Sponsored by Brown and Gilchrist, House Bill 1002 will slash credentialing waiting periods and ensure provider directories are accurate so Coloradans can get the care they need
DENVER, CO – On Tuesday, February 10, the Health & Human Services Committee held a hearing on the Provider Participation in Health Insurance bill, priority legislation designed to strengthen and expand Colorado’s mental health workforce and improve access to mental health care for millions of families. Sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown (HD-12) and Lindsay Gilchrist (HD-08), HB-1002 tackles one of the biggest barriers preventing Coloradans from getting timely mental health care: insurance hurdles that keep providers out of network and leave patients without access to affordable treatment.
More than one million Coloradans have a diagnosed mental health condition, yet help remains out of reach. In 2023, one in five Coloradans reported they could not get the mental health care they needed, and more than half said they were unable to get an appointment when it mattered most. Meanwhile, mental health providers report waiting months on average for insurance companies to approve them to join networks, leaving qualified clinicians unable to see and treat insured patients.
“This bill tackles a problem many Coloradans—myself included—know all too well,” said Cara Cheevers, Vice President of Coverage Policy at Inseparable, who testified at today’s hearing. “We have insurance coverage for mental health care, but aren’t able to find a provider in-network when we need one.”
HB26-1002 creates clear, standardized rules to strengthen insurance networks and ensure patients can actually access the care their plans promise to cover. The bill would ensure that insurance companies:
- Approve mental health provider credentials within 60 days of receiving a completed application, bolstering the mental health workforce and increasing provider availability.
- Verify provider participation in their networks and maintain accurate directories so patients can make appointments when they need it.
- Reimburse services by pre-licensed providers delivered under supervision, which expands the workforce, alleviates overburdened caseloads, reduces wait time for patients, and supports early-career providers.
- Reduce social work candidate hours to align with the vast majority of state standards to get trained social workers into the workforce as quickly as possible.
“Administrative and insurance hurdles are sidelining Colorado’s mental health professionals,” said Representative Brown. “This bill cuts through the red tape to strengthen networks and support providers, therefore ensuring families can get care when they need it.”
“By removing these roadblocks, the bill will expand Colorado’s mental health workforce to meet the needs of our communities,” said Representative Gilchrist. “I’m proud to sponsor legislation that will make care easier for patients to access and providers to administer.”
Colorado joins the ranks of states that have taken similar legislative action to strengthen their mental health workforce, including Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.
About Inseparable
Inseparable is a national mental health advocacy organization founded on the principle that mental health is inseparable from physical health. Inseparable drives transformative change at the federal and state levels by engaging bipartisan policymakers, mobilizing support, and advancing mental health and substance use disorder policies that help people thrive. Inseparable works to expand access to care, promote youth mental health, improve crisis response, and strengthen the mental health workforce.