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Final report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee. The purpose of this committee is to study issues relating to opioid and substance use disorders in Colorado and examine potential solutions concerning prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery from opioid and other substance use disorders.

2014 Summary of Major Health Care Legislation

This issue brief addresses Colorado’s emergency mental health hold procedure, which allows for an individual to be involuntarily held for a 72‑hour period of treatment and evaluation if he or she appears to have a mental illness and, due to the mental illness, appears to be an imminent danger to self or others, or appears to be gravely disabled.  The brief also discusses treatment options following a mental health hold and the newly created Community Transition Specialist Program.   

This issue brief provides an overview of Regional Accountable Entities, organizations responsible for coordinating the physical and behavioral health care of the state’s Medicaid members.

During the 2020 session, the General Assembly considered bills related to immunizations, food safety, chemical and consumer safety, substance use disorders, and paid sick leave.

This issue brief addresses the state’s emergency mental health hold procedure, which allows for a person to be involuntarily held for a 72-hour period of treatment and evaluation if he or she appears to have a mental illness and, due to the mental illness, appears to be an imminent danger to self or others, or appears to be gravely disabled.  The brief also discusses short-term and long-term treatment following a mental health hold.

The health care system frequently distinguishes between physical and behavioral health.  Physical health refers to the condition of the body. Behavioral health refers to the condition of cognitive processing systems.  Behavioral health services include, among others: individual and group therapy; psychiatric care; assertive community treatment; substance use disorder services; and prevention and early intervention activities.

Pursuant to Section 10-16-221, Colorado Revised Statutes, the Statewide Health Care Review Committee was created to study health care issues across the state.

Report No. 2022-TE28

Report No. 2022-TE15

Report No. 2022-TE16

Report No. 2022-TE17

Report No. 2020-TE10

Note: A more recent evaluation was issued in March 2025. Click HERE to access the March 2025 report.

Report No. 2020-TE9

To date, Colorado and eight other states have enacted paid family and medical leave laws.  The other states include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.  In addition, Hawaii has a paid medical leave law.  This memorandum provides a summary of the major components of the paid family and medical leave laws in each of these states.

Submitted herewith is the final report of Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee.  This committee was created pursuant to Article 22 of Title 10, Colorado Revised Statutes.  The purpose of this committee is to guide Colorado's health insurance exchange, including reviewing the financial and operational plans of the exchange and approving the appointment of the executive director of the exchange.

Report No. 2023-TE1

Report No. 2023-TE18

Addressing the substance use disorder epidemic and providing behavioral health resources to communities throughout Colorado were the two major behavioral health care themes that emerged during the Second Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly. Important behavioral health bills are discussed below.

Health insurance is a method of paying or receiving reimbursement for health care costs from covered services. Health insurance companies spread the costs and risk of covered health care services across all members of a plan in exchange for premiums and other cost-sharing mechanisms, such as deductibles and copayments. These rates are actuarially determined and set at a level that covers the estimated health care costs incurred by all members of the group. This issue brief provides an overview of the health insurance market in Colorado and federal and state health insurance regulations.

Many pieces of legislation regarding health care and health insurance made their way through the 74^th General Assembly. Most of the legislation fell into the following categories: removing barriers to treatment, and licensing requirements.

Colorado currently administers 11 Home- and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the five waivers available to children. An issue brief entitled Medicaid Waiver Programs Part II – Home- and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers for Adults discusses the six waivers available to adults.

This issue brief provides information about Community-Centered Boards (CCBs) and recent legislation enacted to promote CCB transparency.

The Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee was created pursuant to Article 22 of Title 10, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to guide Colorado's health insurance exchange, including reviewing the financial and operational plans of the exchange and approving the appointment of the executive director of the exchange.