A mishmash of funding sources for act -- that go to the efficacy of the treatment & the failure of policy-makers to adequately fund it for all where "reasonably medically necessary"
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    Our objection is NOT to a "mishmash of funding sources" for assertive community treatment -- IF that "mishmash" is adequate to cover all the people who need this evidence-based gold standard of intensive community mental health treatment.

     AND we appreciate the efforts to cover some people.  BUT the level of healthcare inequity is nothing less than horrific, and does have horrific consequences.  It is just NOT something we can accept anymore.

   The Cures Act provides $5 million in "grant" money for Assertive Community Treatment.  
https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2016/12/21st-century-cures-act/

    Additionally,  it provides that Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) funds can be used for Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT).
 
     It is quite something [and that is putting it politely] to come to terms with a situation involving an evidence-based practice for people needing intensive community mental health treatment and federal and state governments that want to only partially fund what is needed.

     ACT is:
  • an evidence-based practice,
  • is the gold standard for intensive community mental health treatment,
  • is included in many US Department of Justice Olmstead settlement agreements; AND
  • is specifically included in Congress' Cures Act as mentioned above.
  • is NOT adequately funded by Colorado Medicaid or available to all where "reasonably medically necessary."

ACT is a critical evidence-based service and pretty much everybody knows it.  There are a lot of challenges on all sides to comply with Olmstead, Parity, Civil Rights not to mention what's coming down the pike with regard to Medicaid.

That's why we are asking the Governor to establish a diverse Work Group on:

Parity, Olmstead, & Civil Rights Issues re:  Assertive Community Treatment in Colorado. 

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