Colorado Revised Statutes Title 25.5. Health Care Policy and Financing § 25.5-4-430. Increasing access to behavioral health care for children and youth--directed payment authority--fee schedule rates

(1)(a) The state department shall analyze how directed payment authority can be used as part of a comprehensive plan to facilitate an adequate network of services for children and youth with behavioral health needs who are under twenty-one years of age and receive medicaid benefits by requiring each managed care entity to pay no less than state department-established fee schedule rates to increase access to care for services needed to promote clinical stabilization. The state department shall analyze how directed payment authority may be applied to clinical stabilization services, including, but not limited to, residential treatment services, multisystemic therapy, functional family therapy, and psychotherapy services for children and youth.

(b) In analyzing directed payment authority and establishing fee schedule rates, the state department shall consider whether the rates should increase based on the acuity of the child or youth.