Senate Passes Bipartisan Lee Bill to Streamline and Improve Colorado’s Behavioral Health System
Legislation would help improve access to services for folks with behavioral health needs, expand treatment options
DENVER, CO – The Senate today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, to streamline and improve Colorado’s behavioral health system.
HB22-1278, co-sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will help increase and streamline access to behavioral health services for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders through the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).
“Coloradans deserve easy access to the behavioral health care they need to maintain their health and well-being, but far too many folks are left with limited or no options for help,” Lee said. “Accessing our behavioral health system can be complex and difficult, which is why we’re pushing for the creation of a Behavioral Health Administration to help streamline services for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. With this bill, we will be able to ensure accessible, equitable and high quality care for all.”
The legislation would establish a comprehensive, accountable behavioral health safety net system available in every region of Colorado. This includes 15 different critical behavioral health services including substance use, crisis services, criminal justice diversion, trauma informed care, youth services and more.
The BHA will consolidate behavioral health networks into one behavioral health administrative services organization (BHASO) per region. The push for this legislation stems from patient frustration surrounding disjointed behavioral health care services. With this bill, patients would be able to more easily access behavioral health services in their community.
By July 1, 2024, the bill requires the BHA to establish:
Universal standards for accessibility and quality of care;
A behavioral health performance monitoring system;
A comprehensive behavioral health safety net system;
Regionally-based behavioral health administrative service organizations to ensure every region in Colorado has accessible and high quality services; and
A statewide behavioral health grievance system.
The bill now moves to the House for final concurrence. Track the progress of the bill HERE.