New Mandatory Disclosure Rules for Colorado Mental Health Providers Now in Effect
The Colorado legislation that went into effect August 1, 2024, changed the disclosures mental health providers were required to make to their clients under state law. The new law is a reminder to providers of mental health services in Colorado to update their patient disclosure notices. In Colorado, a mental health provider must give specific information in writing when the client is first in contact with them. It applies to a variety of mental health professionals: psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, addiction counselors, and licensee candidates.
Mandatory disclosure includes:
- Provider's name, business address, and business phone number.
- All degrees, credentials, certifications, or registrations issued to the provider; relevant education, training, and experience.
- Contact information of the relevant board regulating the provider's profession.
- Some statements deal with fees, patient free choice and right to information, inappropriateness of sexual relationships between provider and client, confidentiality of issues discussed during sessions, and record retention.
Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-245-216(1)
The new law significantly narrowed how much information had to be disclosed. Previously, the Colorado statute mandated information about levels of regulation that apply to various mental health professionals be included by providers. Still, this requirement was eliminated by Senate Bill 2024 Colo. Legis. Serv. Ch. 217 (S.B. 24-115). That makes it good for providers since some of the disclosures have been rolled back here.
