Connecting Colorado to a streamlined network of mental health, substance use and crisis services
DENVER (July 9, 2025) - The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), today celebrated the launch of Colorado LIFTS (Linking Individuals and Families To Services). Colorado LIFTS is Colorado’s streamlined network of safety net behavioral health services, including crisis, substance use and mental health support. From today forward, anyone in Colorado, no matter their insurance status or where they live in the state, can connect directly with care navigation support to help them begin or continue their journey to whole-person health.
The behavioral health community gathered on the steps of the Capitol for a rally and resource fair, highlighting the kinds of services available through this streamlined network, which receives public funding, coordinated through newly created Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations, to provide low- or no-cost care to uninsured and underinsured people in Colorado.
“Since taking office, our administration has been committed to increasing behavioral health support for people across our great state. People deserve to have access to the care they need, when they need it. This new effort will help streamline services and break down barriers for Coloradans,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“Access to behavioral healthcare shouldn’t depend on your income, your zip code or your ability to navigate a complicated system,” said Lt. Governor and Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care, Dianne Primavera. “With Colorado LIFTS, we’re breaking down those barriers and making it easier for people to get the care they need. This is a major step forward in our commitment to building a healthier, more accessible Colorado — where support is within reach for everyone.”
“With the launch of Colorado LIFTS, our state is leaping closer to a future where everyone in the state has easy access to high-quality behavioral healthcare. On Day One, all people in Colorado will now have a coordinated system to access when they need support navigating their way to the right care,” said BHA Commissioner Dannette R. Smith. “The first year of Colorado LIFTS will be all about identifying gaps in the system and working in close collaboration with our partners across the state to ensure that the Colorado LIFTS network can adapt over time to meet the unique and diverse needs of each community it serves.”
“We’re honored to help launch the Colorado LIFTS network as one of the first Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations,” said Meg Taylor, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Rocky Mountain Health Plans. “In its first year, Colorado LIFTS will focus on connecting people to care and working with providers and communities to build solutions that improve access to behavioral healthcare.”
“Change is one of the hardest things to achieve in healthcare, but thanks to the leadership of Governor Polis and Commissioner Smith, we have seen a commitment to addressing what has not been working in behavioral health,” said Daniel Darting, CEO of Signal. “It is an honor to play a role in creating the Colorado LIFTS network. As we enter this new era, we are committed to work each day to make access to high-quality care easier and better for the people of Colorado.”
There are three ways that uninsured or underinsured people in Colorado will be able to connect to low- or no-cost care in the Colorado LIFTS network: by calling the Colorado LIFTS care navigation line in their region, conducting their own search using the OwnPath Care Directory or receiving a screening from a Colorado LIFTS provider. Anyone seeking support with care navigation, including those with private insurance or Medicaid, can find their Colorado LIFTS care navigation phone number by entering their zip code at ownpath.co.
For more information, check out the Colorado LIFTS media toolkit and FAQs, or visit ownpath.co/about. A recording of the launch press conference is also available on YouTube.
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About the Behavioral Health Administration
The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is the state administration responsible for ensuring all people in Colorado have access to quality mental health and substance use disorder services, regardless of where they live, or ability to pay. As a regulatory body, BHA brings together community groups and governmental agencies to create a behavioral health system for all people in Colorado that is easy to access and offers high-quality care that considers the whole person and their needs. Find us online at https://bha.colorado.gov/.