Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires health insurance companies cover behavioral health, mental health and substance use disorder treatments as thoroughly as they cover physical health issues in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Amends and clarifies that the health benefits coverage for the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders must be no less extensive than the coverage provided for any physical illness (Sec. 1).

• Requires that every health benefit plan must provide coverage for (Sec. 1):

• The placement, including admission, continued stay, transfer, and discharge of a covered person and determinations relating to mental health disorders in accordance with criteria developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or the American Association for Community Psychiatry; and

• Medically necessary treatment of covered behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder benefits, consistent with specified criteria.

• Specifies criteria to be used for utilization review, service intensity, the level of care for covered persons, and provider reimbursement (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires health insurance companies cover behavioral health, mental health and substance use disorder treatments as thoroughly as they cover physical health issues in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Amends and clarifies that the health benefits coverage for the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders must be no less extensive than the coverage provided for any physical illness (Sec. 1).

• Requires that every health benefit plan must provide coverage for (Sec. 1):

• The placement, including admission, continued stay, transfer, and discharge of a covered person and determinations relating to mental health disorders in accordance with criteria developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or the American Association for Community Psychiatry; and

• Medically necessary treatment of covered behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder benefits, consistent with specified criteria.

• Specifies criteria to be used for utilization review, service intensity, the level of care for covered persons, and provider reimbursement (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text