Counselors - Peers - Marriage and Family Therapists - Addiction Counselors
Psychologists - Social Workers - Pre-licensure Professionals - Interns
...for a diverse, competent, and sustainable behavioral healthcare workforce.
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- About COMBINE
- What We've Done
We've been advocating for the needs of a diverse, competent, and sustainable behavioral healthcare workforce. Below you can see some of what we've accomplished and how we've grown since 2019.
- 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 prohibits prior authorization requirements 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- Automatic denials of F64 (gender dysphoria and associated codes) rescinded as of July 2022.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 cancellend its preauthorization requirements.
- On January 20, 2022, 10 members of COMBINE testified in front of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC).
- HCPF, and RAEs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 now meet regularly with COMBINE teams.
- 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 were assured of a 5 day time frame and an end to the back-and-forth practice of fixing one thing at a time. As of December 2023 providers are still struggling with the Gainwell call center, especially with revalidation.
- 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. Now, Colorado Access allows for supervised billing.
- Increased press coverage on the state of mental health in Colorado.
- COMBINE topped 100 member clinics in February 2022.