The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Department) runs the Colorado Medicaid Community Mental Health Services Program (the Mental Health Program). The Mental Health Program provides mental health care to Medicaid members in Colorado.

The Mental Health Program is a managed mental health care program. This means that Medicaid clients get mental health services through a Behavioral Health Organization (BHO). The BHO arranges for and coordinates mental health services for Medicaid members.

HCPF must ask for a federal waiver under Section 1915 (b) of Title XIX of the Social Security Act to have a managed care mental health program. The waiver is sent to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval.

The waiver was first submitted in 1995 at the start of the managed care mental health program and has been renewed every two (2) years since. In addition to State Plan services, the waiver allows the Department to offer a variety of alternative mental health services such as intensive case management, vocational services, recovery services, clubhouses and drop-in centers.  The current waiver expires on June 30, 2011.

Following are changes in the waiver this year.

• Some state plan service definitions have been revised.
• The list of populations excluded from the Waiver has been updated.
• Some "alternative" (non-State Plan) services for children/youth have been re-designated as State Plan Services, avaialble to children/youth age 0-21 under EPSDT.
• Program monitoring processes and results have been updated.

Please note that in certain sections of the waiver, a portion of text has been "lined through" intentionally.  This does not indicate changes or errors.

Click on the following link to access the 2011 mental health waiver renewal files for review:

The Department welcomes your comments about the waiver renewal.  You can mail your comments to:

 
Program Performance Section - 1915(b) Waiver Comments
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
1570 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203

If you prefer, you can send your comments by e-mail to Mental Health Waiver Comments, or you can fax comments to: 303-866-2803. 

Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2011.

Department of Health Care Policy and Financing · 1570 Grant Street · Denver, CO 80203-1818 · (303) 866-2993 Phone · (303) 866-4411 Fax