Bridges’ Bipartisan Bill to Invest $72 Million to Bolster Behavioral Health Workforce Clears Committee
Legislation would boost workforce to improve access to care for Coloradans with behavioral health needs
DENVER, CO – The Health and Human Services Committee today approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges (D-Greenwood Village) that would increase the state’s health care workforce to better meet the needs of Coloradans and improve patient outcomes. The legislation was developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.
SB22-181, co-sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson (R-Alamosa), directs the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to develop and implement a workforce plan to invest $72 million to bolster, diversify, and stabilize the state’s behavioral health care workforce, which will help more Coloradans access the critical care they need.
“If we want to achieve our goal of transforming Colorado’s behavioral health system, then we need a robust workforce to help us do it,” said Bridges. “With this bill, we’re going to make a significant investment to expand our behavioral health workforce so we can address our workforce shortage, better meet the needs of patients, and improve patient outcomes.”
The bill will invest a total of $72 million to support Colorado’s behavioral health workforce, including:
$10 million to recruit and retain providers who better represent the communities they serve.
$6 million to help Colorado colleges and universities promote the behavioral health field and to allow students to participate in activities like job shadowing and internships so students of all backgrounds can explore a career in behavioral health.
$20 million for the Colorado Health Service Corps, an existing program that allows behavioral health care providers working in designated health professional shortage areas to apply for funding to repay qualifying educational loans.
$20 million to create and implement a behavioral health care training curriculum that provides tiered advancement opportunities in collaboration with community colleges and institutions of higher education.
$6 million to expand the number of peer support specialists in Colorado. Peer support specialists are individuals with lived experience who can help others going through similar experiences, and are a critical component of the behavioral health workforce.
$5 million to offer professional development opportunities that improve skills for behavioral health care professionals to better serve people in the criminal justice system, improve cultural competency, and expand professional development opportunities.
$5 million to further leverage existing workforce development programs, establish standards to ensure a quality workforce, and reduce administrative burden so that providers can spend more time focusing on patient care.
The bill now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.