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Hope, Connection, and the Power of Community |
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September invites us to pause and reflect on two important observances that are deeply connected to the work we do every day: National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
This month, we recognize the many paths to recovery and celebrate the individuals, families, peers, providers, and communities who make healing, connection, and hope possible. We also renew our commitment to |
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| suicide prevention by recognizing the importance of reaching out, listening without judgment, and ensuring that people know they are not alone and that
Recovery is not one-size-fits-all, and prevention is not the responsibility of any one person or organization. Both remind us of the power of connection and the importance of building communities where people can find support, belonging, and opportunities to move forward.
As we move through September, CBHC is grateful for the behavioral health professionals, peer specialists, advocates, families, and community partners who continue this work every day. Together, we can strengthen systems of support, reduce stigma, and help create communities where recovery is possible and hope has a place to grow.
Thank you for all that you do for the people and communities you serve, and for being part of the CBHC network. |
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The 2026 CBHC Annual Behavioral Health Conference is Almost Here! |
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We’re less than a week away from gathering in Breckenridge for the 2026 CBHC Annual Behavioral Health Training Conference, September 30–October 3 at Beaver Run Resort!
This year’s theme, “Meeting the Moment for Communities,” reflects the challenges and opportunities facing Colorado’s behavioral health system and the importance of coming together to learn, connect, and move the work forward.
With more than 40 breakout sessions across Board, Business, and Clinical tracks, along with inspiring keynote presentations from Johnny Crowder and Dr. Amer Kaissi, this year’s conference offers something for everyone working to strengthen behavioral health across Colorado.
We’re also looking forward to several special opportunities throughout the week, including our AI pre-conference workshop, networking opportunities, the Special Board Session and Awards Lunch, and time to reconnect with colleagues from across the state.
As we put the finishing touches on the conference, we are grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, and energy to make this event possible. We can’t wait to see you in Breckenridge!
If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to join us. We look forward to meeting the moment with you! |
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Under the Golden Dome: Medicaid Commission Examines Financing |
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The Interim Medicaid Commission has held eight of its 12 authorized meetings, examining Colorado’s Medicaid delivery system, financing, provider reimbursement, program integrity, and cost growth. With four meetings remaining, commissioners are increasingly focused on identifying solutions.
At the Commission’s September 2 meeting, CBHC and representatives from Jefferson Center, Solvista Health, and Centennial Mental Health Center testified about the effects of current and proposed behavioral health payment policies. CBHC emphasized that Medicaid financing policy is access policy: when reimbursement becomes less stable or falls below the cost of care, providers face difficult decisions that affect access to services.
The testimony highlighted proposed changes to the Comprehensive Safety Net Provider state-directed payment, scheduled to take effect October 1. The proposal would reduce the guaranteed portion of the payment from 100% to 80% of the PPS rate, while allowing providers to earn up to 105% through value-based performance metrics. CBHC and its members support value-based payment but remain concerned that the metrics, expectations, and methodology for earning those payments are unclear. A survey of CBHC members found that the changes could mean multimillion-dollar funding reductions for individual organizations. Providers also described how financial pressures are already affecting workforce capacity and access to care across urban, rural, and frontier communities. CBHC urged commissioners to consider how payment policy can support both accountability and the stability providers need to serve their communities, pointing to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model as an opportunity to align payment with the full scope and cost of required services.
The Commission’s September 17 meeting focused largely on long-term services and supports, but the state’s cost-growth data also brought behavioral health into the discussion. HCPF identified behavioral health as a driver of Medicaid spending growth and explained that some policies contributing to that growth were intentionally designed to expand access to care. Questions about cost growth deserve careful examination: spending increases alone cannot tell commissioners whether more Coloradans are getting needed care, whether their needs have grown more complex, or how those investments are affecting access and outcomes.
