C.R.S. Section 27-50-302
Requirement to serve priority populations

  • screening and triage for individuals in need of behavioral health services
  • referrals

(1)

Except as provided in this section, comprehensive community behavioral health providers must provide the safety net services listed in section 27-50-101 (11) to priority populations.

(2)

Except as provided in section 27-50-303, essential behavioral health safety net providers shall provide the safety net service or services that they contract with the behavioral health administrative services organization or managed care entity to provide to priority populations.

(3)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, emergency and crisis services must be available to any individual who is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, regardless of whether the individual is a priority population.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

When a priority population client initiates treatment with a behavioral health safety net provider, prior to the intake the provider shall complete an initial screening and triage process to determine urgency and appropriateness of care with the provider.

(b)

The behavioral health safety net provider shall use standard criteria, as determined by the BHA, for determining whether a client’s needs exceed the clinical expertise of the provider.

(c)

If a priority population client’s needs exceed the treatment capacity or clinical expertise of an essential behavioral health safety net provider, the provider shall refer the client to another appropriate provider.

(d)

If a priority population client’s needs exceed the treatment capacity or clinical expertise of a comprehensive community behavioral health provider, the provider must ensure that the client has access to interim behavioral health services in a timely manner until the client is connected to the most appropriate provider for ongoing care. This may include use of providers within the network of the behavioral health administrative services organization or the regional managed care entity.

(e)

The comprehensive community behavioral health provider shall obtain approval from the behavioral health administrative services organization under which the provider is operating, or the regional managed care entity for medicaid clients, prior to referring a priority population client to alternative services; except that an individual experiencing a behavioral health crisis may be referred to emergency or crisis services without prior approval.

(f)

A behavioral health safety net provider shall include services that address the language, ability, and cultural barriers, as necessary, to serve communities of color and other underserved populations.

(5)

When referring a client to alternative services, a behavioral health safety net provider shall assist the client in identifying and initiating services with an appropriate provider for ongoing care. As appropriate, the behavioral health safety net provider shall use the behavioral health administrative services organization or, for medicaid clients, the regional managed care entity for care coordination.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Behavioral health safety net providers shall track the following information for all individuals who were referred to alternative services pursuant to this section:

(I)

Client demographics;

(II)

Standardized descriptions of the needs of the client that could not be met and require the client to be referred to another provider;

(III)

The outcome and timeliness of the referral; and

(IV)

Any other information required by the BHA.

(b)

The provider shall provide the report at regular intervals to the BHA and to either the behavioral health administrative services organization under which the provider is operating or, for medicaid clients, to the managed care entity.

Source: Section 27-50-302 — Requirement to serve priority populations - screening and triage for individuals in need of behavioral health services - referrals, 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

§ 27-50-302’s source at colorado​.gov