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January is Substance Use DisorderTreatment Month |
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As January comes to a close, we continue to recognize Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month and reaffirm that substance use disorder is a chronic, treatable health condition—and that recovery is possible with timely, evidence-based care.
Colorado’s community behavioral health providers play a critical role in delivering compassionate, person-centered treatment and recovery supports year-round. CBHC remains committed to reducing stigma and advocating for policies and investments that strengthen access to the full continuum of SUD services so individuals and families can thrive in every community. |
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| | Now Accepting Proposals for the 2026 CBHC Annual Behavioral Health Conference |
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| We’re excited to announce that CBHC is now accepting session proposals for the 2026 Annual Behavioral Health Conference: Meeting the Moment for Communities! This premier event brings together behavioral health specialists, policymakers, partners, and students from across Colorado for learning, networking, and collaboration.
The conference will take place September 30 – October 3, 2026, at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, CO, and will explore pressing issues and practical solutions across mental health, substance use disorders, social determinants of health, and more.
We invite leaders, clinicians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience to submit proposals for breakout sessions and workshops that reflect innovation, collaboration, and actionable learning. Recommended topics include clinical care, recovery supports, policy and system transformation, equity and inclusion, crisis care, and emerging community needs.
Don’t miss this opportunity to shape a powerful program that supports Colorado’s behavioral health workforce and inspires collective action. Submit your proposal today via the CBHC conference page. |
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| | | The Second Regular Session of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly |
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| It’s a particularly warm season for Colorado, and the same can be said of the General Assembly as it kicked off this month. Legislators opened with high hopes for a session marked by collegiality and bipartisan resolve. Despite that initial warmth, an $850 million budget shortfall looms large, creating a more somber environment. As legislators go about their business this session, they are tasked with creating legislation with little to no fiscal note. This means little to no funding for new programs, fewer opportunities for investment, increased scrutiny of existing services, and a heightened risk that gains made in recent years could stall or erode. That fiscal reality may explain the slower rollout of bills this year. Despite the constrained environment, legislators are still advancing bills that seek to impact the behavioral health workforce, mental health access, and bridge the care gap. Here are a few bills we’re tracking:
HB26-1002: Provider Participation in Health Insurance. This bill requires health plans (including Medicaid) to keep directories up to date so patients know who is actually accepting new patients. It speeds up the credentialing process for mental health and substance use providers and requires insurers to reimburse for services offered by “pre-licensed” counselors working under supervision. Additionally, it sets a specific requirement for social workers to complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice to earn their license. For safety net providers, these changes could reduce administrative burden, accelerate workforce onboarding, and expand service capacity.
SB26-008: Mental Health Access. Modeled after the IMatter program for youth, this bill provides adults with up to six free mental health sessions. It creates a digital “one-stop shop” portal and is funded by a new monthly surcharge on Colorado internet service accounts. While this legislation seeks to increase access to behavioral health services for adults, implementation details—such as provider reimbursement rates and integration with existing community services—will be critical to understand for safety net participation.
SB26-004: Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Order. This bill expands who can ask a court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). It allows healthcare facilities, behavioral health centers, and schools (K-12 and colleges) to act as institutional petitioners. This means these organizations, along with mental health professionals and emergency co-responders, can now directly petition the court if they believe an individual poses a significant risk to themselves or others. This expansion recognizes the role behavioral health providers play in violence prevention, while also raising important questions about liability, training, and operational protocols for institutional petitioners.
