Bennet, Hickenlooper Celebrate Colorado Selection for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program

Jun 5, 2026 | Press Releases

Denver - Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper celebrated Colorado being chosen as one of 10 states to participate in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program as a result of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

CCBHCs offer comprehensive behavioral health care to anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age. Participating in this program will improve the quality of systems and broaden patient access throughout Colorado's behavioral health system.

"This will strengthen Colorado's behavioral health services and support Coloradans from the Front Range to the Western Slope," said Bennet. "Colorado's community clinics, advocates, and state partners have worked for years to build a more connected and accessible behavioral health system. By securing Colorado's spot in this demonstration program and bringing a crucial boost in federal funding to our local clinics, we are tearing down barriers to care. We are ensuring that compassionate, 24/7 crisis treatment is stable, sustainable, and within reach for every Coloradan, regardless of their zip code or ability to pay."

"Nobody should be denied care because of their ability to pay," said Hickenlooper. "For too long, cost has kept people from getting the mental health care they need. These community clinics, funded through our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, will help make behavioral health and addiction treatment more accessible to more Coloradans."

In January 2025, Bennet and Hickenlooper celebrated the announcement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that Colorado would receive $1 million to address the mental health crisis and expand community behavioral health care. This funding helped Colorado develop CCBHC certification processes, establish prospective payment systems for Medicaid-reimbursable services, and prepare an application to participate in a four-year demonstration program. Colorado was one of 14 states and Washington, D.C. selected for this funding. Additionally, In 2022, Bennet and Hickenlooper helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to tackle the national mental health crisis and help gun violence in the United States.

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