(1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) On April 8, 2019, the Colorado behavioral health task force was created, bringing together individuals representing diverse and balanced perspectives with respect to issues such as adults, children, and families who are dealing with mental health or substance use issues, key executive agencies representing state, local, and tribal governments, criminal justice experts, advocacy groups, behavioral health experts, and consumers; (b) The mission of the behavioral health task force was to evaluate and create a plan to improve the current behavioral health system in Colorado; (c) The behavioral health task force focused on creating a behavioral health system that includes equitable access to whole-person care; (d) In September 2020, the behavioral health task force released its blueprint, subcommittee, and COVID-19 special committee reports that outline its vision for behavioral health reform; and (e) The findings and recommendations of the task force indicate that it is imperative that an improved behavioral health system in Colorado: (I) Provide equitable and meaningful access to services and care for Coloradans, regardless of ability to pay, co-occurring conditions, disability, linguistics, geographic location, racial or ethnic identity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, housing status, history of criminal justice involvement, payer source, culture, or any other factor; (II) Provide access to care that: (A) Integrates physical and behavioral health; (B) Is culturally and linguistically responsive, trauma-informed, and tailored to the individual and specific family needs; and (C) Prioritizes all aspects of health, including wellness, and early interventions and supports that help people stay successfully and meaningfully connected to the community where they live, work, and play; (III) Provides a continuum of services for children, youth, and adults, including meeting the unique needs of children and youth. Young people have different needs than adults and should be offered developmentally appropriate and culturally competent services. (IV) Provides access to quality and affordable services in a variety of methods, including in-person and virtual services; (V) Provides access to behavioral health services in regions and communities without necessitating engagement with the criminal or juvenile justice systems; (VI) Provides Coloradans with access to affordable care that keeps them healthy, and administrative efficiencies across the behavioral health-care industry align with payment models and incentives that drive quality and improved outcomes; (VII) Includes a high-quality, trained, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and diverse professional behavioral health workforce that delivers outcomes and equitable access to care; and (VIII) Provides Coloradans with an opportunity to achieve and maintain mental wellness by addressing social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation, and employment, in addition to the integration of physical and behavioral health care. (2) The general assembly further finds that in implementing the findings and recommendations of the Colorado behavioral health task force it is imperative to rely on all stakeholders working together to hold the behavioral health system accountable to ensure all Coloradans are receiving the care needed to fulfill the task force's aim of ensuring a quality behavioral health system. (3) Therefore, the general assembly declares that, to ensure a standard of high-quality, integrated, and consumer-centric access to behavioral health-care services, it is imperative that the recommendations and findings included in the blueprint created by the Colorado behavioral health task force be followed and that a single state agency, known as the behavioral health administration, be established to lead and promote the state's behavioral health priorities. It is imperative that the behavioral health administration transform the state's current behavioral health system by: (a) Coordinating and integrating the delivery of behavioral health services in Colorado; (b) Setting standards for the behavioral health system to improve the quality and equity of care; (c) Ensuring that behavioral health services respond to the changing needs of communities, monitor state and local outcomes, support tribal needs, and evaluate state efforts; (d) Improving equitable access to, quality of, and affordability of behavioral health services for Coloradans; (e) Preserving and building upon the integration of behavioral and physical health care that treats the whole person; (f) Leading and promoting Colorado's priority of addressing the increasing need for behavioral health services; (g) Eliminating unnecessary fragmentation of services and streamlining access; (h) Addressing social determinants of health as a core component of behavioral health outcomes; (i) Promoting transparency and accountability of behavioral health reform outcomes and spending of taxpayer dollars; and (j) Reducing administrative burden on behavioral health-care providers so they are able to focus on client care.
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