Senate Passes Pair of Bills to Expand Behavioral Health Care Access

Legislation would improve and expand treatment options for Coloradans

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved two bills to improve behavioral health outcomes and expand inpatient and residential treatment options.

HB22-1302, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, will invest $35 million to improve behavioral health outcomes by better integrating physical and behavioral health care.

“Anyone who has tried to access behavioral health care in Colorado knows how hard it is to navigate the system as it is today,” said Jaquez Lewis. “That’s why we’re working to streamline how we deliver care and meet people where they are before a crisis occurs. This bill will ensure that primary care physicians are better equipped to connect patients with the appropriate behavioral health services they need.”

The bill will provide grants to primary care practices to integrate behavioral health care into their clinical models, helping Coloradans access whole person care and early behavioral health interventions before a crisis occurs. This transformational investment will increase access to mental health and substance use disorder screening and treatment and help coordinate referrals to other levels of care.

The Senate also approved HB22-1303, sponsored by Senator Faith Winter, D-Wesminster, and Senator Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, which will invest $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options for adults in our state. Currently, Colorado lacks the residential treatment beds needed to treat individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occuring conditions.

“Far too many of our neighbors are struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders. We must increase our capacity to support folks in need of urgent, immediate care,” said Winter. “This legislation will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for folks in need, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.”

This bill supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and a further 125 residential treatment beds across the state for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need long-term services and support. The facilities will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals awaiting competency restoration services.

Both bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.

Both bills now head to the House for final concurrence on amendments. Track the progress of HB22-1302 HERE, and HB22-1303 HERE.