I_ECR_BH_2021A 11/08/2021 12:34:20 PM Committee Summary

Senator Pettersen made opening remarks and discussed the committee schedule.  

Jacob Bornstein, Wellstone Strategies, presented proposed criteria for evaluating working group recommendations and responded to questions.

The proposed evaluation criteria may be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/bhttf_care_coordination_presentation_11_08_2021.pdf.

Jose Esquibel, subpanel member and Director, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, recapped working group activity.  He also provided an overview of the sustainable funding, affordability, and payer systems working group recommendations, found here:  https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/bhttf_subpanel_sustainable_funding_affordability_and_payer_system_recommendations_11-8-21_1.pdf

He next presented recommendation #1: fund the grant writing assistance program for mental health and substance use disorder prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.

 

Lesley Brooks, MD, subpanel vice-chair and Chief of Addiction Medicine, Summitstone Health Partners, presented recommendation #2:  promoting rapid access and increase the existing workforce capacity through reduced administrative burden.

Mr. Esquibel  and Harry Budisidharta, subpanel member and Executive Director, Asian Pacific Development Center, presented recommendation #3: Build capacity for community based organizations to offer sustainable provision of behavioral health services to meet immediate needs. 

Jamie Feld, External Relations Strategist, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, commented in support of recommendation #3.  Ms. Feld and Mr. Budisidharta responded to questions from the committee. 

Committee discussion ensued about the recommendations and implementation. 

Mr. Esquibel provided an overview of working group recommendations for integrated and coordinated care.  The recommendations may be found in their entirety here:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/bhttf_subpanel_integrated_and_coordinated_care_recommendation_11-8-21_revised.pdf

Camille Harding, Strategy and Innovation Officer, Office of Behavioral Health, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and Jacob Bornstein, Wellstone Strategies, presented recommendation #1: care coordination.  Dr. Brooks also contributed to the conversation.  Committed members asked questions.

Dr. Brooks presented recommendation #2: require the State of Colorado to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Model and provide capacity building funds for providers meeting criteria.

Candie Burnham, Executive Director, Atlantis Community, Inc., presented recommendation #3: create policies to ensure a safe discharge from hospitals and reduce preventable readmissions.

Dr. Brooks discussed recommendation #4: increase the number of access points for short-term behavioral health services for individuals with multiple chronic conditions, children and youth, and those with disabilities; and increase the number of primary care providers embedded in mental health clinics and centers.

Committee members asked questions and engaged in conversation about the recommendations. 

Vincent Atchity, Ph.D., Subpanel Chair, President and CEO, Mental Health Colorado. provided an overview of the working group recommendations about criminal justice. These recommendations may be found at: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/final_bhttf_subpanel_criminal_justice_pillar_preliminary_draft_recommendations.pdf.



 

Lorez Meinhold, subpanel member and Executive Director,Caring for Denver and Kaleidoscope Collaborative Center, testified in support of the criminal justice recommendation #1: crisis response and diversion (pre-arrest), including co-responder, community, and mobile crisis response.

Committee members asked questions about the recommendation and co-responder programs. 

Jamie Fitzsimons, Sheriff, Summit County, testified in support of criminal justice recommendation #2: crisis intervention training.

He answered questions raised by the committee. 

Meghan Baker, JD, MSW, subpanel member and Facilities Team Leader, Disability Law Colorado, and Lauren Snyder, Mental Health Colorado, presented recommendation #3: competency backlog and post-arrest diversion.   Committee members commented on the recommendation. 

Lisa Raville, Executive Director, Harm Reduction Center, presented recommendation #4: harm reduction; and recommendation #5: naloxone bulk purchase.  

Allyson Gottsman, Program Manager, School of Medicine/Practice Innovation Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, presented recommendation # 6: medication assisted treatment in jails, community corrections, and Department of Corrections (DOC).

Terri Hurst, Policy Coordinator, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, presented recommendation #7: Medicaid: jails, community corrections, and DOC; and #8: Audit/Sunset of behavioral health line items.

Barb and Dan West, representing themselves, testified about a family member's experiences with mental health treatment and provided a handout (Attachment A).  

Ms. Constance Boyd, representing herself, testified about her family mental health issues and suggested statute and policy changes.

Ms. Patrice Marqui, representing herself, testified about the need for more mental health beds.  

Ms. Sarah Morales, representing herself, testified about a family member's experiences with mental health services.

Ray Merenstein, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Colorado, testified.about needed behavioral health services.   

Tina Maddux, Executive Director, Restorative Resources Programming House, testified about the intersect between housing and behavioral health.