Reforming Colorado’s Behavioral Health System
Colorado is in the process of significant behavioral health system reform with the goal of expanding access to care and enhancing the quality of care delivered to all people in Colorado. As part of this reform, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF; the Department), in partnership with other agencies, has created a vision to:
- Expand the provider network to increase safety net services.
- Create opportunities for providers to add services.
- Improve the quality of care.
- Obtain alternative funding that will lead to a more sustainable provider system.
Major elements of this reform effort include:
- Creation of new safety net provider types - Comprehensive Safety Net Providers and Essential Safety Net Providers.
Alternative payment methodologies. - Development of Universal Contract Provisions (UCP) for behavioral health services.
About This Page
This page features resources and support for behavioral health providers. This includes opportunities to engage, training announcements, training materials, frequently asked questions, and access to additional resources. The page will continue to be updated, including announcements and links to register to attend behavioral health provider trainings so please bookmark this link and check back often!
Safety Net Provider Forum
With the development of the Behavioral Health Administration and related HCPF projects, there will be many upcoming changes to the behavioral health safety net in Colorado. This monthly virtual forum has been created to provide a collaborative learning space for all safety net providers.
Topics will include updates from HCPF, BHA, and HMA regarding implementation of alternative payment methodologies including the impact of payment reform efforts on Medicaid rates and billing, the upcoming implementation of the Universal Contract Provisions, technological and training systems and supports aimed at assisting providers in fulfilling their role under one of the provider types (comprehensive or essential), and the process of developing the new BHASO and RAE regional networks.
Upcoming Provider Forums
Provider Forums take place over Zoom on the last Friday of the month at 10:00 am MST. Complete the Safety Net Provider Forum form to register for one or all of the upcoming forums.
- Forum Archive
March 29, 2024
February 23, 2024
January 26, 2024
December 15, 2023
- Watch the recording
- Meeting Slides
October 27, 2023
August 25, 2023
July 28, 2023
June 30, 2023
May 26, 2023
Behavioral Health Provider Training and Technical Assistance
As part of this reform effort, HCPF is investing in Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) for behavioral health providers. Health Management Associates (HMA) has been contracted to provide comprehensive TTA to address the diverse needs and goals of providers. The TTA program is designed for all behavioral health providers, encouraging participation from those currently receiving public funds or considering accessing them in the future. The focus is on expanding benefits and services, improving access to care, and elevating quality.
Sign up here to join the Behavioral Health Reform TTA newsletter and share with your provider network! Click here for an archive of past newsletters.
- Upcoming Trainings and Office Hours
May
National Innovations in Transitions from Institutional Care to Community Care
Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 12 p.m.This training will review current practices for discharge, intake, and transition from an institutional setting as well as highlight emerging best practices and innovations supporting individuals after they leave an institution. The training will review the elements that make for good transitions through examples of effective innovations and will provide insight into how these elements can be integrated into the organization’s service delivery approach. The training will also examine which elements of current practice may be discouraging continuity of care for those transitioning to community care.
Learn more and register for Thursday, May 9, 2024.Care Compact Best Practices and Building Enhanced Referral Networks
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 12 p.m.This training will provide an overview of two types of collaboration that can enhance care for individuals and families, especially when there are multiple providers engaged in treatment. These examples are distinct from care coordination and focus on provider activities that can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce burden and confusion for provider organizations and individuals in care. The training will give an overview of best practices for care compacts and outline the continuum of care compacts from two providers to multiple providers and system approaches. The training will also introduce enhanced referral as another type of collaboration between partners and provide information on key components and steps in building enhanced referral relationships.
Learn more and register for Thursday, May 23, 2024.Office Hours
Friday, May 31, 2024 at 12 p.m.
Focus: Safety net reform questions. More details to follow.
Office hours offer the opportunity to drop in and ask questions about any of the trainings conducted. You’re welcome to email us at info@safetynetproviders.com if you have additional topics you would like covered during office hours.
- About the TTA Program
The TTA program includes live virtual and pre-recorded trainings, covering a range of topics tailored to providers' specific needs. TTA will be facilitated by a team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), in partnership with state agencies, local and national experts to share tailored knowledge and best practices by topic. The planned training topics fall into two major categories:
Behavioral Health Reform Awareness and Readiness: pre-recorded trainings for current and future providers to build awareness and readiness for significant reform efforts. Topics include:- Understanding State Agency Roles in Colorado Behavioral Health Services
- Roles and Responsibilities of the RAEs & BHASOs
- Medicaid Basics for New Providers
- Introduction to Financial Cost Reports
- Safety Net Licensure Transitions
Safety Net Competency: live virtual trainings to elevate quality and improve capacity across the behavioral health provider community. Topics include:
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Wraparound Services
- Serving populations with multiple, complex needs
- Innovations in transitions from institutional care to community care
- Removing structural and organizational barriers to access and more!