CBHC will continue to track and analyze legislation affecting behavioral health providers throughout the session. You can access the full bill tracker here. |
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Key Partner Spotlight:Healthier Colorado |
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| This month, we are thrilled to spotlight our partner, Healthier Colorado, a nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring every person in our state has a fair chance at a healthy life. From the halls of the State Capitol to local ballot initiatives, they are a powerhouse for systemic change—advancing policies that support the physical, mental, and social health of everyday Coloradans. Through a blend of lobbying, research, and grassroots advocacy, they work to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent people from thriving. What sets Healthier Colorado apart is their pragmatic approach to politics. Guided by the belief that there are “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests,” they build bridges across partisan divides and forge alliances with nontraditional partners. That approach has produced an impressive track record. In just the last five years, they have helped pass 49 priority bills and 41 state and local ballot initiatives, the majority with bipartisan support. Since the 2021 youth mental health state of emergency, Healthier Colorado has been a key driver in turning the tide, particularly through advocacy for: i Matter: Permanent funding for free youth therapy sessions CoPPCAP: Enhancing pediatric psychiatry consultation and access Digital Safety: Pushing legislation to address the mental health impacts of social media
Read on to learn how CBHC and Healthier Colorado partnered to stabilize the safety net after Medicaid unwinding—and what’s ahead. The collaboration between CBHC and Healthier Colorado has been pivotal, especially following the 2024 Medicaid “unwinding.” Together with a broad coalition, we successfully passed SB25-290: Stabilization Payments for Safety Net Providers. This landmark bill established a Provider Stabilization Fund to support clinics serving low-income and uninsured Coloradans. This partnership helped ensure behavioral health providers were recognized as essential infrastructure during a critical transition period. “Our partnership with CBHC has provided us with a deeper insight into the needs of safety net providers… helping to shape our organization’s prioritization of policies that strengthen Colorado’s safety net system.” — Healthier Colorado Team Looking forward, our organizations are committed to implementing SB25-290 with fidelity and continuing our work in the Save Our Safety Net coalition to educate lawmakers on the unique challenges facing behavioral health providers. Get Involved & Save the Date!Healthier Colorado invites the CBHC community to join their upcoming events and advocacy efforts: |
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| | Colorado Secures Over $200 Million for Rural Health Transformation |
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| Late last year, federal legislation (H.R. 1) established the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Just before the New Year, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) received confirmation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that Colorado has been awarded just over $200 million for the program’s initial phase, covering December 2025 through September 2027. This award represents the first installment of an anticipated $1 billion federal investment in Colorado through 2030. Rural Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) will be eligible to apply for these funds to help strengthen Colorado’s rural behavioral health safety net. “This award is exciting and important news for Colorado. The Rural Health Transformation Program is a major opportunity to strengthen rural and frontier health systems and further integrate behavioral health—ensuring communities across the state can access timely, whole-person care close to home. Behavioral health is a foundational element of overall health, and sustainable rural systems depend on its full integration across the continuum of care. CBHC and our members look forward to partnering with HCPF and the state to help ensure behavioral health is fully realized in the design and implementation of this transformative effort.”
— Kara Johnson-Hufford, CEO, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council While this funding is a historic win, it comes with strict federal non-supplanting requirements. RHTP funds cannot be used to backfill lost revenue, replace existing state or local funding, or cover ongoing operating expenses. Instead, funding must support new initiatives that didn’t exist prior to the grant, service expansions to reach new rural or frontier populations, and/or transformative milestones like technology-enabled care or innovative workforce models. The RHTP will serve all 52 rural and frontier counties and Colorado’s two federally recognized Tribes, focusing on: Frontier Access: Closing specialty gaps in the 23 frontier counties lacking behavioral health and OB/GYN services. Chronic Disease Management: Reducing preventable hospitalizations in 29 high-need rural counties. Integrated Support: Investing in CMHCs, FQHCs, and tribal providers to improve administrative efficiency. Tribal Health: Partnering with Tribes on crisis care and substance use treatment.
As the state transitions into the implementation phase, next steps include formation of the RHTP Advisory Committee, which will include rural and behavioral health representation, and release of a formal Request for Applications (RFA) for eligible providers. CBHC will continue working closely with HCPF to ensure the behavioral health safety net remains a central pillar of this historic $1 billion transformation. Learn more. |
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| | BHA Releases ASAM 4th Edition Rule Revisions |
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| In December, Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) released a draft of updated provider rules (2 CCR 502-1), marking a significant shift in how substance use disorder treatment and related behavioral health services are regulated in the state. The proposed changes align Colorado’s rules with the ASAM 4th Edition Criteria, a nationally recognized framework designed to support more integrated, person-centered care. A formal public comment period is open January 1 through March 31, 2026, giving providers, advocates, and community members an opportunity to weigh in before the rules are finalized. Full implementation is anticipated by July 1, 2027. The proposed rules reorganize and update standards across the behavioral health system to improve consistency, integration, and quality of care. Key changes include: Updated Levels of Care: Revisions to outpatient, intensive outpatient, withdrawal management, and residential services to better align treatment with patient needs across the full continuum of care. Crisis Care Alignment: Updates to crisis service standards, including consolidation of certain crisis facility types, to improve coordination during behavioral health emergencies. Safety Net & Peer Services: New requirements for safety net providers and updated placement of peer support standards within the core provider rules.
