C.R.S. Section 27-50-301
Behavioral health safety net system implementation

(1)

No later than July 1, 2024, the BHA, in collaboration with the department of health care policy and financing and the department of public health and environment, shall establish a comprehensive and standardized behavioral health safety net system throughout the state that must include behavioral health safety net services for children, youth, and adults, including adults who have a serious mental illness and children and youth who have a serious emotional disturbance, along a continuum of care.

(2)

The BHA shall ensure that all Coloradans have access to the behavioral health safety net system, which must:

(a)

Proactively engage priority populations with adequate case management and care coordination throughout the care continuum;

(b)

Promote competency in de-escalation techniques;

(c)

Develop, maintain, and utilize adequate networks for timely access to treatment, including high-intensity behavioral health treatment and community-based treatment for children, youth, and adults;

(d)

Require collaboration with all state and local law enforcement jurisdictions and counties in the service area, including judicial districts and county departments of human or social services;

(e)

Triage individuals who need services outside the scope of the behavioral health safety net system;

(f)

Incorporate and demonstrate trauma-informed care practices;

(g)

Promote patient-centered care and cultural awareness;

(h)

Update information as requested by the BHA about available treatment options and outcomes in each region of the state;

(i)

Prioritize relevant programs or services eligible for federal grants or reimbursement, including relevant programs or services identified in the federal Title IV-E prevention services clearinghouse;

(j)

Utilize evidence-based or evidence-informed programming to promote quality services; and

(k)

Meet any other criteria established by the BHA.

(3)

In establishing the standardized and comprehensive behavioral health safety net system, the BHA shall:

(a)

In collaboration with state agencies and the advisory council created pursuant to section 27-50-701, establish and routinely assess what types of behavioral health services are provided on a community, regional, and statewide basis for children, youth, and adults. The BHA shall ensure that, at a minimum, the following behavioral health safety net services are available for children, youth, and adults statewide:

(I)

Emergency or crisis behavioral health services;

(II)

Mental health and substance use outpatient services;

(III)

Behavioral health high-intensity outpatient services;

(IV)

Behavioral health residential services;

(V)

Withdrawal management services;

(VI)

Behavioral health inpatient services;

(VII)

Mental health and substance use recovery supports;

(VIII)

Integrated care services;

(IX)

Care management;

(X)

Outreach, education, and engagement services;

(XI)

Outpatient competency restoration;

(XII)

Care coordination;

(XIII)

Hospital alternatives;

(XIV)

Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment, crisis planning, and monitoring to key health indicators; and

(XV)

Additional services that the BHA determines are necessary in a region or throughout the state.

(b)

When routinely assessing the services available regionally and statewide, as required in subsection (3)(a) of this section, assess adequacy of funding and resources necessary to implement the behavioral health system plan pursuant to section 27-50-204;

(c)

Set clinical and practice standards and health, safety, and welfare standards, including standards specific to children and youth, when appropriate, through the licensing of behavioral health entities and the approval of behavioral health safety net providers;

(d)

Establish statewide, regional, and local behavioral health network adequacy standards, including standards specific to children and youth, when appropriate; and

(e)

Implement a behavioral health administrative services organization structure pursuant to part 4 of this article 50.

(4)

Except as provided in section 27-50-303, behavioral health safety net providers shall not refuse to treat an individual based on the individual’s:

(a)

Insurance coverage, lack of insurance coverage, or ability to pay;

(b)

Clinical acuity level related to the individual’s behavioral health condition or conditions, including whether the individual has been certified for short-term treatment or long-term care and treatment pursuant to article 65 of this title 27;

(c)

Readiness to transition out of the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo, the Colorado mental health institute at Fort Logan, or any other mental health institute or licensed facility providing inpatient psychiatric services or acute care hospital providing stabilization because the individual no longer requires inpatient care and treatment;

(d)

Involvement in the criminal or juvenile justice system;

(e)

Current involvement in the child welfare system;

(f)

Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, physical disability, or intellectual or developmental disability, irrespective of primary diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, or if an individual requires assistance with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, as defined in section 12-270-104 (6);

(g)

Displays of aggressive behavior, or history of aggressive behavior, as a symptom of a diagnosed mental health disorder or substance use disorder;

(h)

Clinical presentation or behavioral presentation in any previous interaction with a provider;

(i)

Place of residence; or

(j)

Disability, age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, or tribal affiliation.

(5)

The BHA may promulgate rules or determine other appropriate processes to approve behavioral health providers as behavioral health safety net providers. Behavioral health providers that do not hold a license from the BHA but are otherwise licensed or authorized to provide behavioral health services in the state of Colorado are eligible to be approved as behavioral health safety net providers.

Source: Section 27-50-301 — Behavioral health safety net system implementation, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-27.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

27‑50‑101
Definitions 27‑50‑102
Behavioral health administration - creation - coordination - health oversight agency 27‑50‑103
Behavioral health commissioner - appointment - powers, duties, and functions - subdivisions of the BHA 27‑50‑104
Powers and duties of the commissioner - rules 27‑50‑105
Administration of behavioral health programs - state plan - sole mental health authority - gifts, grants, or donations 27‑50‑106
Transfer of functions 27‑50‑107
State board of human services - rules 27‑50‑108
Systemwide behavioral health grievance system 27‑50‑201
Behavioral health system monitoring - capacity - safety net performance 27‑50‑202
Formal agreements - state agencies and tribal governments 27‑50‑203
Universal contracting provisions - requirements 27‑50‑204
Reporting 27‑50‑301
Behavioral health safety net system implementation 27‑50‑302
Requirement to serve priority populations - screening and triage for individuals in need of behavioral health services - referrals 27‑50‑303
Essential behavioral health safety net providers - approval to serve limited priority populations 27‑50‑304
Behavioral health safety net provider network - incentives - preferred status - rules 27‑50‑401
Regional behavioral health administrative services organizations - establishment 27‑50‑402
Behavioral health administrative services organizations - application - designation - denial - revocation 27‑50‑403
Behavioral health administrative services organizations - contract requirements - individual access - care coordination 27‑50‑404
Care coordination - responsibilities of behavioral health administrative services organizations - coordination with managed care entities 27‑50‑405
Behavioral health administrative services organizations - stakeholder input - report - rules 27‑50‑501
Behavioral health entities - license required - criminal and civil penalties 27‑50‑502
Behavioral health entities - minimum standard - rules 27‑50‑503
Licenses - application - inspection - issuance 27‑50‑504
License fees - rules 27‑50‑505
License - denial - suspension - revocation 27‑50‑506
Behavioral health licensing cash fund - creation 27‑50‑507
Employee and contracted service provider - criminal history record check 27‑50‑508
Enforcement 27‑50‑509
Purchase of services by courts, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions 27‑50‑510
Behavioral health entities - consumer information - reporting - release - rules 27‑50‑601
Department of health care policy and financing - behavioral health network standards 27‑50‑602
Division of insurance behavioral health network standards 27‑50‑603
State agency behavioral health network and program standards 27‑50‑701
Behavioral health administration advisory council - creation 27‑50‑702
Advisory council - membership 27‑50‑703
Advisory council - regional subcommittees - subcommittees - working groups 27‑50‑801
Veteran suicide prevention pilot program - rules - report - definitions - repeal 27‑50‑802
Study of health effects of felonizing fentanyl possession - repeal 27‑50‑803
Technical assistance to jails - appropriation - repeal 27‑50‑901
Short title 27‑50‑902
Definitions 27‑50‑903
Sixth through twelfth grade mental health screening program - created - rules
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 27-50-301’s source at colorado​.gov