Why Become a Provider?
Many behavioral health services in Colorado are regulated by Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), a newly created cabinet member-led agency within the Department of Human Services (CDHS). Learn more about BHA regulatory authority. Other agencies may also regulate elements of crisis services, such as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), the Department of Public Safety (DPS), or individual counties, territories, or municipalities.
A behavioral health crisis can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. By enrolling as a Health First Colorado provider, you can help people in Colorado get the quality and timely care they need. Along the crisis continuum, there are many opportunities for providers to support members in community, facility, and other settings.
Visit Find Your Provider Type or check out the service descriptions below to see where you can make a difference.
Community-Based Services
Community-based services are crisis services delivered to Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) members in the community.
- 988/Crisis Line is the starting point for members in crisis. Trained professionals provide immediate support and resources to members via telephone or text. Colorado has one statewide Behavioral Health Crisis Line provider, which is currently Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners.
- Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) is a service where two crisis professionals respond to a member in the community to provide de-escalation and stabilization, crisis assessment and intervention, and coordinate referrals to appropriate resources.
- In-home crisis respite services offer short-term support in a member’s home setting.
Facility-Based Services
Facility-based services are crisis services delivered to members at a facility.
- Crisis facilities are where members can get a crisis assessment, which can result in safety planning and discharge and/or placement evaluations. Some of these facilities may also be able to provide medical clearance for behavioral health facility admissions.
- Walk-in Crisis Centers are located throughout Colorado and offer in-person crisis support and level-of-care assessments.
- Withdrawal management facilities, also known as substance use disorder clinics, offer assessment and support for behavioral health crises involving substance use disorders.
- Emergency departments are facilities that provide emergency care.
- If you are a provider contracted to deliver services in an emergency department setting, please see the HCPF Crisis Services Hospital Billing Guidance Aug. 2023.
- Receiving facilities are behavioral health entities that see a member after a crisis assessment and provide behavioral health treatment.
- Facility-based crisis respite services offer short-term case management and supportive housing after a behavioral health crisis to support member engagement in ongoing behavioral health outpatient care.
- Crisis stabilization units (CSU) provide behavioral health treatment that can include individual therapy, group therapy and/or psychiatric evaluation, in a locked or unlocked unit for up to five days.
- Acute treatment units (ATU) provide behavioral health treatment that can include individual therapy, group therapy and/or psychiatric evaluation in a locked unit that is less restrictive than an inpatient hospital.
- Inpatient hospitals provide the highest level of behavioral health treatment in a locked facility.
Transportation
- Behavioral Health Secure Transportation (BHST) is urgent transportation to members who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- Emergency Medical Transportation (EMT) is urgent and emergent transportation due to a medical emergency needing the highest level of care.
- Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) is scheduled transportation to provide continuity of care to members, including planned outpatient or inpatient appointments. Learn more about NEMT Providers in each county.
FAQs
How do I get paid for a service I provided to a Health First Colorado member?
Most behavioral health services are paid through the Managed Care Program, also known as capitation payment model through regional accountable entities (RAEs). The State Behavioral Health Services Billing Manual provides billing guidance for services provided through the capitation model.
Some behavioral health services are paid fee-for-service (FFS) directly to the provider. Learn more about behavioral health FFS benefits or by clicking on the specific benefit service listed above to be directed to the specific benefit fee-for-service billing manual.
Who pays for services to non-medicaid members?
Connect with the BHA to learn more about coverage for non-Medicaid members.
Stay Informed
Sign up for the monthly Crisis Services Newsletter or attend a crisis services forum.
Contact hcpf_crisisservices@state.co.us for more information.