Since mid-September, the Behavioral Health Administration has hosted over ten sessions for behavioral health providers and other interested community members to provide feedback on rules designed to transform and improve the way people in Colorado receive behavioral health care.

Engagement from communities across the state, has allowed the agency to conduct additional sessions to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to make their voices heard. 

These rules will help set the expectations for providers and recipients of behavioral health services, and in addition, increase access to, and the quality of, safety net services across the behavioral health continuums in the state. The Behavioral Health Safety Net is a collection of behavioral health services that all people in Colorado can access where they live, when they need them.

This engagement effort joins on the heels of the announcement of the agency’s Five Priorities earlier this year. 

“We are  grateful for the engagement of our partners across the state thus far, and we look forward to additional engagement directly with the people that these rules are intended to serve. As we approach a formal hearing process to put the rules into the palace, it is of the utmost importance that they reflect the diverse needs and experiences of all people in Colorado,” said Commissioner Dannette R. Smith. 

There are three “categories” of rules that support the expansion of the behavioral health safety net: System Rules, Administrative Rules, and Provider Rules. BHA invites community members, including health care providers, to preview the rule drafts and join one of the scheduled in-person or virtual meetings to share their feedback: 

In-Person Meetings: RSVP for in-person meetings here.

1. Virtual – 6-8 p.m., Nov. 7
   • Zoom 
2. Steamboat Springs- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Nov. 12
   • Natural Grocers, 335 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat Springs
3. Summit County – 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Nov. 13
   • Frisco Community/Senior Center, 0083 Nancy’s Place, CR 1014, Frisco
4. Leadville – 4:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 13
   • TBD
5. Lamar – 1-3 p.m., Nov. 19
   • Lamar Public Library, 102 E Parmenter Lamar
6. Pueblo – 5-7 p.m. Nov. 20
   • TBD 

If you unable to attend one of the sessions, or would like to provide written feedback on any of the rule volumes, citizens are encouraged to send comments and questions via the 2024 Rules Feedback Google Form prior to Dec. 1. Ultimately, this feedback will support BHA’s efforts to ensure that all people in Colorado have easy access to the full continuums of behavioral health safety net services, close to where they live.

The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration is the state administration responsible for ensuring all people in Colorado have access to quality mental health and substance use disorder services, regardless of where they live, or ability to pay. As a regulatory body, BHA brings together community groups and governmental agencies to create a behavioral health system for all people in Colorado that is easy to access, and offers high-quality care that considers the whole person and their needs.

More information can be found at bha.colorado.gov.