. 

While we are still finalizing the specifics, general information can be found on the calendar provided below. Registration and links for upcoming rule processes will be posted on this calendar as they become available. 

Contact us

Have questions or feedback for us? The information below will help you target your email to team that is best equipped to respond to you.

Provider-support questions and issues

Email address	Purpose	What to send here?	Monitored by
BHA_QS_Division@state.co.us	Email inbox that is equipped to handle a larger volume of emails that may contain sensitive information	Fingerprint-involved needs 27-65 questions Generic and/or onboarding-focused licensing inquiries	Q&S division supervisors and an onboarding licensing staff (able to assist with generic licensing inquiries)
cdhs_bha_provider_support@state.co.us	Data and a provider-focused email inbox that is equipped to handle technology and data-involved support needs	TMS needs DRS record requests Data needs (DACODS and/or CCAR) Central Registry needs	Data and technological support team
cdhs_ladders@state.co.us	Equipped to handle provider support needs related to the LADDERS licensing system	Access issues Adding or removing personnel to LADDERS system	LADDERS support team

Policy and rule feedback and concerns

Email address	Purpose	What to send here?	Monitored by
cdhs_bharulefeedback@state.co.us	Q&S email inbox that focuses on feedback and needs specific to BHA provider rules (2 CCR 502-1)	Suggestions for changes to the behavioral health rules Suggestions are welcome at all times, although changes can only be made through a rule promulgation process. BHA plans to undergo rule promulgation annually.	Safety Net licensing team
cdhs_bha_complaint@state.co.us	Q&S email inbox that focuses on complaints and grievances on any BHA licensed and/or designated agency	Complaints about BHA licensed and/or designated agency Concerns about the quality of services and standards of a BHA-licensed and/or designated agency	BHA Ombudsman Liaison and supports
cdhs_bha_feedback@state.co.us	Q&S email inbox that focuses on any constructive feedback for BHA	BHA feedback Stakeholder feedback for the new grievance system (in development)	BHA Ombudsman Liaison and supports