Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee: Applications for Participation for 2 Vacant Positions

 

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 Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee (BHE-IAC) for the following vacant positions: ·       (1) A provider of substance use treatment from a rural or frontier county ·       (2) A consumer who has experience living with a substance use disorder Per statutory requirements with the passage of House Bill 19-1237, specifically addressing the development and implementation 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 was 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 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. Now with the passage of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) legislation (HB 22-1278), there is a clearer picture as to the BHE to BHA transition. As such, CDPHE plans to resume the BHE-IAC starting Thursday, August 11th at 1:00 pm. The department anticipates resuming this committee at its monthly frequency and utilizing this forum to inform and communicate the strategy, timeline, and transition details of the CDPHE Behavioral Health Entity licensing authority moving to the BHA beginning July 1, 2023. You may sign up here for meeting notifications and communications. The BHE-IAC meetings occur on a recurring monthly basis, taking place on the second Thursday of each month. Meetings are approximately 2 hours in duration. If you are interested in serving as a committee member for the current vacancies, please complete the application and supplemental documents located here: Behavioral Health Entity Implementation & Advisory Committee Application   All applications are due no later than end of day Friday, August 5th. Any questions may be directed to Jane Flournoy at either 303.910.6348 or Jane.Flournoy@state.co.us.   Thank you in advance for your interest!