HOUSE ADVANCES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGISLATION

Bills invests $35 million to integrate physical and behavioral health care

DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation that will make transformational investments to increase access to behavioral health care by better integrating primary care and behavioral health care.

“This session, we’re directing $450 million in federal funds to increase access to and save people money on behavioral health care,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “The legislation we advanced today will invest $35 million to integrate behavioral health care into primary care so that Coloradans can access both at the same location at the same time. This will save Coloradans money when they seek behavioral health care or substance use disorder treatment and make critical care more available throughout the state, especially in rural and underserved areas.”

Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1302, sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Perry Will and Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola, invests $35 million to improve behavioral health outcomes by better integrating physical and behavioral health care. The bill will provide grants to primary care practices to integrate behavioral health care into their clinical models, helping Coloradans access whole person care and early behavioral health interventions before a crisis. The transformational investment will increase access to mental health and substance use disorder screening and treatment and help coordinate referrals to other levels of care.