1041 results for author: Mental Health Colorado

Not Enough Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants in Colorado to Address Needs of Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2020 Media Contact: Aubree Hughes 405.615.3845 Not Enough Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants in Colorado to Address Needs of Children Denver­—Children as young as 6 months old need mental health support—and the majority in Colorado do not get the care they need. House Bill 20-1006 will improve the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultations (ECMHC) program in Colorado and promote a strong, healthy start for our children. An early childhood consultant is an individual who connects early childhood professionals, families and young children to qualified professionals with expertise in early ...

Transportation, education and justice on the legislative agenda

January 22, 2020 By: Faith Miller and Pam Zubeck Originally appeared in the Colorado Springs Independent AND THEY'RE OFF Don’t expect Democrats to back away from their progressive agenda during this legislative session, despite some backlash stemming from the long list of bills that their trifecta of power — controlling the state House, Senate and governor’s office — enabled them to push through last year. One prominent example: the controversial red-flag bill. While some sheriffs have said they’d refuse to enforce the red-flag law, which enables someone to petition a court to remove guns from owners seen as a danger to ...

North Range Behavioral Health moves into new, larger facility in Frederick

January 21, 2020 By: John Marinelli Originally appeared in Time-Call.  North Range Behavioral Health, a northern Colorado mental health organization, opened a new, larger location in Frederick on Tuesday. The 12,000-square-foot facility at 5901 Majestic St. in Frederick — a counseling center offering services including outpatient therapy, psychiatry, individual and group therapy and DUI education and treatment — was completed in late 2019, according to a press release from North Range Behavioral Health. The organization previously operated for five years out of North Vista Medical Center along Colo. 52, and Administrative Director ...

Mental Health Colorado Bill To Support People in Recovery and Address Health Care Workforce Shortage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 17, 2020 Media Contact: Flora Welsh 502.727.4329 Mental Health Colorado Bill To Support People in Recovery and Address Health Care Workforce Shortage Denver—More Coloradans need mental health or substance use services than ever, yet the workforce remains inadequate, only meeting 30% of the need. House Bill 20-1139 will enhance the role of Peer Support Professionals in the state’s health care landscape. Peer Support Professionals are an essential component of Colorado’s health care workforce and contribute to better outcomes for people with mental health and substance use conditions. Peer support profes...

Bipartisan bill introduced to support Colorado’s mental health care, recovery providers

January 17, 2020 By: Ernest Luning Originally appeared in Colorado Politics  Lawmakers on Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation to boost the role of peer support professionals in Colorado, potentially easing a shortage of specialists who can help treat patients with mental health and addiction issues. House Bill 20-1139, sponsored by state Reps. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, would authorize Medicaid to pay for additional services provided by peers — caregivers who have experienced various mental health and substance-use situations — and establish a tax credit to help them pay for continuing ...

Telehealth is a good option – if your internet connection is fast enough

By: Anusha Roy Date: January 16, 2020 Originally appeared on 9News The idea of telehealth has been gaining popularity in Colorado but there's an issue of access to strong enough internet DENVER — The idea of telehealth has been gaining popularity in Colorado, especially for people who live in rural areas where doctors and behavioral health specialists may be too far away. However, there's a hurdle to telehealth working properly: Internet speed. The Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology shared a map of the state. The areas in green have strong bandwidth and the areas in orange, yellow and red don't. The ...

Big Ideas Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado lawmakers pitched for 2020

January 15, 2020 By: Erica Breunlin, Jennifer Brown, Moe Clark, John Ingold and Jesse Paul Originally appeared in The Durango Herald Teen vaping, mental health parity, a public option and teacher bonuses make list From mental health to teacher pay, Colorado’s leaders are exploring innovative ideas to tackle the state’s biggest challenges. Gov. Jared Polis and four state lawmakers pitched their ideas Tuesday at the Big Ideas Forum hosted by The Colorado Sun, CBS4 and the University of Denver. Here’s a look at their ideas and the challenges they face that will help define the 2020 legislative session. Gov. Jared Polis ...

The cost of establishing 988, a national mental health crisis line

By: Anusha Roy Originally appeared on 9News. Dialing 988 would simplify the process of getting mental health help by phone, but how will the costs be covered? DENVER — Calling 911 works because someone on the other line answers the phone. Calling 988, a national mental health crisis line, would only work if there are enough people to keep up with those calls. At the Rocky Mountain Crisis Services center, where the phone rings more than 180,000 times a year, Chief Executive Officer Bev Marquez said having quality time to spend on those calls is very important. This center takes both from both the state-run helpline, Colorado ...

Colorado’s new parity law for mental health hits a Medicaid snag

By: Evan Wyloge A new Colorado law that requires insurers to reimburse behavioral health care providers for mental conditions on par with compensation for physical conditions left a gap that advocates fear will make it harder for the state’s poorest and most complicated patients on Medicaid to get optimal care. The sweeping overhaul, signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis last year, was meant to create parity in care for the mentally ill, and supporters say it significantly strengthened coverage. Read the full article in The Gazette

Opening Day!

Imagine a Colorado where the workforce is large enough to help all Coloradans who need care. Imagine a Colorado where families don’t have to squander their savings on treatment for their mental health or substance use condition. Imagine a Colorado where a call for mental health help doesn’t lead to criminal charges. The 2nd session of the 72nd Colorado General Assembly starts today, and we have an ambitious agenda. Want to help? Join us today! Sincerely, Vincent Atchity President & CEO Mental Health Colorado