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Behavioral health continued to be a focus of the General Assembly in 2023.  Several bills addressing behavioral health services, mental health providers, step therapy requirements for mental health drugs, substance use, and disordered eating were considered during the legislative session.

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.

To date, Colorado and ten other states have enacted paid family and medical leave laws.  The other states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.  However, the New Hampshire is voluntary for employers and relies on tax incentives for businesses to contribute.  In addition, Hawaii has a paid medical leave law that does not extend to family leave.  This memorandum provides a summary of the major components of the paid family and medical leave laws in each of these states.

This memorandum provides information about FY 2022-23 appropriations for state-funded behavioral health programs.  Information for this memorandum was taken from:

• the FY 2022-23 Long Bill, House Bill 22-1329;
• other bills that include funding for behavioral health programs;
• Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff FY 2022-23 figure-setting documents and the JBC Appropriations Report FY 2022-23; and
• department staff.

Report No. 2023-TE1

This issue brief provides an overview of minors’ rights to deny others access to medical records under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and Colorado state law.  It also discusses state law pertaining to the ability of minors to consent to medical care.

The opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rise of homelessness strained Colorado’s behavioral health system.  This memorandum covers the actions the Colorado General Assembly has taken to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health care system, including creating the Behavioral Health Administration, strengthening the behavioral health care workforce, increasing rural health care access, and treating and preventing substance abuse issues.

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.

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.

Report No. 2022-TE37

The General Assembly adopted several measures during the 2022 legislative session related to health care and health insurance.    

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to behavioral health, including several bills recommended by Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force to address gaps in the continuum of care using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as well as bills addressing the establishment of the Behavioral Health Administration, youth and students, mental health holds, and crisis system facilities.

Report No. 2022-TE28

Report No. 2022-TE15

Report No. 2022-TE16

Report No. 2022-TE17

Sunset laws allow the General Assembly to periodically review the need for state regulations, advisory committees, or state agencies and to update the law creating the agency or function.  To accomplish this review, committees of reference hold public sunset hearings on sunset reports issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

The Governor and  General  Assembly  formed  the Behavioral Health Transformational Task  Force and  Subpanel to  develop  recommendations  in 2021. Comprised  of legislators, executive branch representatives, and  diverse behavioral health practitioners  and  experts, the Task  Force and  Subpanel undertook  a deliberative and  transparent  process.

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.

The General Assembly adopted several measures during the 2021 legislative session related to health care and insurance. 

This memorandum summarizes legislative efforts since 2017 to control prescription drug prices.  It includes information on both bills that failed as well as those that became law. 

The following are the safety protocols for the First Regular Session of the 73rd General Assembly.  These protocols are adopted after consultations with a bi-partisan group of legislators, non-partisan legislative staff, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Governor's office. The purpose of these safety protocols is to ensure a safe and healthy working environment while the General Assembly is convened in session.

This issue brief provides an overview of federal and state family, medical, and sick leave laws.

Vaccinations offer protection from common infectious diseases.  The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends specific vaccines for all infants, children, and adults during their lifetime to provide immunity from preventable illness.  A recent analysis estimated that for children born in a single year in the United States, vaccination prevented nearly 20 million cases of disease and over 40,000 deaths.