In addition to the live virtual trainings described above, several trainings in this category will be pre-recorded and made available. Topics include:
- Evidence-based practices
- Harm reduction
- Working with other system partners and more!
To assist providers in implementing changes, additional supports will be created including supplemental resource materials, updated Frequently Asked Questions, and office hours. Supports aim to foster meaningful connections among behavioral health providers to encourage sharing of questions, challenges, ideas, and experiences as part of peer teaching. The ultimate goal is to facilitate organizational change and enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the behavioral health provider system in Colorado.
Currently, trainings and technical assistance will be provided through June 2024.
- Training Library
Recordings of live trainings and links to pre-recorded trainings will be added throughout the TTA program. Please submit a TTA request via our online form if you need assistance finding the right training for you.
To turn on closed captions/subtitles on all training videos, click the "CC" button between the speaker button and settings gear button. From there, you can customize the closed captions/subtitles display as needed. To have captions translated in the language of your choice, select the "settings gear" button, select the arrow next to "English (auto generated)", then select "auto translate" and the language in which you wish to translate your captions.
Who's on First? Understanding State Agency Roles in Colorado's Behavioral Health Services
An introduction to public sector behavioral health in Colorado, roles and responsibilities of BHA and HCPF, funding sources for Medicaid and non-Medicaid services, and regulatory and statutory accountability.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Who's on Second? What's a RAE and BHASO, Why Do They Matter for Colorado Behavioral Health Services?
An introduction to the purpose and role of intermediaries including Managed Care Entities (MCEs) and BH Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs), and how they work with BHA, HCPF, and behavioral health providers. MCE references Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Medications for Addiction Treatment
An overview of the biology of addiction, why medications are essential in treating substance use disorders, a history of the use of medications for addiction treatment (MAT), FDA-approved medications, and how providers can deliver MAT.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Treatment Approaches for Pregnant Persons with Opioid Use Disorder
An overview of how Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in pregnant persons presents significant health risks to the person and infant, current trends in OUD and evidence-based treatment modalities for pregnant persons experiencing OUD.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Co-Occurring Disorders
An overview of co-occurring mental health, substance use, and physical health disorders and the evidence for providing integrated and whole-person care, best practices for screening and assessing, and models of integrated care.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Improving Health Care Equity, Access, and Outcomes for Coloradans Through Health First Colorado
An overview of federal Medical Assistance Programs, policy changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act, and First Colorado and CHP+ general eligibility requirements, who the programs serve, program benefits, and delivery systems.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Cost-Reporting: Capturing What's Important for Your Business to Provide What's Important for Your Patients
An overview of basic cost reporting concepts, existing resources for cost reporting, how cost reports inform the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate, and timeline considerations for implementing a cost reporting process.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Partners as Assets: Developing an Organizational Strategy to Optimize Partnerships to Advance Community Wellbeing and Health (50 minutes)
An overview of why an organizational partnership strategy is vital for strategic planning to facilitate connections to BH care, advance BH equity, support whole person care, and promote organizational growth and fiscal stability.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
I Can Help You! Serving Populations with Complex Behavioral Health Needs
An overview of complex needs BH providers may encounter, best practices to utilize and challenges they may experience when serving populations who have one or more complex needs.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Wrap Around Supports: A 360 Degree Approach
An overview of wrap around supports for people living with behavioral health conditions including an exploration of components, model, and implementation of wrap around supports.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
“Nothing for Me Without Me”: Why and How to Engage Clients in Co-Desiging Models of Care
An overview of why it is critical to engage clients in designing care delivery models that are responsive to the needs of those the organization aims to serve.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
- Supplemental Training Materials for Providers
Supplemental training materials will be added throughout the TTA program. Please submit a TTA request via our online form if you are looking for a specific resource.
Provider Communication Toolkit
We have developed a communication toolkit to assist providers in sharing information about the TTA program among your networks to help expand awareness and utilization of the program’s resources. The toolkit includes content and graphics for you to simply copy and paste into your communication channels including social media, e-newsletters, presentations, and more!
Access the toolkit
Frequently Asked Questions
Select the categories below to find answers to questions commonly asked by providers.
- BHA Licensure/Approval
Q: Can my agency enroll in Medicaid as both a Comprehensive Safety Net Provider and an Essential Safety Net Provider?
A: Yes, a provider agency may enroll as both a Comprehensive and an Essential provider depending of the scope of services being provided and with appropriate licensure and approvals by the BHA.Q: I am currently enrolled as a CMHC with HCPF. What steps do I need to take to switch my agency’s enrollment to a Comprehensive Safety Net Provider?
A: Agencies who are currently CMHCs will need to submit a new enrollment with HCPF as a Comprehensive Provider, which is Provider Type 78. The provider will need to have their approval letter from BHA to enroll as a Comprehensive Provider. This new enrollment requires agencies to apply for and submit a new NPI as part of the process. A current CMHC should not disenroll any provider types (e.g., provider types associated with outpatient mental health or substance use disorders services) until all services are paid that were provided under the current CMHC enrollment. An agency may have dual enrollments during the transition period in order to be able to bill as a Comprehensive Provider and still be paid for services provided under their enrollment as a CMHC.Q: What taxonomy should my agency select when applying for new NPIs to support enrollment with HCPF?
