I_ECR_BH_2021A 09/23/2021 09:09:14 AM Committee Summary

Michael Conway, Colorado Commissioner of Insurance, and Cara Cheever, Behavioral Health Program Director, Colorado Division of Insurance, gave a presentation on behavioral health coverage in commercial insurance.  The presentation can be found here:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/bhttf_presentation_9.23.21.pdf.

Committee members asked questions about the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria, mental health parity, medication-assited treatment coverge, and the self-insured portion of the market.

Committee discussion followed about insurance barriers (i.e. coding) and policy options, such as increasing bed space in residential treatment facilities. 

The following individuals discussed Medicaid providers and plans:  Patrick Gordon, President and CEO, Rocky Mountain Health Plans;  Meg Taylor, Vice President of Community Integration, Rocky Mountain Health Plans;  Lesley Brooks, M.D., Subpanel Vice-Chair, Chief of Addiction Medicine, SummitStone Health Partners; and David Mok-Lamme, Senior Community Research Analyst, Rocky Mountain Health Plans.

Committee members asked questions about outpatient care, treatment access, substance use disorder rates, and workforce. 

 

 

 

Lauren Snyder, Vice President of Government Affairs, Mental Health Colorado, and Jamie Feld, External Relations Strategist, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention/University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus presented results from the behavioral health survey they developed, distributed, and tabulated on behalf of the Task Force.

The presentation and survey results can be viewed at this link:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/bhttf_survey_presentation_merged_9.22.pdf.

Commmittee members asked questions about compentency restoration, juveniles, and harm reduction, among other things.

 

Dr. Robert Werthwein, Director, Office of Behavioral Health, Colorado Department of Human Services presented information on crisis intervention and potential solutions.  The presentation can be read here:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/crisis_interventions_and_potential_solutions_bhttf_presentation_sept_23_2021.pdf.

Committee members engaged in a discussion about residential beds for youth, least restrictive settings, repurposing buildings, hospital readmissions and short-term stays, and a step-down continuum. . 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kevin Carney, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Children's Hospital Colorado discussed mental health services at Children's Hospital. He discussed inpatient psychiatric care, emergency room wait times, and continuum of care.

Committee members asked questions about staffing and bed capacity. Discussion continued about crisis care and lack of alternatives to inpatient beds.

Ashley Coram, School-Based Health Centers Program Manager, Every Child Pediatrics, discussed mental health needs at schools. She noted substance abuse, obesity, and other mental health issues. She also discussed workforce, telehealth, and prevention.

Christy Boland, Colorado Community Health Network, discussed challenges across the state and a related survey.

Michele Craig, Complex and Supportive Services Section Manager, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, gave a presentation titled "Considerations for High Impact Changes for Children & Youth with Complex & Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Needs."  The accompanying slides can be viewed here: http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/considerations_for_high_impact_changes_for_children_and_youth_with_complex_and_co-occuring_needs.pdf

 Committee members asked questions about children with disabilities and mental health needs.

Jamie Ulrich, Director, Weld County Department of Human Services, shared examples of high-risk youth and available county services. She made suggestions about keeping kids in-state and workforce retention.  

Dave Long, Director, Logan County Department of Human Services, discussed the difficulty of finding placements for high-risk youth in rural areas and noted workforce issues. He further discussed therapeutic foster homes, criteria, and other related issues.

Becky Updike, representing the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, discussed the need for continuum of care. She also touched upon residential facilities and workforce. She noted a model program in Ohio that has been successful in attracting and keeping workers. She discussed incentives, professional development, and interoperability platforms. Committee members asked questions about residential placements, including treatment facilities.

This hearing item was moved to the following day. 

There was no public testimony.