(1) No later than July 1, 2025, the BHA shall contract with an independent third-party entity to provide services and supports to behavioral health providers seeking to become a behavioral health safety net provider with the goal of the provider becoming self-sustaining.(2) The independent third-party entity shall assist behavioral health providers in accessing alternative payment models and enhanced reimbursement rates through the BHA and medicaid by providing:(a) Support to providers in completing the annual cost reporting to inform medicaid rate-setting;(b) Analysis of current accounting practices and recommendations on implementing new or modified practices to support the soundness of cost reporting;(c) Administrative support for enrolling in different payer types, including, but not limited to, medicaid, medicare, and commercial insurance;(d) Billing and coding support;(e) Claims processing;(f) Data analysis;(g) Compliance and training on policies and procedures;(h) Shared purchasing for technology;(i) Assistance in building provider capacity to become a behavioral health safety net provider; and(j) Any other service and support approved by the BHA.(3) The independent

purchasing for technology;(i) Assistance in building provider capacity to become a behavioral health safety net provider; and(j) Any other service and support approved by the BHA.(3) The independent third-party entity shall prioritize providing services and supports to a behavioral health provider that has not previously used the state cost report process to set medicaid rates.(4) The independent third-party entity shall be nonpartisan and shall not lobby, personally or in any other manner, directly or indirectly, for or against any pending legislation before the general assembly.Added by 2024 Ch. 470,§ 27, eff. 8/7/2024.2024 Ch. 470, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).