HB 19-1287 Summary

• Creates a 24-hour web-based behavioral health capacity tracking system to help families, law enforcement, courts, and emergency personnel locate available treatment beds and medication-assisted treatment programs, with implementation required by January 1, 2021.

• Establishes a statewide care navigation program by January 1, 2020, integrated into the 24-hour telephone crisis service, to assist individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment by screening needs, identifying treatment options, and providing access regardless of insurance status.

• Creates a grant program to increase substance use disorder treatment capacity in rural and frontier communities, with $5 million appropriated for 2019-20, distributing funds equally among managed service organization areas with at least 50% rural or frontier counties.

• Appropriates $5.75 million total for 2019-20 fiscal year from general fund, healthcare affordability fees, and marijuana tax funds to support the tracking system, care navigation services, and administrative staffing.

• Requires tracking system to include daily capacity updates from psychiatric facilities, inpatient/residential treatment, withdrawal management facilities, and opioid treatment programs, with penalties for consistent noncompliance.