Colorado § 27-80-121 - Perinatal substance use data linkage project - center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies - report.

§ 27-80-121. Perinatal substance use data linkage project - center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies - report.

(1) The center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies established in section 27-80-118, referred to in this section as the "center", in partnership with an institution of higher education and the state substance abuse trend and response task force established in section 18-18.5-103, shall conduct a statewide perinatal substance use data linkage project that uses ongoing collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health actions to improve outcomes for families impacted by substance use during pregnancy. The data linkage project shall utilize data from the medical assistance program established in articles 4 to 6 of title 25.5; the electronic prescription drug monitoring program created in part 4 of article 280 of title 12; the Colorado TRAILS system, as defined in section 16-20.5-102 (10); the Colorado immunization information system created pursuant to part 24 of article 4 of title 25; the Colorado child care assistance program created in part 1 of article 4 of title 26.5; the BHA; the early intervention program for infants and toddlers under part C of the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq.; the Colorado department of education; other data sources related to maternal health, as collected by the Colorado department of public health and environment; the Colorado all-payer health claims database described in section 25.5-1-204; family experiences and provider perspectives, when necessary; and birth and death records to examine the following:

(a) Health-care utilization by pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders and their infants compared to the general population;

(b) Human service, education, public health program utilization, and substance use treatment by pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders and their infants compared to the general population;

(c) Health-care, human service, education, and public health program outcomes, including morbidity and mortality outcomes, among pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders and their infants compared to the general population; and

(d) Costs associated with health-care, human service, education, and public health program provisions for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders and their infants compared to the general population.

(2) The data linkage project shall use vital records to establish maternal and infant dyads beginning at the birth hospitalization and retrospectively link the prenatal period and prospectively link the first year postpartum.

(3) The data linkage project may conduct ongoing research related to the incidence of perinatal substance exposure or related infant and family health, education, and human service outcomes based on the standards specified in sections 19-1-103 (1)(a)(VII) and 19-3-102 (1)(g) for determining child abuse or neglect or whether a child is neglected or dependent.

(4) The data linkage project may connect additional state and non-state data sources for the purpose of improving population-level estimates of perinatal substance exposure and examining system utilization and outcomes.

(5) The governor's office of information technology shall obtain data and perform secure linkage and anonymization on behalf of the state.

(6) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter throughout the duration of the data linkage project, the center shall report progress on the data linkage project and the results, if available, to the health and insurance committee and the public health care and human services committee of the house of representatives and the health and human services committee of the senate or their successor committees.

Source: L. 2019: Entire section added, (SB 19-228), ch. 276, p. 2606, § 12, effective May 23. L. 2020: (2.5) added, (SB 20-028), ch. 186, p. 854, § 7, effective June 30. L. 2021: Entire section amended, (SB 21-137), ch. 362, p. 2375, § 22, effective June 28. L. 2022: IP(1) amended, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 864, § 119, effective July 1; IP(1) amended, (HB 22-1278), ch. 222, p. 1561, § 158, effective July 1. L. 2024: (1) and (3) amended, (SB 24-047), ch. 440, p. 3082, § 10, effective June 6.

Editor's note: Amendments to this subsection IP(1) by HB 22-1278 and HB 22-1295 were harmonized.

Cross references: For the short title ("Behavioral Health Recovery Act of 2021") and the legislative declaration in SB 21-137, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 362, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.