UCHealth’s $150 million investment in behavioral health services, launched in 2019, has expanded access to care for more than 188,000 patients across Colorado. The initiative was developed in response to the state’s mental health crisis, with over 380,000 residents previously lacking needed mental health care.
“When the initiative launched, more than 380,000 Colorado residents were not receiving the mental health care they needed,” said Elizabeth B. Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO. “We knew we had to take a bold step to help address this growing problem. Behavioral health is essential to overall health and today, our patients have access to numerous outpatient options, virtual behavioral health services, new inpatient behavioral health units and interventions to help prevent suicides and unnecessary arrests.”
A significant component of the effort involved integrating licensed behavioral health specialists into primary care clinics. As of now, these specialists are present in 62 clinics statewide, with plans to reach 65 by year-end. More than 204,000 visits have occurred through this model.
“At UCHealth, integrating behavioral health into primary care reflects our commitment to caring for all our patients’ needs, both physically and mentally,” said Elicia Bunch, UCHealth’s vice president of behavioral health. “We know that individuals with behavioral health conditions in our communities often do not get necessary treatment. This approach brings mental and physical health together in a familiar setting and helps reduce the stigma and barriers that have kept too many patients from getting the help they need.”
Patient experiences reflect the impact of these changes. John, a patient at a northern Colorado clinic who received coordinated support from his physician and an on-site clinical social worker, noted: “The process was seamless. Having my trusted primary care provider connect me with someone in the same office allowed me to get help quickly, without requiring me to get a referral, go to a different location or navigate the insurance coverage process. I feel so much better, and I’ve been telling my friends, many of whom are also struggling, about how quick and easy it is to get help.”
Among other milestones since 2019:
– In 2023 UCHealth opened a new 40-bed inpatient psychiatric unit at University of Colorado Hospital; over 1,200 patients have received specialized care there.
– A new 50-bed inpatient unit will open at Poudre Valley Hospital in December 2025.
– The Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) began accepting major insurance plans leading to an increase in outpatient visits by 85% and residential services by 60%.
– Partnerships with nine law enforcement agencies resulted in over 14,000 crisis calls being managed since November 2022; more than 85% resolved without arrest or emergency department involvement.
– Virtual behavioral health services expanded statewide with over 430,000 requests for service since launch.
– A virtual group therapy program has served approximately 1,400 rural patients needing higher levels of support.
– Over two million suicide risk screenings are conducted annually.
– Three specialty clinics now offer advanced therapies such as ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), Esketamine treatments and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
“We’ve seen the transformative impact of these expanded services firsthand,” said Dr. Andrew Sylvester, psychiatrist and medical director of the virtual behavioral health group therapy program. “Our virtual behavioral health group therapy program can admit patients from anywhere in the state and of the almost 1,400 patients treated in our various groups, we have had patients from Trinidad, Julesburg, Craig and other rural locations who would have otherwise had limited access to group programming. In just over three years we’ve gone from offering a few groups to patients at risk for hospitalization to 17 providing human connection education and support.”
UCHealth is also working with University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus partners on a Mental Health Collaborative funded by The Anschutz Foundation aimed at merging research with clinical care.
