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The CDHS Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) is responsible for regulating the provision of behavioral health services by developing and monitoring reasonable and proper standards, rules and regulations.
OPEN for Comment: Updates to DUI/DWAI Education and Treatment Rules
State law (§ 42-4-1301.3, C.R.S.) requires the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) to approve and oversee DUI/DWAI education and treatment programs. A DUI/DWAI Treatment and Education rule update is being proposed to provide clarity in rule, combine OBH policies into written rule to simplify expectations for providers, and better align written rule with language used in the guiding statutes.
OBH is required to provide public notice on proposed rules. The proposed rule draft can be found here. Interested stakeholders have an opportunity to present feedback prior to the submission of the rules to the State Board of Human Services for review and adoption. Feedback will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2019. Feedback on the proposed rules can be submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health here.
OPEN for Comment: Staff-Client Relationships / Emergency Commitment Qualified Staff
To protect the safety of individuals receiving services in entities regulated by the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), OBH is proposing rules that require regulated entities have a policy that ensures staff do not participate in activities prohibited by the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
The proposed rule update also expands which licensed or certified professionals can oversee the day-to-day operations in a withdrawal management facility and establishes that these individuals also assume the responsibility of accepting, evaluating, informing, and providing treatment to individuals on an emergency commitment.
OBH is required to provide public notice on proposed rules. The proposed rule draft can be found here. Interested stakeholders have an opportunity to present feedback prior to the submission of the rules to the State Board of Human Services for review and adoption. Feedback will be accepted until 5 p.m. on July 11, 2019. Feedback on the proposed rules can be submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health here.
OPEN for Comment: Recovery Residence Certification Program (HB 19-1009)
The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) has created a rule draft implementing the Recovery Residence Certification Program as required by House Bill 19-1009. The draft rules establish the requirements that a recovery residence certifying body must be approved by OBH in order to certify recovery residences in Colorado.
House Bill 19-1009 also created a Recovery Residence Certification Grant Program administered by OBH to pay for the cost of recovery residences applying for certification. The Draft rules establish the requirements for applying for a Recovery Residence Certification Grant.
Nine OBH Rules Adopted in 2018; Updates Planned for 2019
During calendar year 2018, the Office of Behavioral Health presented nine rule-making packets at the State Board of Human Services. All nine rule-making packets were adopted. The adopted rules include:
Specific information about OBH rule-making can be found on the Secretary of State’s website. The Office of Behavioral Health will update at least four rule sections during calendar year 2019. The complete 2019 Department of Human Service Regulatory Agenda contains the rules each CDHS office plans to update. The four OBH rule sections for on the CDHS 2019 Regulatory Agenda include:
OPEN for Comment: Proposed Rule Updates to the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act
The Office of Behavioral Health has created a rule draft updating how the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act will be implemented to align with the changes to the Act with the passage of House Bill 18-1094. Significant changes to the Act from House Bill 18-1094 include:
The Office of Behavioral Health is required to provide public notice on proposed rules. The proposed rule draft can be found here. Interested stakeholders have an opportunity to present feedback prior to the submission of the rules to the State Board of Human Services for review and adoption. Feedback will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Aug. 30, 2018. Feedback on the proposed rules can be submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health here.
NOW AVAILABLE: Involuntary Transportation Hold Frequently Asked Questions Document
UPDATE: Proposed Rules for Facilities Reporting Mental Health Procedure Data
OPEN for Comment: Proposed Rules for the Community Transition Specialist Program
CAC Trainer Fees Executive Director Rules Adopted June 18
On June 18, 2018, CDHS Executive Director Reggie Bicha adopted rules to formalize the fees currently established in the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Clinical Training Program – OBH Approved Trainer Program. Pursuant to Section 27-80-111, C.R.S., rules needed to be established by the executive director for the fees to be charged for addiction counselor training. The adopted rules that will go into effect Aug. 1 can be found here. Additional information on the Certified Addiction Counselor Training Program can be found here.
Medication Consistency in Designated Facilities Rule Adopted June 1, 2018, effective August 1, 2018.
To ensure individuals, with behavioral or mental health disorders, transitioning between settings and service providers have access to a broad spectrum of effective medications. Senate Bill 17-019 requires: The use of a medication formulary that lists required medications that are to be used across systems; and, Rules that require providers under the authority of the Department of Human Services to use the medication formulary. The required formulary psychotropic medications can be found here.
Rules for Medication Consistency in Designated Facilities were adopted by the State Board of Human Services on June 1, 2018. These rule will go into effect Aug. 1, 2018. The adopted rule can be found here.
Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening Rules Adopted April 6, 2018, effective June 1, 2018
The Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening Rules were adopted at the State Board of Human Services meeting on April 6. The proposed rules are designed to provide a procedure for how designated facilities are to implement this new hold, created by Senate Bill 17-207.
The Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening Rules will go into effect June 1, 2018. The adopted rules can be found here.
OPEN for Comment: Proposed Rule Update for Incorporation by Reference and DUI Provisions
This rule change proposal updates how references within OBH Rule Volume 2 CCR 502-1 are cited, this update will align OBH Rule Volume 2 CCR 502-1 with federal incorporation by reference requirements established in 1 CFR Part 51. The rule change proposal also removes outdated regulatory requirements for DUI providers, as some approved DUI curriculum do not require a pre-test or a post-test.
The Office of Behavioral Health is required to provide public notice on proposed rules. The proposed rule draft can be found here. Interested stakeholders have an opportunity to present feedback prior to the submission of the rules to the Executive Director of the Department of Human Services for review and adoption. Feedback will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May 9. Feedback on the proposed rules can be submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health here.
OPEN for Comment: Proposed Rules for Emergency Departments Reporting 72-Hour Hold Data
Senate Bill 17-207 (27-65-105(7), C.R.S.) made a requirement for emergency medical services facilities (emergency departments) to report their 72-hour hold data to the Office of Behavioral Health annually. The proposed rules establish what data shall be submitted and the procedure for how these emergency medical services facilities report their data to the Office of Behavioral Health.
OPEN for Comment: Proposed Rule Update for License/Designation Renewal Timing
Facilities licensed or designated by the Office of Behavioral Health must submit a renewal application every two years. Current rule allows facilities to have their license or designation stay in effect after the expiration date as long as OBH receives the renewal application on or before the date of the expiration. Other OBH rules require licensing renewal applications be submitted to OBH 60 days prior to the expiration of the license, creating inconsistency in the licensing renewal process and allowing facilities to operate after their license has expired.
The proposed rule removes the regulatory provision that a license or designation remains in effect during the approval process when a renewal application is submitted to OBH on or before the current expiration date. This requires facilities to submit their renewal application 60 days prior to the expiration of their current license or designation, which is a current OBH rule.
April Rule Adoption Hearing at State Board of Human Services for the Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening Rules
On March 2, the Office of Behavioral Health presented the Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening proposed rules for second reading at the State Board of Human Services. The proposed rules are designed to provide a procedure for how designated facilities are to implement this new hold, created by Senate Bill 17-207.
The State Board of Human Services postponed the adoption hearing for these rules until April 6 to allow for clarifying and procedural updates to the proposed rules.
The rule-making packet that will be presented at the State Board of Human Service Meeting on April 6 can be found here.
Medication Consistency Rules Scheduled for First Reading at State Board of Human Services in May
To ensure individuals, with behavioral or mental health disorders, transitioning between settings and service providers have access to a broad spectrum of effective medications. Senate Bill 17-019 requires:
In compliance with Senate Bill 17-019, the Office of Behavioral Health has created a rule draft requiring the use of the medication formulary in facilities designated by the Office of Behavioral to provide mental health services. The updated rule-making packet incorporating stakeholder feedback can be found here. Also, the Medication Formulary can be found here. The rule will be presented at the State Board meeting on May 4.
Second Reading at State Board of Human Services of the Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening Proposed Rules
The Office of Behavioral Health will be presenting the Involuntary Transportation for Immediate Screening proposed rules for second reading (adoption) at the State Board of Human Services meeting on March 2, 2018, at 10 a.m. at 1575 Sherman St. in Denver. The rule-making packet being presented can be found here.
Signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper on May 18, 2017, SB17-207 introduced new language intended to divert individuals with behavioral health disorders from entering the criminal justice system. This legislation included changes to Section 27-65-105, C.R.S., one of those changes created a new involuntary transportation of immediate screening hold. This new Involuntary Transportation Hold:
The Office of Behavioral Health, in collaboration with the Mental Health Advisory Board for Service Standards and Regulations, created a rules draft for how a 27-65 Designated Facility provides services when an individual arrives at their facility on the new involuntary transportation for immediate screening hold. The new rules will only affect designated facilities, but the rules will provide the outline for best-practice guidelines. The Office of Behavioral Health will create and distribute these best-practice guidelines, to inform individuals with lived experience, other facilities, and intervening professionals on how the new hold procedure should be implemented.
