Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1015 - Prevention Services Division (1009, 1015, 1016 Series)
6 CCR 1015-6 - STATE-DESIGNATED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA DESIGNATION
Section 6 CCR 1015-6-1.4 - Substance Use Disorder Health Professional Shortage Area Determination Method

1) Catchment areas are created for analysis of behavioral health care provider capacity by determining standard road travel distances from the population centroid of each census block group in Colorado using a variable two-step floating catchment area method.

2) The population of each catchment area is the civilian noninstitutionalized population according to the most recent available data from U.S. Census Bureau at the time of analysis.

3) The estimated burden of behavioral health care needs within each catchment area is determined by multiplying the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the catchment area (section 1.4(2)) by mental illness and substance use disorder prevalence according to age and sex. Substance use disorder prevalence is determined using the most recent available data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration.

4) The estimated behavioral health services demand for substance use disorder in each catchment area is determined by multiplying the estimated burden of substance use disorder (section 1.4(3)) by the number of minimally adequate treatments as reported in the National Comorbidity Survey - Replication administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration.

5) The estimated behavioral health care services supply in each catchment area is determined by evaluating a list of behavioral health care providers with a practice address within the catchment area and the behavioral health care providers' encounter productivity. The list of behavioral health care providers is derived from the most recent available data reported in the Colorado Health Systems Directory administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Primary Care Office. Each behavioral health care provider is assigned a behavioral health service 12 month productivity rate. The sum of encounter productivity for all practicing behavioral health care providers in the catchment area is the total estimated substance use disorder services supply in the catchment area.

6) Designation of a census block group as a State Designated Behavioral Health Care Health Professional Shortage Area occurs when the supply of behavioral health service encounters falls below the per capita demand for minimally adequate treatment for those who experience substance use disorder within the catchment area.

7) Current designation status of each region of the state will be posted at least annually on or about July 1 on a publicly accessible website.