Colorado LADDERS

The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) manages behavioral health services for the State of Colorado through the Licensing and Designation Database and Electronic Records System, often referred to as “LADDERS.”

This site primarily serves as a landing page for the licensing and/or approval needs for providers of behavioral health services in the state of Colorado, but also includes a directory/search function for persons seeking behavioral health services towards the bottom of the page. If the search function on this page does not meet your needs, BHA recommends that you visit the OwnPath website for more information about providers.

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Behavioral health reform is underway

The State of Colorado is entering a period of regulatory transition and behavioral health reform. Beginning on January 1, 2024, BHA will have the authority to issue Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) licenses to agencies that qualify as a BHE.

This BHE license will replace the existing structure of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment licenses, Community Mental Health Center (CMHC), and Community Mental Health clinic (CMHc) designations. While phasing in the BHE license and phasing out SUD licenses and CMHC/CMHc designations, the LADDERS system will need to support providers in multiple phases of this transition. This transition is expected to continue into the early months of 2025. This Agency Transition Guide may help determine your agency’s path during the transition.

Beginning in 2024, BHA will manage the following behavioral health services through the LADDERS site:

• Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) License
• 27-65 designation
• Controlled Substance License (CSL)
• Recovery Support Services Organization(RSSO) License
• Safety net approval(s) for both Essential and Comprehensive Providers

BHA will manage current SUD licenses, CMHC designations, and CMHc designations subject to this version of 2 CCR 502-1 until the agency’s point of expiration unless another event precipitates an earlier transition to the updated licensing structure. Eventually, the SUD and MH designation structure will be entirely phased out.

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Letter of Intent (LOI)

Agencies begin their transition to the new licensing structure by submitting the required Letter of Intent (LOI) through an online form.

Once this form is submitted, BHA staff will be able to populate a physical copy of your LOI, verify your updated agency information, and importantly, provide your agency’s new username and access for the LADDERS database. Your agency will use this updated LADDERS username and access from this point forward.

Agencies, please start here: Letter of Intent (LOI)

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LADDERS Access

All agencies will utilize this link for LADDERS access: LADDERS Provider Access

Agencies that are actively transitioning or have transitioned to the new licensing structure will receive a username that is connected to the updated agency account. BHA does not intend to deactivate the LEGACY LADDERS account username for these agencies at this time.

BHA will add the notation of “LEGACY ACCOUNT” to the former general account’s name to reduce potential confusion. If you wish to deactivate your former LADDERS account, please email your request to the LADDERS support team at CDHS_LADDERS@state.co.us.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the LADDERS system and need support, please email the LADDERS support team at CDHS_LADDERS@state.co.us or book a technical support session

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Provider Support Documents

The LADDERS User Guide that aligns with the updated BHA Provider Rules (adopted 11/3/2023) can be found here: LADDERS User Guide 2024

The LADDERS User Guide that aligns with the “LEGACY” version of LADDERS and this version of the BHA Provider Rules can be found here: LADDERS User Guide 2023

Instructions on updating your LADDERS Directory Information can be found here: LADDERS Directory Update Instructions

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Find A Service Provider

To access a provider of behavioral health services: