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Direct Care Workforce Base Wage

Base Wage Dashboard     Base Wage Qualifying Services

As the new 2024 process approaches, it’s important to review the past updates for direct care workers in Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings in Colorado. Effective January 1, 2022, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) approved a $15.00 per hour base wage requirement for all direct care workers. 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 a 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.

Effective July 1, 2024, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) approved a $17.00 per hour Base Wage requirement for all direct care workers in Colorado’s HCBS settings. In addition, the base wage requirement was increased to $18.29 per hour in Denver.

Each HCBS Provider must complete the 2024 HCBS Provider Attestation Smartsheet form and attach a completed 2024 Wage Attestation form. If you have questions please view the HCBS Base Wage Reporting FAQ or email hcpf_basewage@state.co.us.

The 2024 Base Wage Attestation Form will be available on July 1, 2024, and is due by August 31, 2024. HCBS service providers that do not meet reporting or base wage requirements are subject to audit, corrective action, suspension of claims, and/or recoupment. All HCBS service providers who have not submitted the required attestation form will be posted publicly and HCPF will start claim payment suspensions on September 1, 2024.

View the following HCPF memo communications which outline this requirement and process:

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 2024 base wage attestation forms, keeping in mind safe harbor regulations. These providers (and others within safe harbor) will have claims held. This list will be updated periodically as we receive new information. An asterisk * indicates an incomplete submission.

List updated:November 26, 2024

Aide To You Home Care LLC
Coach Homecare and Consulting Agency LLC
Colorado Institute Of Developmental Pediatrics
Comfort Care Assisted Living LLC

Base Wage Qualifying Services

Direct Care Workers are defined as non-administrative employees or independent contractors of a Provider Agency or Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) employer who provides hands-on care, services, and support to older adults and individuals with disabilities across the long-term services and supports continuum within home and community-based settings. Services requiring Direct Care Workers to be paid at least the base wage include:  

  • Adult Day Services
  • Alternative Care Facility (ACF)
  • Community Connector
  • Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS)
  • Foster Care Home (Children’s Habilitation Residential Program)
  • Group Home Habilitation (CHRP)
  • Group Residential Support Services (GRSS)
  • Homemaker
  • Homemaker Enhanced
  • Host Home (CHRP)
  • In-Home Support Services (IHSS)
  • Individual Residential Support Services (IRSS)
  • Job Coaching
  • Job Development
  • Mental Health Transitional Living Homes
  • Mentorship
  • Pediatric Personal Care
  • Personal Care
  • Prevocational Services
  • Respite
  • Specialized Habilitation
  • Supported Community Connections
  • Supported Living Program

In the event that a Direct Care Worker, based on state or local minimum wage laws, is eligible for a minimum wage that exceeds the base wage requirement, the Provider is required to compensate at the higher wage. If a Direct Care Worker is eligible for a per diem wage, the Provider must increase the Direct Care Worker’s per diem wage by the percent of HCPF’s reimbursement rate increase. HCPF may add additional qualifying services that are applicable to this rule and not listed above.

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Base Wage Dashboard

 

 

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