OBH-Designated Clinics-Behavioral Health Entity Licensure Requirements

 

House Bill 19-1237 was signed into law on June 3, 2019. The legislation created a new phased-in Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) license for community-based behavioral health facilities.  Presently all community-based behavioral health facilities that were previously licensed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as a community mental health center, community mental health clinic, acute treatment unit or crisis stabilization services, as well as those facilities currently designated by the Office of Behavioral Health as either a community mental health center or community mental health clinic are obligated to apply for and actively working towards obtaining a license as a Behavioral Health Entity license by July 1, 2022. Such a facility must transition to the BHE license no later than the July 1, 2022 date, in accordance with C.R.S. 25-27.6-104 (1).  As a designated mental health clinic, your facility has been identified as statutorily obligated to engage in this BHE licensure process. In order to initiate your facility's application for a license as a Behavioral Health Entity, you will first need to submit a Letter of Intent, in the google form template provided. Following the submission of your Letter of Intent, someone from our Certification, Licensing, and Records (CLR) team will reach out to you via email. This email will contain your facility's login information to our Colorado Health Facilities Interactive (COHFI) webpage, where you will navigate and complete your licensing  application. For general information about licensing and certification with the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, please click here.  In an effort to streamline information sharing for potential Behavioral Health Entity applicants, we will be holding a one-hour virtual technical assistance meeting on Tuesdays, from 11 am to 12 pm, via this google link. Upcoming meeting dates that will be held at that link are listed below: § May 10, 2022, 11 am-12 pm § May 17, 2022, 11 am-12 pm § May 24, 2022, 11 am-12 pm § May 31, 2022, 11 am-12 pm For more information, please visit the Behavioral Health Entity website or contact Jane Flournoy at jane.flournoy@state.co.us or 303-910-6348.