carla johnson-hufford
Calculation for our state is easy. On one side of the equation, communities need increasing support for the mental health challenges their residents face, especially crisis intervention and other intensive services. Colorado, on the other hand, does not have the additional resources to invest in this need. Balancing this equation results in a system where a frayed safety net creates service gaps for too many people.
One logical solution to address this funding shortfall is to withdraw the additional federal funding that states are eligible for. These are the money our state pays into the system, and enhanced matching funds could help take care of our neighbors. But politics, not good policy, threatens to derail this effort.
The state Legislature is currently considering HB 1384, a proposal sponsored by the Joint Budget Committee of the Whole. The proposal would direct Colorado to apply for federal opportunities to receive additional Medicaid funding for certified community behavioral health clinics. This long title refers to community-based health care providers. Meets high standards for access to care, crisis support, and consumer/family engagement. Why conserve this money when Colorado has long been underfunded for these types of services? Especially given the reality of very limited budgets, the lack of funding from the state This is particularly true if additional funding is unlikely to materialize soon.
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Medicaid is the largest payer of behavioral health services in the nation, and it’s no different here in Colorado. Fewer federal funds are flowing to Colorado to support Medicaid as pandemic-era eligibility flexibility erodes and more individuals lose coverage. When people lose Medicaid coverage for health care, it doesn’t mean they suddenly no longer need it. If the individual or family becomes uninsured or covered by an expensive commercial plan, the health care provider will pay for the care.
It is important to take proactive steps to secure additional Medicaid funding that better matches the services already provided in the community. With these additional funds, we can make real progress in strengthening the mental health safety net and improving access and quality.
The good news is that Colorado already has experience with this program. To increase our efforts at the community level, we are working with eight health care providers across the state, from urban facilities like Denver Health to rural health care providers like Southeast Health Group (now part of Valleywide). Two health care providers have received grants from the program to help expand services in their communities. several ways.
For example, Southeast used a portion of the CCBHC grant to create new County Veterans Services Officer positions in each of its six counties to expand support and assistance to farmers and ranchers. Other providers are using grant funding to create community health worker programs to expand access to same-day care.
A 2022 analysis of impact at five CCBHCs in Colorado shows dramatic improvements. Emergency department utilization decreased by more than 67%. Self-reported psychological distress decreased by almost 50%. Daily functioning improved by more than 40%. Social connections, overall health, and quality of life improved by more than 25% on average. and nearly 100% of clients reported stable housing after his 6 months of care by the CCBHC organization.
At the national level, we have also seen a 50% increase in access to same-day care, improved collaboration with hospitals and emergency departments to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, and an unmet social burden that directly impacts mental health. We are seeing similarly encouraging results, including a dramatic increase in testing to meet global needs. Stable housing and transportation.
These data points are more than just numbers. It’s about improving the lives of individuals and supporting communities. They represent an opportunity for thousands of people to stabilize their lives and live the lives they envision.
Colorado has been working to reform its mental health and substance use disorder systems in recent years. This federal program aligns with and advances reforms: better services and supports for more people, and a more robust emergency management system that benefits all Coloradans. We must continue to move towards the goals of reform that we all share. But that won’t be possible without additional funding to strengthen and expand this important work.
Claiming that a chronically underfunded system can do more with less is not reform, it is foolishness. Colorado has an opportunity to come together as a state and start addressing mental health needs with the money each of us is already paying as taxpayers. Why divert that money to other states when our needs are so great?
Kara Johnson Hufford is the CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Health Council. The Colorado Behavioral Health Council is an association of health care providers that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment in communities across the state to all Coloradans who need mental health and substance abuse treatment.
