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Safety Net and Crisis Services

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Safety Net Services

Safety net services are licensed and regulated by the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). The behavioral health safety net system serves priority populations and complies with the safety net no refusal requirements, ensuring that priority populations receive access to the care that they need. Learn more from the Safety Net Fact Sheet or book a BHA support session.

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) developed a strategic vision to:

  • Expand the provider network
  • Create opportunities for providers to offer additional services
  • Improve the quality of care
  • Obtain alternative funding to foster a more sustainable provider system

Major elements of the safety net include:

Safety Net Providers

HCPF developed a distinct Comprehensive Safety Net Provider and also an Essential Safety Net Approval Status that can be attached to a variety of HCPF provider types. Safety Net Providers contract with RAEs to deliver safety net services.

Comprehensive Safety Net Provider

Comprehensive Provider (defined in §27-50-101(11) as a Comprehensive Community Behavioral Health Provider) - A licensed behavioral health entity or behavioral health provider approved by the BHA to provide care coordination and the all of the following behavioral health safety net services, either directly or through formal agreements with behavioral health providers in the community or region: 

  • Emergency and Crisis Behavioral Health Services
  • Mental Health and Substance Use Outpatient Services
  • Behavioral Health High-Intensity Outpatient Services
  • Care Management 
  • Outreach, Education, and Engagement Services
  • Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Supports
  • Outpatient Competency Restoration
  • Screening, Assessment, and Diagnosis, Including Risk Assessment, Crisis Planning, and Monitoring to Key Health Indicator

Essential Safety Net Provider

Essential Provider (defined in §27-50-101(13) Essential Behavioral Health Safety Net Provider) - A licensed behavioral health entity or behavioral health provider approved by the BHA to provide care coordination and at least one of the following services:

  • Emergency or crisis behavioral health services
  • Behavioral health outpatient services
  • Behavioral health high-intensity outpatient services 
  • Behavioral health residential services 
  • Withdrawal management services 
  • Behavioral health inpatient services 
  • Integrated care services 
  • Hospital alternatives or 
  • Additional services that the BHA determines are necessary in a region or throughout the state

Emergency and Crisis Behavioral Health Services are a required service of Comprehensive Safety Net Providers. Emergency and Crisis Behavioral Health Services may become Essential Safety Net Providers.

Check out the Safety Net Provider Medicaid Enrollment Resource Scenarios document for more information on the process of Medicaid enrollment across service locations.

Learn more about the development of the Behavioral Health Safety in the forum archive in the Resources section below.

Crisis Services

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) partners with several state agencies to support the behavioral health continuum of care in Colorado. Learn more about the crisis continuum.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) benefits cover a range of services when members are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. A behavioral health crisis can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. HCPF covers services so that Health First Colorado members have someone to talk to, someone to meet with in-person, a place to go, and transportation to get there.

Community-Based Crisis 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, offer recommendations and connect members to further resources via telephone or text. Colorado has one statewide Behavioral Health Crisis Line provider, Solari.
  • 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 Crisis Services

Facility-based crisis services offer members a place to go to meet with someone in person.

  • 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 support admission to behavioral health residential or inpatient facilities for further treatment.
    • Walk-in Crisis Services are located throughout Colorado and offer in-person crisis support, information, and referrals to any individual in need including to anyone experiencing a self-defined crisis.
    • Withdrawal management facilities, also known as substance use disorder clinics, offer assessment and support for behavioral health crises involving substance use disorders.  There are a range of substance use levels of care based on American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) standards.
    • Emergency departments are ambulatory, also known as outpatient, facilities that provide emergency psychiatric care. 
    • Receiving facilities are behavioral health entities or hospitals that offer assessment and treatment services for individuals with behavioral health needs. These facilities provide short-term and long-term residential or inpatient programs, providing care and support for stays exceeding 24 hours. Learn more about residential and inpatient services.

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