Due to new legislation, Boulder County and western Colorado will see new management of substance use disorder service in the new year.
In 2022, the Colorado legislature passed new laws stating a Manage Service Organization, or MSO, cannot be comprised of or owned by more than 50% of behavioral health providers.
The MSO — currently run by Mental Health Partners — manages the funds allocated for substance abuse throughout the region. This organization contracts out with local services providers, according to Marc Condojani director of adult treatment and recovery at the Behavior Health Administration.
The funding allocated through the BHA helps those who are under 300% of the poverty level. It also supplements insurance and Medicaid when needed, Condonjani said.
The deadline to meet the new legislative mandate is Jan. 1. Condonjani said Mental Health Partners looked at the requirements early and notified BHA that they would not meet the requirements in time.
Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Network, Inc. (Rocky Mountain Health Plans), a western Colorado-based company, has been awarded to serve western Colorado, and Signal Behavioral Health Network, Inc. (Signal) has been awarded to serve Boulder County, according to a news release from BHA.
“The legislation allowed us to select a MSO for western Colorado and Boulder County from existing MSOs providing services elsewhere in the state, but the BHA felt an application process would be more equitable. None of the existing MSOs in the state had a clear history or connections in western Colorado, and we knew having that regional connection would be beneficial. We also knew there were other qualified organizations, with those regional connections, that may be interested in serving as a MSO,” said Kayla Martin, BHA contracts and procurement manager.
Condonjani does not believe the change in MSOs will impact the clients being served. He said the groups have been working together to ensure a seamless transition for both service providers and clients.
“Although the new MSO contracts will not be actively serving their designated regions until January 1, they will begin preparation in November to ensure western Colorado and Boulder County providers and clients have no interruption in services. The new MSOs are expected to support continuity of care by contracting with all current MSO subcontractors for these regions,” Condojani said.
