Behavioral healthcare access in Colorado could see substantial enhancements in the coming years, thanks to the state’s recent acceptance into a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program.
According to a state press release, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCHBC) Medicaid Demonstration Program “is expected to deliver significant benefits” for all types of behavioral health services, including improved infrastructure, access and funding.
The program will help Colorado and nine other states with a proven interest in adopting the federal CCHBC model, which provides 24/7 crisis care, timely outpatient services, addiction treatment and care coordination — regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
“This partnership is about more than just funding; it’s about a shared commitment to ensuring every person, regardless of income or circumstance, has access to timely, high-quality mental health and substance use services.
“By strengthening the growing need our community clinics meet, we ensure high-quality, compassionate care is always within reach for every individual and family in our state,” Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Commissioner Stephanie Beasley said in a press release.
A webpage from the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing (HCPF) said that CCBHCs are required to provide the following services:
Crisis services
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment
Person- and family-centered treatment planning
Community-based mental healthcare for veterans
Peer family support and counselor services
Targeted care management
Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring
Psychiatric rehabilitation services
Screening, diagnosis and risk assessment
The BHA’s joint press release with HCPF added that the program will primarily facilitate the model’s implementation through integrated service delivery, enhanced accountability measures and sustainable funding mechanisms.
A piece of that new funding approach includes a roughly 15% increase in federal funding match for behavioral health services provided in a licensed CCBHC. However, the increase is only effective through the program’s first four years.
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The BHA and HCPF could not respond by publication to the Sentinel’s request for details on any other, more long-term funding mechanisms, or the nature of the program’s enhanced accountability measures.
Both departments added in their press release that implementation timelines and stakeholder engagement opportunities are still in the works and will be shared “in the coming months.”
Although it’s unclear where the state’s prospective CCBHCs will be located, a press release from Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper said the Western Slope will see its share of the pie.
“This will strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health services and support Coloradans from the Front Range to the Western Slope,” Bennet said. “By securing Colorado’s spot in this demonstration program and bringing a crucial boost in federal funding to our local clinics, we are tearing down barriers to care.”
Hickenlooper added that funding for the CCBHC Demonstration Program was extended through the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, of which both Senators helped pass.
Similarly, the Congressional press release said that Colorado’s acceptance into the program didn’t happen overnight.
Last year, the state received $1 million through the CCBHC Planning Grant to develop CCBHC certification processes, build the required Medicaid payment systems and prepare an application for the demonstration program.
According to a HCPF webpage, Colorado received the same grant in 2016 but was not accepted into the subsequent demonstration program. It added that the state proceeded to bolster its behavioral health “safety nets” without federal aid and planned to reapply in the future.
Colorado reapplied for the planning grant in 2023 and was denied. In 2024, the state applied yet again and was accepted. After fulfilling the planning grant’s requirements a second time, the state successfully reapplied for the demonstration program in 2025.
“Colorado’s selection into the CCBHC Demonstration Program reflects years of collaboration and commitment to building a behavioral health system that is more connected, accountable and accessible,” HCPF Deputy Medicaid Director Cristen Bates said.