Licensing Behavioral Health Entities

Behavioral health entities - single license - advisory committee timelines - appropriation. Currently, certain entities that provide behavioral health services must hold various licenses issued by the department of public health and environment (CDPHE) or the department of human services (DHS). The act combines the various licenses into a single license as a behavioral health entity (BHE) and authorizes the state board of health to promulgate rules for the new license. To accomplish the transition, the act establishes a behavioral health entity implementation and advisory committee consisting of executive directors of certain state departments, or the director's designee, and representatives from various stakeholder groups. The act requires a BHE that was previously licensed by CDPHE to obtain a BHE license by July 1, 2022. It requires a BHE that was previously licensed or approved by DHS to obtain a BHE license by July 1, 2024. The act makes conforming amendments, some of which have later effective dates. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $51,472 from the general fund to the department of public health and environment to implement the new license. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More