Effective January 1, 2022 the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) approved a $15.00 per hour base wage requirement for all direct care workers in Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) settings in Colorado. In addition, the base wage requirement was increased to $15.75 per hour and expanded to the Children's Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP) Waiver as of July 1, 2023.
In February 2022, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) began requiring all HCBS providers to submit a Wage Attestation form to attest their compliance that all direct care workers in their agency have received the required base wage increase and that Individual Residential Services and Supports (IRSS) direct care workers received an increase to per diem rates.
All HCBS Providers were required to notify all Direct Care Workers of the base wage increase using an HCPF-approved letter no later than January 31, 2022, and submit the attestation forms to HCPF by June 30, 2022. This same process continued for 2023 with the form capturing wage data from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, due on June 30, 2023.
View the following HCPF memo communications which outline this requirement and process:
- Operational Memo OM 23-023 - HCBS Base Wage Rate Increase Attestation Form 2023
- Operational Memo OM 23-037 - HCBS Base Wage Rate Increase Attestation Final Reminder 2023
- Operational Memo OM 23-045 - HCBS Base Wage Rate Increase 2023 Attestation Reporting Past Due Notification
- Operational Memo OM 23-064 - HCBS Base Wage Rate Increase 2023 Attestation Final Notice
- Informational Memo IM 24-002 - Claim Holds for HCBS Providers Who Haven’t Submitted the 2023 Base Wage Attestation Form
HCPF has reviewed all submitted forms, addressed discrepancies with providers, and took the following steps:
- For providers who did not submit the 2022 form, extensive outreach was conducted before compliance reviews were initiated.
- For providers who were not paying at least the $15 per hour base wage, compliance reviews were initiated.
- For providers who did not submit the 2023 form, extensive outreach was conducted.
- Payment holds for providers not complying with 2022 and/or 2023 reporting requirements will commence January 12, 2024.
Providers can submit completed attestation forms or direct any questions about the form or reporting requirements to hcpf_basewage@state.co.us
Learn more about the rights and responsibilities in the direct care industry
Learn more about Colorado's labor standards and minimum wage
Listed below are the names of the HCBS providers who have not submitted the 2023 form, keeping in mind safe harbor regulations. These providers (and others who are within safe harbor) are going to have claims held. This list will be updated periodically as we receive new information.
- 5 Star Gold Care
- Alternative Choice Home Care Nursing, LLC DBA Alternative Choice Residential
- BB Angels Home Health Agency
- Golden West Communities, Inc.
- Vitality Home Healthcare
List Updated March 27, 2024
Base Wage Dashboard