HB 22-1302 Summary

• Creates the Primary Care and Behavioral Health Statewide Integration Grant Program to provide grants to physical and behavioral health care providers for implementing evidence-based integrated care models, funded by federal COVID-19 relief money.

• Grant recipients may use funds for developing infrastructure, increasing access to behavioral health services, early interventions, workforce expansion, alternative payment models, and training in trauma-informed care; funds cannot support ongoing executive salaries or existing services already covered by Medicaid.

• Requires grant applicants to demonstrate commitment to measurably increasing behavioral health access, implementing evidence-based integration models, serving publicly funded clients, and participating in technical assistance and shared learning collaboratives.

• Establishes prioritization criteria for grant awards, first favoring applicants serving priority populations experiencing health disparities and historically marginalized communities, then those serving co-occurring conditions, children and youth, pregnant and postpartum people, and small independent practices.

• Appropriates $31.75 million from the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund for the grant program and $3 million for development of a universal contract for behavioral health services; grant recipients must obligate funds by December 30, 2024, and expend them by December 30, 2026; program repeals July 1, 2027.