# Colorado HB 25-1002

**Type:** State legislation  
**Domain:** Mental health parity enforcement  
**Status:** Enacted, effective January 2026  
**Jurisdiction:** Colorado

## Overview

Colorado HB 25-1002 represents Level 1.5 MHPAEA enforcement by requiring documented access timelines for follow-up visits and outcomes data testing for parity compliance. The law creates state-level infrastructure for outcome-based mental health parity enforcement.

## Key Provisions

- Requires documented access timelines for mental health follow-up visits
- Mandates outcomes data testing for parity compliance evaluation
- Effective January 2026
- Creates natural experiment for whether outcomes testing in state law changes access outcomes

## Significance

Represents emerging Level 1.5 enforcement infrastructure that measures access outcomes rather than just coverage design. Part of 2025-2026 wave of state-level outcome-based parity enforcement alongside Illinois 2024 Final Rule enforcement and DOL Kaiser settlement.

## Timeline

- **2025** — HB 25-1002 enacted
- **2026-01-01** — Law effective, requiring documented access timelines and outcomes data testing

## Sources

- Commonwealth Fund: Enforcing Mental Health Parity
- Becker's Behavioral Health: States Shaping Behavioral Health Parity Enforcement