Chair Senator Judy Amabile cautioned against cutting behavioral health services while Colorado is still building its provider network. With a behavioral health-focused meeting planned for October 7, CBHC will continue bringing providers’ experience and potential solutions into the Commission’s discussion. |
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| | | The Commission’s stakeholder survey remains open. As commissioners move toward developing recommendations, providers, advocates, Medicaid members, and community partners are encouraged to share their experiences with reimbursement, administrative burden, workforce capacity, and access to care. |
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New National Report Highlights theImpact of CCBHCs |
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| The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has released its 2026 CCBHC Impact Report, offering a national look at how Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are expanding access to comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health care.
Findings from the new report show that in 2025: |
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These findings are particularly timely as Colorado prepares to implement its federal CCBHC demonstration with North Range Behavioral Health and Solvista Health. The national experience highlights the potential of the CCBHC model to expand access, strengthen crisis response, and connect people with the comprehensive services and supports they need. |
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BHA Provider Rules AdvanceToward Final Adoption |
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| The Behavioral Health Administration’s provider rule packet received its first reading before the State Board of Human Services earlier this month. The rules, contained in 2 CCR 502-1, are scheduled for a second reading and potential final adoption in October and will take effect July 1, 2027. BHA has divided the broader provider-rule revisions into two packets. Chapters 1 and 3–7—the chapters undergoing the most significant revisions—are moving through the rulemaking process this fall, while Chapters 8–15 will follow in spring 2027. Both packets will maintain the same July 1, 2027, effective date. CBHC and its members have participated extensively throughout the rulemaking process, submitting detailed written comments and elevating feedback about clinical appropriateness, workforce capacity, administrative burden, scope of practice, and access to services. The latest draft of the provider rules includes several meaningful improvements in response to stakeholder concerns, including clearer distinctions between substance use disorder and co-occurring services, reduced duplication in screening and assessment requirements, greater recognition of clinical judgment, stronger scope-of-practice protections, and increased flexibility in meeting certain physical health requirements through referral and care coordination. CBHC supports the goals of the rulemaking and appreciates BHA’s responsiveness to many of the concerns raised by providers. However, we continue to seek targeted amendments before final adoption to ensure the rules are clinically appropriate and workable for Colorado’s behavioral health safety-net providers. As the fall packet moves toward final adoption, CBHC will remain engaged in the development of the spring packet and in implementation planning, provider education, and additional guidance ahead of the July 1, 2027, effective date. We will continue working with members to identify implementation questions, seek clarity, and advocate for requirements that protect access to care while allowing clinicians to focus their time on the people they serve. |
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Suicide Prevention Month: Building Communities Prepared to Help
September is Suicide Prevention Month, an important opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen conversations around mental health and suicide prevention, and ensure that individuals and communities have the knowledge and skills to respond when someone may need support. Suicide prevention is a shared effort, and education is one way each of us can contribute. This September, we encourage individuals and organizations across Colorado to consider how they can strengthen their own ability to recognize, respond, and connect someone to help.
Take a Mental Health First Aid Training
One way to take action is by becoming trained in Mental Health First Aid. MHFA is an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Mental Health First Aid Colorado supports training opportunities across the state for individuals, organizations, schools, workplaces, first responders, and other community partners. Whether you want to strengthen your own skills or bring a training to your organization, MHFACO can help connect you with opportunities and resources. Visit MHFACO.org to learn more about Mental Health First Aid, explore training opportunities, and find ways to bring MHFA to your community.
Expanding the Conversation: Substance Use First Aid
CBHC and Mental Health First Aid Colorado are also continuing to introduce Substance Use First Aid (SUFA) as an additional resource for communities seeking practical tools to respond to substance use challenges.
SUFA equips participants with practical, non-clinical skills to take early, compassionate action when they recognize signs of unhealthy substance use. Built around four core components—See, Understand, Facilitate, and Assist—the training combines evidence-informed education, lived experience, and interactive practice to help participants build confidence in supporting others.
To learn more about Substance Use First Aid or explore bringing SUFA to your organization or community, visit substanceusefirstaid.com. |
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New Educational WebinarBeyond Outcomes: The ROI of MBC |
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Our partners at Greenspace Health are hosting an educational webinar exploring the ROI of Measurement-Based Care (MBC) and how organizations are using outcomes data to strengthen their financial position.
