Behavioral Health Entity Implementation & Advisory Committee: Applications Now Available

To: Behavioral Health Providers, Consumers of Behavioral Health Services, Advocates and Interested Parties

From: Jill Hunsaker-Ryan, MPH, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment


The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is currently accepting applications for the Behavioral Heath Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee (BHE-IAC). 

Per statutory requirements with the passage of House Bill 19-1237, specifically addressing the development of a licensing structure for Behavioral Health Entities (BHE), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a responsibility to establish, facilitate and streamline minimum standards and regulations for BHE's in the State of Colorado. The intent of creating the Behavioral Health Entity License is to:

- Provide a single, flexible license category under which community-based behavioral health service providers can provide integrated mental health disorder, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder services and meet a consumer's continuum of needs, from crisis stabilization to ongoing treatment;
- Provide a regulatory framework for innovative behavioral health service delivery models to meet the needs of both individuals and communities;
- Increase parity in the oversight and protection of consumers' health, safety, and welfare between physical health and behavioral health regardless of the payment source; and to lastly,
- Streamline and consolidate the current regulatory structure to enhance community providers' ability to deliver timely and needed services, while ensuring consumer safety. 

In order to accomplish such a charge, HB 19-1237 established the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee. The BHE-IAC is responsible to:

- Offer advice to CDPHE and the State Board of Health concerning the phased-in implementation of the BHE license, rules promulgated by the State Board pursuant to C.R.S. 25-27.6-101 et seq., and the implementation of the BHE licensing transition;
- Provide ongoing advice to CDPHE regarding Behavioral Health Entities and Behavioral Health Entity licensing; and
- Identify a coordinated and aligned process of sharing information across state departments to ensure behavioral health services are available to all residents of Colorado. 

The BHE-IAC meetings will occur on a recurring monthly basis, taking place on the second Thursday of each month, beginning October 10, 2019. Meetings are anticipated to be three hours in duration. If you are interested in serving as a committee member, please complete the application and supplemental documents located here: 

Behavioral Health Entity Implementation & Advisory Committee Application 

All applications are due no later than close of business Friday, August 30th. Any questions may be directed to Crystal Cortes at either 303.692.2917 or Crystal.cortes@state.co.us. 

Thank you in advance for your interest!