(1) The general assembly finds and
declares that:
(a) On April 8, 2019, the Colorado behavioral health task force was created,
bringing together individuals representing diverse and balanced perspectives with
respect to issues such as adults, children, and families who are dealing with mental
health or substance use issues, key executive agencies representing state, local,
and tribal governments, criminal justice experts, advocacy groups, behavioral
health experts, and consumers;
(b) The mission of the behavioral health task force was to evaluate and
create a plan to improve the current behavioral health system in Colorado;
(c) The behavioral health task force focused on creating a behavioral health
system that includes equitable access to whole-person care;
(d) In September 2020, the behavioral health task force released its
blueprint, subcommittee, and COVID-19 special committee reports that outline its
vision for behavioral health reform; and
(e) The findings and recommendations of the task force indicate that it is
imperative that an improved behavioral health system in Colorado:
(I) Provide equitable and meaningful access to services and care for
Coloradans, regardless of ability to pay, co-occurring conditions, disability,
linguistics, geographic location, racial or ethnic identity, religion, socioeconomic
status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, housing status, history of criminal
justice involvement, payer source, culture, or any other factor;
(II) Provide access to care that:
(A) Integrates physical and behavioral health;
(B) Is culturally and linguistically responsive, trauma-informed, and tailored
to the individual and specific family needs; and
(C) Prioritizes all aspects of health, including wellness, and early
interventions and supports that help people stay successfully and meaningfully
connected to the community where they live, work, and play;
(III) Provides a continuum of services for children, youth, and adults,
including meeting the unique needs of children and youth. Young people have
different needs than adults and should be offered developmentally appropriate and
culturally competent services.
(IV) Provides access to quality and affordable services in a variety of
methods, including in-person and virtual services;
(V) Provides access to behavioral health services in regions and communities
without necessitating engagement with the criminal or juvenile justice systems;
(VI) Provides Coloradans with access to affordable care that keeps them
healthy, and administrative efficiencies across the behavioral health-care industry
align with payment models and incentives that drive quality and improved
outcomes;
(VII) Includes a high-quality, trained, culturally responsive, trauma-informed,
and diverse professional behavioral health workforce that delivers outcomes and
equitable access to care; and
(VIII) Provides Coloradans with an opportunity to achieve and maintain
mental wellness by addressing social determinants of health, such as housing,
transportation, and employment, in addition to the integration of physical and
behavioral health care.
(2) The general assembly further finds that in implementing the findings and
recommendations of the Colorado behavioral health task force it is imperative to
rely on all stakeholders working together to hold the behavioral health system
accountable to ensure all Coloradans are receiving the care needed to fulfill the
task force's aim of ensuring a quality behavioral health system.
(3) Therefore, the general assembly declares that, to ensure a standard of
high-quality, integrated, and consumer-centric access to behavioral health-care
services, it is imperative that the recommendations and findings included in the
blueprint created by the Colorado behavioral health task force be followed and that
a single state agency, known as the behavioral health administration, be
established to lead and promote the state's behavioral health priorities. It is
imperative that the behavioral health administration transform the state's current
behavioral health system by:
(a) Coordinating and integrating the delivery of behavioral health services in
Colorado;
(b) Setting standards for the behavioral health system to improve the quality
and equity of care;
(c) Ensuring that behavioral health services respond to the changing needs
of communities, monitor state and local outcomes, support tribal needs, and
evaluate state efforts;
(d) Improving equitable access to, quality of, and affordability of behavioral
health services for Coloradans;
(e) Preserving and building upon the integration of behavioral and physical
health care that treats the whole person;
(f) Leading and promoting Colorado's priority of addressing the increasing
need for behavioral health services;
(g) Eliminating unnecessary fragmentation of services and streamlining
access;
(h) Addressing social determinants of health as a core component of
behavioral health outcomes;
(i) Promoting transparency and accountability of behavioral health reform
outcomes and spending of taxpayer dollars; and
(j) Reducing administrative burden on behavioral health-care providers so
they are able to focus on client care.