CBHC is coordinating feedback from behavioral health providers across the state to help ensure the final rules support high-quality care, protect access for vulnerable populations, and remain workable for community-based providers. We encourage providers to review the draft language on the BHA Laws & Rules webpage to identify potential clinical or operational impacts. CBHC will continue engaging with BHA throughout the rulemaking process and will share updates as opportunities arise for public input and education. |
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Thank you to everyone who joined CBHC at our Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, January 27. It was an energizing and impactful day of connection, advocacy, and shared commitment to strengthening Colorado’s behavioral health system. We are grateful to all who participated and helped elevate the voices of community behavioral health across the state. |
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CBHC is grateful to Ross Brooks of the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) for joining our January Board Meeting to discuss connections between CBHC and CCHN members. We appreciate his engagement and continued partnership in strengthening Colorado’s community health and behavioral health systems. Learn more about CCHN. |
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| | Mental Health First Aid Colorado |
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| | FY 2026–2027 MHFA $210,000 Proposed Budget Cut The state budget line for Mental Health First Aid is currently facing a proposed $210,000 budget cut for FY 2026– 2027. CBHC-MHFACO will be actively advocating against this reduction now through April 2026, when the final budget decision will be made. During this time, CBHC- MHFACO is asking coordinators, trainers, and first aiders to support advocacy efforts by reaching out to your legislators and members of the Joint Budget Committee. Sharing your Mental Health First Aid stories and the impact of this work can make a critical difference. |
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MHFACO Grant Funding for MHFA Certification Classes MHFACO will be offering targeted, cost-covered community Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification classes from April through May 2026. These classes are not population-specific and are open to the broader community. MHFACO will be supporting the trainings and providing grant funding to MHFA programs to support hosting monthly trainings as part of the “Spring into MHFA Knowledge” initiative.
March 25–27, 2026: Virtual Youth MHFA Instructor Training MHFACO will host a Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor Training from March 25–27, 2026. Applications to participate are open from January 29 through February 29, 2026. Please apply HERE. |
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| | Diversus Health
In this Culture By Design podcast episode, Adam Roberts, President and CEO of Diversus Health, shares how intentional culture change helped reduce turnover and strengthen teams. He discusses why culture can’t be left to chance, how to lead through resistance, and practical ways values and metrics can support a healthier, more resilient workplace. Listen to the full episode here.
Health Solutions
After the closure of West Springs Psychiatric Hospital — once the only inpatient psychiatric facility between Denver and Salt Lake City — the region faces both challenges and opportunities in behavioral health care. While the hospital’s end marked a difficult transition for local services, the newly established Health Solutions West is stepping in with renewed focus and commitment to support the community’s mental health needs and build a stronger network of care moving forward. Read the full article here.
Aurora Mental Health & Recovery
Aurora Mental Health and Recovery has opened a new one-stop behavioral health facility — the Potomac Pavilion — making it easier for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises to get help fast. The center will offer same-day walk-in mental health services, a 24/7 crisis walk-in clinic, a crisis stabilization unit and detox programs, all under one roof. The phased opening begins with Connect to Care later this month, followed by around-the-clock crisis and withdrawal management services. Read the full article here.
Health Solutions
Mental health support in Craig just got more accessible — new clients can now get same‑day appointments for counseling and therapy services, helping people connect with care quickly when they’re ready to take the first step. This change aims to reduce barriers to care and support timely access to mental health treatment for individuals and families in the community here.
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Jefferson Center for Mental Health joins Colorado & Company to share tips and resources for supporting mental wellness and living your best life. The segment highlights how the center offers counseling, crisis services, and community support to help people strengthen resilience and wellbeing. Read the full article here.
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Jefferson Center for Mental Health’s Youth Crisis Stabilization Program provides immediate, trauma‑informed care for kids and teens experiencing acute mental health crises. As one of Colorado’s few dedicated youth crisis stabilization units, the program offers short‑term therapeutic support — including individual, group, and family therapy — with a focus on improving coping skills, family communication, and smooth transitions back to home or community care. Read the full article here. |
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