(1) [Editor's note: This version of subsection (1) is effective until July 1, 2022.] On or before January 1, 2018, crisis walk-in centers, acute treatment units, and crisis stabilization units within the crisis response system, regardless of facility licensure, must be able to adequately care for an individual brought to the facility through the emergency mental health procedure described in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103. The arrangements for care must be completed through the crisis response system or prearranged partnerships with other crisis intervention services.
[Editor's note: This version of subsection (1) is effective July 1, 2022.] All behavioral health entities, crisis walk-in centers, acute treatment units, and crisis stabilization units within the crisis response system, regardless of facility licensure, must be able to adequately care for an individual brought to the facility through the emergency mental health procedure described in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103. The arrangements for care must be completed through the crisis response system or prearranged partnerships with other crisis intervention services.
(a) On or before January 1, 2018, the state department shall ensure that mobile response units are available to respond to a behavioral health crisis anywhere in the state within no more than two hours, either face-to-face or using telehealth operations, for mobile crisis evaluations.
(b) Mobile crisis services may be delivered by criminal justice diversion programs approved by the state department or a crisis response system contractor.
(3) (a) On or before January 1, 2018, all walk-in centers throughout the state's crisis response system must be appropriately designated by the executive director for a seventy-twohour treatment and evaluation, adequately prepared, and properly staffed to accept an individual through the emergency mental health procedure outlined in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103. Priority for individuals receiving emergency placement pursuant to section 27-65-105 is on treating high-acuity individuals in the least restrictive environment without the use of law enforcement.
(b) Increasing the ability of walk-in centers to accept individuals through the emergency mental health procedure outlined in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103 may include, but is not limited to, purchasing, installing, and using telehealth operations for mobile crisis evaluations in partnership with hospitals, clinics, law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate service providers.
Rural crisis facilities are encouraged to work collaboratively with other facilities inthe region that provide care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to form local arrangements.
The state department shall encourage crisis response system contractors in each region to develop partnerships with the broad array of crisis intervention services through mobile response units and telehealth-capable walk-in centers in rural communities that offer care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
[Editor's note: This version of the introductory portion to subsection (6) is effective until July 1, 2022.] The state department shall ensure crisis response system contractors are responsible for community engagement, coordination, and system navigation for key partners, including criminal justice agencies, emergency departments, hospitals, primary care facilities, walk-in centers, and other crisis service facilities. The goals of community coordination are to:
(6) [Editor's note: This version of the introductory portion to subsection (6) is effective July 1, 2022.] The state department shall ensure crisis response system contractors are responsible for community engagement, coordination, and system navigation for key partners, including criminal justice agencies, emergency departments, hospitals, primary care facilities, behavioral health entities, walk-in centers, and other crisis service facilities. The goals of community coordination are to:
Formalize relationships with partners in the contractually defined regions;
Pursue collaborative programming for behavioral health services, including, whenpossible, embedding crisis clinicians and consultants in first response systems;
Build close relationships between first responders and dispatch centers and the crisisresponse system contractor in the region; and
Coordinate behavioral health crises interventions in the community as early as possible to promote diversion from the criminal justice system and continuity of care.
The state department shall explore solutions for addressing secure transportation ofindividuals placed on a seventy-two-hour treatment and evaluation hold pursuant to article 65 of this title 27.
The state department shall ensure consistent training for professionals who have regular contact with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
The state department shall conduct an assessment of need and capacity of the statewide crisis response system to better understand the state's needs for crisis response and service gaps across the state.
Source: L. 2017: Entire section added, (SB 17-207), ch. 205, p. 764, § 5, effective August 9. L. 2019: (1) and IP(6) amended, (HB 19-1237), ch. 413, p. 3640, § 11, effective July 1, 2022. L. 2020: (2) amended, (HB 20-1017), ch. 288, p. 1426, § 12, effective September 14.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 17-207, see section 1 of chapter 205, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.