House Bill 25-1124 Reengrossed

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning updates to the universal contracting provision

• Page 1, Line 102requirements for the delivery of behavioral health

• Page 1, Line 103safety net services.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

Under current law, the universal contracting provisions must comply with 16 requirements when a state agency contracts for the delivery of behavioral health services. The bill repeals 13 of the existing requirements and adds a new requirement to facilitate connections for individuals to the statewide behavioral health safety net system.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly finds that:

• Page 2, Line 3(a)  Access to behavioral health services is critical for addressing the behavioral health needs of individuals in Colorado;

• Page 2, Line 4(b)  The universal contracting provisions provide a mechanism for

• Page 2, Line 5reducing administrative burdens, which can negatively impact access to behavioral health services; and

• Page 2, Line 6(c)  The universal contracting provisions assist in ensuring

• Page 2, Line 7consistency across the behavioral health safety net system for those seeking to access high-quality care.

• Page 2, Line 8(2)  Therefore, the general assembly declares that in order to

• Page 2, Line 9accomplish the intent of these universal contracting provisions, the existing requirements must be streamlined and simplified.

• Page 2, Line 10SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-50-203, amend (1) and (2) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 1127-50-203.  Universal contracting provisions - requirements.

• Page 2, Line 12(1)  On or before July 1, 2023, The BHA shall work with the department

• Page 2, Line 13of health care policy and financing, in collaboration with relevant

• Page 2, Line 14stakeholders and other state agencies, to develop universal contracting

• Page 2, Line 15provisions to be used by state agencies when contracting for behavioral

• Page 2, Line 16health safety net services in the state. The universal contracting

• Page 2, Line 17provisions shall must provide clear, standardized requirements addressing at least the following:

• Page 2, Line 18(a)  Minimum data collection standards and reporting, including

• Page 2, Line 19electronic data and participation in health information organization networks;

• Page 3, Line 1(b)  Grievance and occurrence reporting, including to the BHA;

• (c)  Collaboration with other state agencies;

• Page 3, Line 2(d)  Use of evidence-based practices;

• Page 3, Line 3(e)  Access to care and quality of care standards, including

• Page 3, Line 4accountability to the performance standards developed pursuant to section 27-50-201;

• Page 3, Line 5(f)  Programmatic and financial reporting;

• (g)  (c)  Consequences for not meeting contract requirements; and

• Page 3, Line 6(h)  Standard payment methodologies, based on provider type or other factors, as determined by the BHA;

• Page 3, Line 7(i)  Claims submissions and billing procedures and guidelines;

• (j)  Limitations of liability;

• Page 3, Line 8(k)  Compliance with behavioral health safety net standards, including provision of services for priority populations;

• Page 3, Line 9(l)  Utilization management;

• Page 3, Line 10(m)  (d)  Utilization of required tools or programs that improve

• Page 3, Line 11quality outcomes, accessibility of social determinants of health supports,

• Page 3, Line 12affordability, referral efficiency, or other state priorities; Ensuring

• Page 3, Line 13individuals are connected to the services the individuals require within the behavioral health safety net system.

• Page 3, Line 14(n)  Policies on accepting, discharging, triaging, and denying services to clients consistent with sections 27-50-302 and 27-50-303;

• Page 3, Line 15(o)  Standards for serving priority populations and high-acuity clients based on state need and provider type; and

• Page 3, Line 16(p)  Compliance with all applicable federal statutes and

• Page 3, Line 17regulations, including anti-discrimination laws.

• Page 4, Line 1(2)  The universal contracting provisions may include alternate

• Page 4, Line 2standardized provisions, depending on its application, such as whether the

• Page 4, Line 3provider is a comprehensive community behavioral health provider or an

• Page 4, Line 4essential behavioral health safety net provider, the service type, or other

• Page 4, Line 5factors. The universal contracting provisions do not require the

• Page 4, Line 6expansion of data collection beyond the data already being

• Page 4, Line 7collected by a state agency, tribal government, or a contractor.

• Page 4, Line 8SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act

• Page 4, Line 9takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the

• Page 4, Line 10ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except

• Page 4, Line 11that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V

• Page 4, Line 12of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this

• Page 4, Line 13act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take

• Page 4, Line 14effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in

• Page 4, Line 15November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.