Transcript of Gov. Polis' 2020 State of the State address

Gov. Polis. Photo Credit: Denver7

Orchid's 
Take

• "EFFICIENCY" is one way to look @ the world -- and when it comes to Behavioral Health -- it is not exactly wrong.
• So Voluntary SCREENING & DATA Collection regarding level of care needs could be considered "EFFICIENT," and essential for Medicaid Network Adequacy.
• Colorado's great needs, like most States, are at the High End of the Continuum of Care -- both with respect to ACUITY and COST.  That's a SCARY thing for politicians to address -- and it is why they generally don't.  It is even scarier for Individuals and Families.
• So when you start talking about "EFFICIENCY" does that mean one is going to continue to SIDESTEP one of the CRUCIAL Issues of our time, namely the care and treatment of people with the most significant and serious mental health needs?  It sure sounds like it.
• Further, ultimately we  must have better treatments.  That is a lot of what Federal CURES Legislation was about.
• At the State Level, Colorado could push for the development of a Mental Health ​Center of Excellence at UC Health in line with UC Health's Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Last year, I appointed a Behavioral Health Task Force to conduct a top-to-bottom review of Colorado’s behavioral health system and author a strategic plan for reform by June of this year.

Our state already spends $1.4 billion on mental and behavioral health we need to make our system more efficient so we can help more people get the care they need.

I want to thank CDHS Director Michele Barnes, and Representatives Lois Landgraf, Tracy KraftTharp, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet for their work on the Behavioral Health Task Force, and Senator Brittany Pettersen and Rep. Chris Kennedy and the members of the Opioid Study Committee for their work.

​I look forward to collaborating with you all on desperately-needed reforms.

The Challenge of a Frustrated Society

​Our take on Gov. Polis' concerning brief comments on behavioral health.

The comments are representative of a society that is spending a lot on behavioral health and not always getting a lot to show for it -- and by and large that is NOT because people aren't trying.

Further, we really haven't come to terms with essentially  Long Term Rehabilitative & Custodial Care for serious cognitive disability.

That is not most people with mental illness -- but it is Thousands of people in Colorado.