A: Agencies should select a taxonomy that best fits with the service array being provided at the specific location.- HCPF Enrollment
Q: Is there a specific Provider Type and Specialty Type Essential Safety Net Providers (Essential Providers) when enrolling in Medicaid?
A: No, there is not a distinct Provider Type or Specialty Type for Essential Providers. However, there is a flag that Essential Providers must select in the HCPF Enrollment Portal. Current providers should submit a maintenance request and select “Essential Provider” in the Enrollment Portal. New Providers should enroll as an Essential Provider under the appropriate Provider Type based on your license and then select “Essential Provider” in the Enrollment Portal at the time of enrollment.Q: My agency provides substance use disorder residential services and is currently enrolled as provider type 64 (SUD Residential), do I need to disenroll with HCPF and submit a new enrollment with a new NPI for my service location?
A: Your agency does not need to disenroll and re-enroll with HCPF or submit a new NPI to remain a SUD Residential provider. However, you do need to submit a maintenance request, along with your Essential Provider Approval Letter from the BHA, to ensure proper payment from HCPF as an Essential Provider.Q: My agency is an Essential Safety Net Provider. What do I need to do in order to receive the enhanced reimbursement rate under Medicaid?
A: During Essential Provider enrollment process, you must select the Essential Provider “flag” in the Enrollment Portal which will indicate that you are eligible to receive the enhanced reimbursement rate. In addition, a provider must be contracted with a managed care entity (MCE) as a safety net provider to receive the enhanced payment. Providers will start to be paid the rates indicated on the Essential Provider Fee Schedule after their contract with the MCE is finalized.Q: As a Comprehensive Safety Net Provider (Comprehensive Provider), will my agency be able to be both the Billing Provider and the Rendering Provider on claims?
A: No, Comprehensive Providers will only be able to be the Billing Provider and the Pay-To Provider. The individual licensed practitioner delivering the service, or supervising the staff providing the service, should be listed as the Rendering Provider on the claim.- Safety Net Provider Type
Q: What are the services required to be provided by a Comprehensive Safety Net Provider?
A: Comprehensive Safety Net 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
Q: What services are required to be provided by an Essential Safety Net Provider?
A: Essential 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
- National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Q: What steps should my agency take to receive BHA Licensure and Safety Net Provider approval?
A: Review applicable BHA license and approval regulations from 2 CCR 502-1. Visit the LADDERS licensing portal to begin an application. Complete the application for the licensure, designation or approval required and upload any required documentation.- Payment
Q: My provider agency is not currently licensed and/or designated by BHA and does not have a Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) license with CDPHE. What steps do I need to take to become licensed by BHA as a BHE?
A: If your agency is not currently licensed and/or designated by BHA nor has a BHE with CDPHE, and is interested in or required to pursue this, you will need to become familiar with the updated BHA Provider Rules (effective 1/1/2024) and when ready, submit a Letter of Intent to obtain a username and access to submit an initial application in LADDERS. Your agency will be subject to the updated BHA Provider Rules from the initial point of licensure.Q: My provider agency is currently licensed by CDPHE as a Behavioral Health Entity (BHE). When and how do I transition my licensure?
A: Your agency’s license will transition from CDPHE to BHA on your current BHE’s expiration date. You must submit a Letter of Intent in LADDERS at least sixty (60) days prior to the earliest license and/or designation cycle’s expiration date.
General Provider Resources
The following are general provider resources and links to support broader behavioral health reform efforts.
Related Webpages
- HCPF Behavioral Health Reform webpage: Overview of current behavioral health reform projects.
- Behavioral Health Administration Laws and Rules webpage: information about provider rules, technical support session, and more.
- Behavioral Health Administration Providers webpage: information about provider technology office hours, convenings, Universal Contract Provisions, Behavioral Health Entity resources, forms and links.
Resource Materials
- Behavioral Health Safety Net Provider Fact Sheet
- Safety net provider transition memo from BHA and HCPF
- Reimbursement and engagement with HCPF
- OM 23-077 Joint Operational Memo on Safety Net Provider Timeline
- Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) Attestation Form
- Comprehensive Safety Net Provider PPS Convening Slide Deck, Feb 2024
- Comprehensive Safety Net Provider PPS Code List, Feb 2024
Contact Us
We’re here to help! See the contact information below for specific needs or email hcpf_safetynetforum@state.co.us if you are not sure where to start.
| Pathway | Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| HCPF | Safety net providers enrollment and billing questions | hcpf_safetynetforum@state.co.us |
| Behavioral Health Administration | Safety net provider Rules and Regulations questions | cdhs_bharulefeedback@state.co.us |
| Health Management Associates | Training or Technical Assistance Questions | info@safetynetproviders.com |