I_OpioidSubstance_2023A 07/19/2023 09:14:42 AM Committee Summary

Dr. Emily Zavorny, Colorado Pharmacist Society and Colorado Pharmacy Coalition, gave an overview of pharmacists in the state. She discussed current efforts Colorado pharmacists use in prevention and treatment including providing opioid antagonists, working with opioid tapers, ALTO use, and opioid treatment plans.

Dr. Robert J. Valuck, Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, went over legislation in other states related to MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder). He discussed things done to expand coverage in Colorado including the Colorado MAT Expansion Project, funding to stand up MOUD services in a sustainable manner, and over the counter availability.



Dr. Valuck answered questions from members of the committee.

The panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Jade Wooward, Illuminate Colorado, gave an overview of the programs and services available. She discussed practice and policy recommendations recommended in 2018 that led to legislation in House Bill 19-1193. She gave recommendations including maintaining current funding that supports child care for parents in behavioral health and substance use treatment, ensuring that onsite child care services are funded, and exploring the additions of enrollment in treatment and recovery services as an eligible activity for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. She discussed safe storage practice recommendations and highlighted the work of Circle of Parents.

Dr. Courtney Everson, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, discussed what makes the project unique and how they are able to track results further after birth. She discussed the importance of the first year of life for both the baby and caregiver. She spoke about the importance of using data to drive outcomes. Dr. Clemens asked that the committee request a 250,000 annual appropriation. She discussed Senate Bill 21-137 and ways to strengthen the legislation and advance project impact through key enabling language revisions. Members of the panel answered questions from the committee.

Maisha Fields, Black Leaders Action Group, spoke about substance abuse in the black community. She went over data on what sources drugs are coming from into this population.

Lorez Meinhold, Caring for Denver Foundation, discussed changes across their funding areas of alternatives to jail, community centered solutions, and youth.

Ms. Meinhold spoke about the 5280 High School and other recovery programs available in the area. She discussed community themes including partnering with local organizations, supporting community care systems, fostering more options for care, and having staffers with lived experience.

Jessica Courtney, Mile High Behavioral Health, spoke about family support systems and having resources available so the family can recover as a whole. She highlighted the lack of support for adolescence dealing with substance abuse issues. Dr. Matthew Batliner, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, spoke about the substance issues they see while practicing. He spoke about substances with higher chance of exposure and the dangers of their use. Members of the panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Cara Cheevers, Colorado Division of Insurance, presented to the committee. She gave an overview over the consumer experience for insurance. She went over regulation changes and different metrics used to examine provider to enrollee ratios and time and distance standards.

Ms. Cheevers answered questions from members of the committee.

Dr. Jonathan Clapp, Colorado Pain Society, discussed the importance of psychological intervention in pain management to help prevent opioid dependence. A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment B).

Dr. Brent Van Dorsten, Colorado Center for Behavioral Medicine, discussed the importance of behavioral and mood predictors and how this relates to accessibility. A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment C). He discussed how behavioral health issues may lead to physical issues and aversion to treatment. He spoke about the difficulties in getting psychological help due to poor reimbursement rates causing a lack of commercial insurance acceptance.

The panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Christen Bates, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, answered the question the committee asked the previous panel. She discussed the history of substance use treatment within the criminal justice system. She spoke about alternative payment models that require less paperwork, allow for more flexibility, address social needs, and recognize specific populations. She discussed metrics for measuring success of programs.

Dr. Annie Lee, Colorado Access, gave an overview of Colorado Access and the services they provide.

Dana Pepper, Colorado Access, gave an overview of how Colorado Access supports Value Based Providers (VBP). She discussed social determinants of health and how they work to connect organizations together to meet consumer needs.

Kathie Snell, Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, went over the values of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery and how they try to model their services. She discussed the requirements for certified community behavioral health clinics. She explained measurement based care and how they attempt to apply it in their work.

The panel answered questions from members of the committee.

The panel continued to answer questions from members of the committee.

Sarah Prager, representing Substance Use Services, presented to the committee. She gave an overview of workforce solutions for substance healthcare workers. The committee asked questions to Ms. Prager on the toll and turnover of being a healthcare worker. Ms. Prager went over different avenues and benefits that providers can give to workers.

Frank Cornelia, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CHBC), presented to the committee. Mr. Cornelia gave an overview of CHBC's work. He spoke of the increased demand of needs across the population and the trends of employment in the industry.

Members of the panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Jennifer Place, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, went over key language to help in supporting and measuring recovery in Colorado. She discussed challenges they face and policy suggestions to help address them.

Tonya Wheeler, Advocates for Recovery Colorado, discussed Colorado's statewide strategic plan for substance use disorder recovery. A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment D).

Racquel Garcia, HardBeauty Foundation, gave an overview of the work HardBeauty does and challenges they face in helping those needing services.

Members of the panel answered questions from members of the committee.

Butch Lewis, Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences, discussed recovery residence software and how it may help with logistics. He discussed changes to legislation that have affected their work. Mr. Lewis answered questions from members of the committee.

David Shapiro, Center for Health, Work and Environment and Colorado School of Public Health, spoke about the peer learning series and touched on important takeaways. He spoke about the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace work group. He went over a model for recovery-friendly workplace legislation. David Secunda, Recovery Friendly Workplace Employer Workgroup, spoke about the model legislation.

Kelly Smith, representing Behavioral Health Group, testified.
Stephanie Stewart, representing themself, testified.

Dr. Stewart answered questions from members of the committee.

Dr. Valuck returned to answer questions from the committee.