The Public Policy Committee consists of NAMI members from various local affiliate groups who have considerable knowledge about mental illness and how public policies can affect NAMI's constituency. Through effective collaboration recommendations are made to the board concerning proposed legislation and policies which should be either challenged or supported. Appropriate action is then taken to inform those at the legislative level how they may protect NAMI's constituency.
You may click on the menu to the left to view the outcomes of NAMI Colorado's inteventions.
There is much work to be done in Colorado to make life better for our loved ones. You can help. Become a member of the NAMI Colorado Constituency Corps. The Corps connects NAMI members with Colorado Legislators to advocate for or against mental health policies that affect people with mental illness and their families. This role involves meeting with your local Senator or Representative in order to inform him/her about mental illness, contacting your legislator when he/she sponsors or votes on a bill that impacts people with mental illness or their families, and forwarding relevant information about bills to other NAMI members in you legislative district. All Members of NAMI Colorado are eligible to participate on the Public Policy Committee. Policy updates are sent out to NAMI members via email periodically. The purpose of these emails is to inform members about important bills and policies that could affect people with mental illness and their families. Our goal is to be more effective in blocking or amending legislation that negatively impacts people with severe and persistent mental illness, we need your help. Read "Grading the States" and see the statistics surrounding Colorado's mental health issues.
If you are interested in, please fill out the application and do one of the following:
Mail it to: NAMI Colorado
1100 Fillmore St.Denver, Colorado 80206
Fax it to: 303-321-0912 Attention: Executive Director
If you are interested in becoming involved with this committee but need more information please contact Lacey Berumen, NAMI Colorado's Executive Director, atlberumen@nami.org
NAMI Colorado has always placed a strong emphasis on public policy education and advocacy. It's important for you to understand how your state government works and how you can insure your voice will be heard.
How a Bill becomes Law
How to testify at a Hearing
About Colorado Revised Statutes
The Glossary of Terms
How the Colorado Legislative process works.
How to contact your State and Federal Legislators
Colorado Parity Law became effective January 1, 2008
Mental health parity refers to providing the same insurance coverage for mental health treatment as that which is offered for medical and surgical conditions. Colorado law requires certain group health plans to provide the same benefits for the illnesses and disorders listed below as are provided for any other medical illness. This means that your benefits for these conditions must be the same as benefits for other physical conditions. This includes:
Deductibles
Limits on number of outpatient visits
Limits on hospital days
The new Parity law adds the following mental disorders to be covered at parity by certain large group insurance plans:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Drug and Alcohol Disorders
Dysthymia
Cyclothymia
Social Phobia
Agoraphobia with Panic Disorder
General Anxiety Disorder
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
(to the extent these diagnoses are treated on an out-patient, day treatment and in-patient basis, exclusive of residential treatment)
The Parity law continues to require that these health plans cover the following six biologically based mental illnesses at parity:
Schizophrenia
Schizo affective disorder
Bi-polar affective disorder
Major Depressive disorder
Specific obsessive-compulsive disorder
Panic disorder
How do I Know if my Insurance Provides Parity Benefits?
The Colorado parity law applies to group health insurance policies with 50 or more employees. Plans which are exempt from the law include: Individual health plans (not contracted through an employer or any other group), Employers with fewer than 50 employees, Self-insured employers. Understanding whether your insurance must comply with Colorado and Federal law can be complicated. New benefit summaries may describe your benefit for mental illness. You may need to check with your employer or with the member customer service department of your health plan.
What are my Rights as a Consumer?
Each health plan has an appeals process. You, your doctor, or therapist can appeal decisions about medical necessity, parity diagnoses or benefits payable if you disagree with your health plan. Details about your health plan’s appeals process can be obtained by calling your member customer service department. If you do not receive a satisfactory result, you may file a complaint with the Colorado Division of Insurance.
For more information we recommend you call:
Your Health Plan Provider
Your Employer
Colorado Division of Insurance: 303-894-7490 or 800-930-3745
Mental Health America of Colorado: 720-208-2220 or 800-456-3249