The evidence behind MBC is well established, both in research and in practice, demonstrating its ability to improve clinical decision-making, strengthen client engagement, and support better outcomes. But as behavioral health organizations face growing pressure to demonstrate the impact of their services across grants, RFPs, payor contracts, and value-based care arrangements, outcomes data is becoming an increasingly powerful strategic asset.
For organizations already implementing MBC, knowing how to use your outcome data strategically can strengthen funding applications, support payor negotiations and reduce early dropout and cancellations.
On October 1st, from 11 AM-12 PM MDT, tune in to hear from clinical and operational leaders sharing real-world perspectives on the ROI of MBC: Denise Dickerson, LCADC, LCPC, Director of Behavioral Health, Calvert County Behavioral Health Andy Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, Boulder Care Nick Forand, PhD, ABPP, Principal Clinical Research Scientist, Two Chairs Host: Simon Weisz, President & Co-Founder, Greenspace Health
This is a great opportunity for anyone building the case for MBC, negotiating a value-based care contract, or proving your impact to funders.
We encourage all CBHC members to join this conversation and learn from leaders who are actively navigating these challenges. This session will be recorded and all registrants will receive the recording a few days after the session, so you’re welcome to register even if you can’t make it live.
Thank you, and we hope you can join! |
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| Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) will host the 5th Annual Colorado Opioid Abatement Conference on Wednesday, September 30th at the Copper Mountain Conference Center in Summit County. This interactive conference will include collaborative break-out rooms and networking sessions, presentations on best practices for addressing the opioid crisis, the nuts and bolts of opioid settlement funds, and practical strategies for leveraging state and national resources. The conference is for all members of the Regional Opioid Abatement Councils, local government representatives, providers, subject matter experts, and community stakeholders engaged in opioid abatement in Colorado. There is no cost to attend. |
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WellPower
WellPower highlights seven important insights for suicide prevention, emphasizing that anyone can experience suicidal thoughts and that warning signs are not always obvious. Key takeaways include asking directly about suicide, listening without judgment, recognizing changes in behavior, staying connected, knowing how to access resources such as 988, and remembering that supporters also need care and support. Above all, suicide prevention starts with connection, compassion, and being willing to have difficult conversations. Read the full article here.
SummitStone Health Partners
Cyndi Dodds, CEO of SummitStone Health Partners, has been named one of 13 recipients of BizWest’s 2026 Women of Distinction awards, recognized in the Healthcare category for her more than 30 years of behavioral health leadership. Dodds has held several leadership roles at SummitStone since 2007, including chief operations officer, chief clinical officer, and interim CEO, before becoming CEO in April 2025. Read the full article here.
WellPower
WellPower shares practical guidance for coping with difficult anniversaries, including 9/11, recognizing that significant dates can bring up grief, anxiety, or other strong emotions even years later. The article encourages people to acknowledge their feelings, maintain supportive connections, limit exposure to distressing media when needed, and practice healthy coping strategies. It also emphasizes giving yourself and others compassion as you navigate emotionally challenging reminders. Read the full article here.
Clinica Family Health & Wellness The City of Boulder has selected several nonprofits, including Clinica Family Health & Wellness, to participate in its Community Resilience Hub Pilot Program. The initiative will help organizations prepare for extended power outages and climate-related emergencies by exploring backup power solutions, including battery and solar systems. Eligible projects can receive up to $50,000 in grant funding, helping participating organizations maintain essential health and community services during emergencies. Read the full article here.
WellPower
WellPower has launched a new walk-in Medication Assisted Treatment Clinic in Denver to make opioid use disorder treatment more accessible, offering same-day support and medications such as Suboxone and Sublocade. The clinic provides care from nurses, pharmacists, and peer specialists with lived experience, along with harm-reduction resources such as fentanyl test strips and naloxone. The low-barrier program is designed to meet people where they are and connect them with treatment when they are ready. Read the full article here. |
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