Colorado Medicaid Behavioral Health Provider Network

COMBINE advocates for a diverse, competent, and sustainable behavioral healthcare workforce.

Counselors - Peers - Marriage and Family Therapists - Addiction Counselors - Psychologists - Social Workers - Pre-licensure Professionals - Interns

We've been advocating for the needs of a diverse, competent, and sustainable behavioral healthcare workforce. Below you can see what we've done and how we've grown in 2021 and 2022.

  • We helped draft the bipartisan Medicaid Rate Report (HB22-1268), introduced by Reps. Amabile (D) and Rep. Holtorf (R), and "The Medicaid Mental Health Care Prior Authorization and Recoupment Regulation" bill (SB22-156) sponsored by Senate President Fenberg, Senator Kolker, Rep. Amabile, and Rep. Young. SB22-156 provides protection for providers from recoupment of paid claims, and limits prior authorization for outpatient care. 
  • Advocated for dual enrolled Medicaid/Medicare patients to receive care from LPCs, who cannot participate in Medicare. Approved January 2022.
  • Clarified with OBH, CDPHE, HCPF, BHA, and the RAEs which mental healthcare clinics have to apply for expensive Behavioral Health Entity licensing in 2022.
  • Automatic denials of F64 (gender dysphoria and associated codes) rescinded as of July 2022.
  • CCHA stopped prior authorization for outpatient counseling, required from March 2021 to September 2021.
  • Rocky Mountain Health Plans stopped its preauthorization requirements.
  • CCHA dropped November 2021 recoupment in December 2021.
  • Colorado Access allows for supervision billing.
  • On January 20, 2022, 10 members of COMBINE testified in front of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC).
  • HCPF now meets with COMBINE.
  • CCHA has amended their clawback period to 1 year from time of payment.
  • In February of 2022 members of COMBINE met with Gainwell regarding HCPF "validation" timelines, after requesting a meeting from Veritas hedge fund CEO (the owner of Gainwell). We've received assurance of a 5 day time frame and an end to the back-and-forth practice of fixing one thing at a time.
  • As of February 2022, we have established twice-a-month executive level meetings with CCHA and Colorado Access.
  • HCPF put recoupment limits into RAE contracts (limits to 365 days).
  • Worked with Colorado Access to establish an 'endorsement' so clinics may employ pre-licensure counselors. 
  • Increased press coverage on the state of mental health in Colorado.
  • We passed 100 members in February 2022.
  • Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants (COPA) requested COMBINE endorsement of their legislation, HB22-1268.

Colorado Medicaid Behavioral Health Provider Network

3434 47th Street Suite 130 Boulder CO 80301

303 532 6780 info@combinebh.org

© 2023 COMBINE. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software