79291F3EEFC09AB78725898F006E82BA Hearing Summary

Representative Lukens and Representative Winter, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-174, concerning access to behavioral health services for Medicaid recipients under 21 years of age. The bill requires select mental health services to be covered for Medicaid members under 21 through the managed care system and the School Health Services Program. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) must engage stakeholders and notify impacted entities. Each November 1 from 2025 through 2030, HCPF must report to the General Assembly on service utilization. Representative Winter and Representative Lukens responded to questions from the committee.

Bridget Anshus, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

John Laukkanen, representing HCPF, testified in support of the bill.

Ayelet Talmi, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Cyndi Dodds, representing SummitStone Behavioral Health and the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Andres Alvarez, representing Colorado Mental Health Consortium, read testimony from Deb Mahan, representing Gazette Charities, in support of the bill.

Angela Kimball, representing Inseparable, testified in support of the bill.

Christina Walker, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Alexandra Reyes,
representing the Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.  Dawn
Fritz, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified
in support of the bill.  



Marcie Buel, representing
herself, testified in support of the bill.






Written testimony
was provided to the committee (Attachment B).

Representative Winter and Representative Lukens made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.