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. They are organized by anticipated effective dates, with the earliest listed first. 

• Imminent updates to Provider and Administrative Rule volumes. Visit the “Adopted Rule Updates” section for more information.
• Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery (EDTR) designation. These standards will be new to Colorado and require designations for providers of EDTR services based on the level of care they provide. 
  • Impacted Rule Volume(s): Provider Rules
  • Impacted Chapter: Ch. 15 (new)
  • Draft language posted: July 1 (available in the “proposed rule updates” section)
  • Open feedback period anticipated: July 1 - September 7 (feedback link available in the “proposed rule updates” section)
  • SBHS Read(s) anticipated: October and November of 2025
  • Effective date anticipated: December 30, 2025
• 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 posting anticipated: TBD
  • Open feedback period anticipated: TBD
  • SBHS Read(s) anticipated: TBD
  • 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
• 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

Two rule volume updates were adopted during the State Board of Human Services (SBHS) hearing on June 6, 2025. A non-exhaustive summary of updates is provided below. Please review the documents in full to understand potential impacts to your agency.

• Provider Rules (2 CCR 502-1): “Controlled Substance Licensing and Safety Net Approval Updates.” These updates will take effect on August 1, 2025. The SBHS tracking number for this packet is 23-01-26-01. This update:
  • Adds statutorily required standards regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for minors and age of consent for feeding tubes.
  • Removes bedded crisis services from the Comprehensive Provider approval list. 
  • Adds “authorized practitioner” to references of “licensee” across the volume. 
  • Updates and transfers Controlled Substance Licensing (CSL) and Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) standards from legacy rule into the Chapter structure.
  • Transfers Recovery Support Services Organization (RSSO) approvals from legacy rule into the Chapter structure. 
• Administrative Rules (2 CCR 502-6): “Behavioral Health Administrative Rules.” These updates will take effect on August 1, 2025. The SBHS tracking number for this packet is 25-01-31-01. This update:
  • Establishes eligibility criteria for the children and youth’s system of care.
  • Sets cultural competency standards for providers of residential services to children.
  • Moves the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) standards from legacy provider rule into the Administrative Rule volume.

Proposed rule updates

The following rule draft is available for review and written feedback.

Provider Rules: 2 CCR 502-1

• Chapter 15: Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery designation (new rule language, presented in sentence case for accessibility needs)
  • Feedback period: July 1 - September 7, 2025. Feedback may be provided via the 2025 Feedback on BHA Rule Volumes Form or by email to cdhs_bharulefeedback@state.co.us 

Coming soon - Provider Rules: 2 CCR 502-1

• ASAM 4th Edition Aligned standards (updates levels of care and licensing requirements, Chapters 1 through 14) - more information about the rule draft release is coming soon

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. 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