Bill > SB294

This bill modifies Colorado's Medicaid managed care system regulations regarding residential behavioral health services for children in county human or social services custody. Specifically, the bill excludes certain residential treatment services from the current managed care system, including Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) for members under county care. The bill requires the state department to collaborate with the Department of Human Services and Behavioral Health Administration to develop transition policies for these residential treatment programs by December 1, 2025, with implementation by July 1, 2026. These policies aim to improve discharge planning, system connections, utilization management, and step-down service plans. The provisions are set to be repealed on July 1, 2027, suggesting this is a temporary mechanism to study and potentially integrate these specialized behavioral health services into the broader Medicaid managed care system. The bill uses technical terms like MCE (Managed Care Entity) and focuses on creating a more comprehensive approach to managing residential behavioral health services for children in county custody.