What is CFC?
Community First Choice (CFC), also known as 1915(k), allows states to offer Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) attendant care services on a state-wide basis to eligible members. Through CFC, members would have the option to direct their attendant care services or to receive services through an agency.
Attendant care services are those that assist in accomplishing:
- Activities of daily living such as eating, dressing and bathing
- Instrumental activities of daily living such as shopping and keeping doctor appointments
- Health-related tasks such as medication monitoring
Promoting self-direction is a significant program goal and is detailed in federal regulations. To encourage states to adopt CFC, Congress has authorized a higher federal match on CFC related Health First Colorado expenditures. Under CFC, Colorado would pay approximately 44% of program costs instead of the 50% it currently pays on most services.
Who is eligible?
Persons using CFC services must already be eligible for Health First Colorado. CFC does not create a new Health First Colorado eligibility group.
In addition to meeting financial eligibility requirements, a person must have needs that meet an institutional level of care. In other words, a person whose needs are such that without services in the home and community, the person would be at risk of a long-term care placement in a nursing home, hospital, intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, or in an inpatient mental health facility.
Does Colorado currently offer the CFC option?
While Colorado does not offer services through CFC at this time, the state is currently working to design CFC with the goal of implementation by 2025. In doing so, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has created a CFC Council to support the planning and design process from May 2022 - May 2023. Find more information about the CFC Council and other stakeholder opportunities on the Stakeholder and Council Information page.
Questions or Feedback?
Email more extensive feedback or questions to hcpf_cfc@state.co.us. If you have limited access to the internet, call Adam Tucker at 303-866-5472 for assistance.