Health First Colorado Behavioral Health Updates | | |
Welcome to the Health First Colorado Behavioral Health Updates from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).
Health First Colorado Behavioral Health Updates provides content relevant to the full spectrum of behavioral health services in Colorado. Feel free to share this information with other interested stakeholders!
Feedback, ideas, and questions are welcome and can be shared at hcpf_bhbenefits@state.co.us.
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Notice of Award for Reentry State Planning Grant
Colorado has been awarded a four-year, $4.6 million Reentry State Planning Grant by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This funding will be used to support operationalizing the Medicaid Reentry and Community Health (M-REACH) program. Efforts will focus on helping correctional facilities establish billing infrastructure, expanding Health Information Exchange and providing technical assistance for jails.
| | Spotlight on Colorado's 1115 Waiver | |
Serious Mental Illness/Serious Emotional Disturbance (SMI/SED) 1115 Demonstration
CMS approved Colorado’s SMI/SED Implementation Plan on September 2, 2025. HCPF is now able to confirm the SMI/SED Demonstration go live date of October 1, 2025. This demonstration will support members with an SMI diagnosis by providing smoother transitions back to community care through use of statewide standardized assessments and reimbursing longer stays when medically necessary and approved by RAEs for members with specific SMI diagnosis outlined in the demonstration when being treated in behavioral health psychiatric hospitals (PT 02) in Phase 1.
Join the upcoming SMI stakeholder engagement forum to learn more about the rollout and required training.
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2025 Annual "Expanding the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Continuum of Care” Stakeholder Forum
On October 28, 2025, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will host the annual 1115 Expanding the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care stakeholder forum. This forum is required as a report out of Demonstration year 4 (calendar year 2024) data. HCPF will review the most recent Annual Report and update the community about ongoing efforts.
This year’s forum will be held virtually Tuesday, October 28, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Register in advance to attend. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify hcpf_1115waiver@state.co.us or the Civil Rights Officer at hcpf504ada@state.co.us at least one week prior to the webinar to make arrangements.
For more information on the 1115 SUD waiver, visit Expanding the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Continuum of Care Waiver page. Contact hcpf_1115waiver@state.co.us with any questions or comments.
| | FAQs/Clarifications of Coverage and Billing Questions | |
Peer Support Professionals Certification Policy Update
In June 2025, HCPF published the Medicaid Sustainability Memo outlining changes to Peer Support Professional’s certification requirements that would require additional documentation of Peer credentialing by January 1, 2026.
After consideration of stakeholder feedback, HCPF is implementing the following policy:
- Effective January 1, 2026, all Peer Support Professionals delivering Medicaid behavioral health services must either be credentialed or will be credentialed by a nationally recognized organization by July 1, 2026, to be eligible for reimbursement for delivering peer support services. Agencies must sign and submit an attestation to their Regional Accountable Entity (RAE) or RAEs by January 1, 2026, indicating that the Peer Support Professional is either credentialed or is in the process and will be credentialed by July 1, 2026.
Stakeholders can provide feedback and ask questions through quarterly Peer Support Forums, monthly Peer Support Office Hours, and by emailing hcpf_peerservices@state.co.us.
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Supervision Policy Stakeholder Engagement Webinar Recording Available
HCPF is delaying implementation of updates to the Supervision Policy for Medicaid Billable Behavioral Health Services to allow for a period of stakeholder engagement to gather input and provide some much needed clarity on any policy changes. Written feedback has been collected through a Google Form and verbal feedback was collected through two stakeholder Zoom webinars in August hosted by HCPF.
The webinar recording is now available in the Webinars section on HCPF’s Behavioral Health web page.
A revised policy, incorporating recommendations received from stakeholders and including a new more accurate name, will be posted in October 2025. Attestations will not be required until the final policy is posted and takes effect, which we anticipate will be January 1, 2026.
Contact hcpf_bhbenefits@state.co.us with any questions.
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Reminder: Provider Type and Specialty 64/477 ending December 31, 2025
As shared every month since June of 2025, Specialty 477 - Substance Use Disorder - Clinics will no longer be a valid specialty for Provider Type 64 - Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Continuum after December 31, 2025. No further action is needed if your Provider Type 64 enrollment already has a specialty designating an ASAM level. Specialty 477 will be removed from your enrollment automatically after December 31, 2025. Enrollments for Provider Type 64 with no other specialty attached by December 31, 2025, will be terminated.
Contact hcpf_bhbenefits@state.co.us with any questions.
| | Other Things Happening in Behavioral Health | |
Colorado’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) State Demonstration Program: Interim Process and Requirements Memo
The 2025 Colorado Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Planning Grant year has reached the fourth and final quarter. The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) continue to work towards developing a CCBHC plan for Colorado with ongoing stakeholder feedback and input.
BHA has released a Memorandum from BHA Commissioner Smith to current CCBHC expansion grant recipients and current Comprehensive Safety Net Providers as a part of the CCBHC plan development and to prepare the state for potential participation in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 223 CCBHC Demonstration program in 2026.
The memo reviews the State’s initial plan to certify a select number of providers to meet the requirements of the 223 CCBHC Demonstration.
The full memo is available on the BHA’s Memos web page.
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Behavioral Health Provider Engagement Opportunities
Behavioral health providers are encouraged to participate in provider forums, meetings, and office hours. Below are a series of ongoing opportunities available. Many of these sessions require registration to allow for planning based on attendance and to prepare responses and presentations designed to address questions often submitted in advance.
View the full calendar of events on the BHIC webpage.
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Forums: Designed to be a space for presentation of information and discussion:
- Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Stakeholder Engagement Forum. Second and third month of the quarter on the third Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Register in advance.
- Behavioral Health Hospital & Residential Facility Forum. Quarterly (First month of the quarter) on the third Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Register in advance.
- CCBHC Stakeholder Forum. Monthly on the last Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register in advance.
- Independent Provider Network (IPN) Forum. Quarterly on the first Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register in advance. (June, September, and December)
- SUD Forum. Quarterly (first month of the quarter) on the first Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register in advance.
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Office Hours and Technical Assistance: Designed to be a “drop in” space for quick answers to issues best addressed by a brief discussion:
- Independent Provider Network (IPN) Office Hours. Monthly on the second Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Register in advance.
- Safety Net and Crisis Office Hours. Monthly on the second Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Register in advance.
- Supportive Housing Provider Office Hours. Monthly on the last Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register in advance.
- Mental Health Transitional Living Home Level 2 Office Hours. Monthly on the last Thursday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Advanced registration is not required. Follow this link to attend.
- Peer Support Office Hours. Monthly on the fourth Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Register in advance.
- SUD Provider Office Hours. Monthly on the first Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register in advance.
Email hcpf_bhbenefits@state.co.us to share feedback, ideas, and questions with HCPF.
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