HB19-1160: Mental Health Facility Pilot Program

• Establishes a three-year pilot program authorizing up to two facilities to serve individuals with physical and/or significant mental health diagnoses, providing integrated treatment and services to support transition to independent living.

• Department must develop application by October 1, 2019, and select up to two facilities by February 1, 2020, with one in a community over 100,000 population and one under 100,000 (unless insufficient qualified applicants), and neither can be the same city or both be assisted living facilities.

• Applicants must demonstrate staff-secure (not physically secure) environments, integrated services with community providers, sufficient clinical staffing, partnerships with acute care and psychiatric hospitals, cost savings or neutrality for state medical assistance, and ability to contribute one-third of increased pilot program costs.

• Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office gains access to premises and residents during reasonable hours under federal Older Americans Act authority.

• Appropriates $30,730 from general fund for 2019-20 fiscal year to department of public health and environment for administration and operations, assuming 0.5 FTE; act takes effect August 2, 2019, or later if subject to referendum petition.