The Home Health benefit for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) members provides services from a licensed and certified Home Health Agency (HHA) for members who need Intermittent Home Health Services.
There are two types of home health services:
- Acute Home Health: Skilled Home Health services provided to members who experience an acute health care need that necessitates skilled Home Health care. Acute Home Health services are allowed without prior authorization for up to 60 calendar days or until the acute condition is resolved, whichever comes first. (If the member is on a Health First Colorado Managed Care Program, prior authorization for acute Home Health may be required by the Managed Care Organization.)
- Long-term Home Health: Skilled Home Health services provided to members who require ongoing Home Health services beyond the Acute Home Health period. Prior authorization is required for Long-Term Home Health Services.
Who Qualifies?
Health First Colorado Members who:
- Require Home Health Services for the treatment or amelioration of an illness, injury, or disability, which may include mental illness
- Are unable to perform the health care tasks for him or herself, and he or she has no Family Member/Caregiver who is willing and able to perform the skilled tasks
- Require services that cannot appropriately or effectively be received in an outpatient treatment office or clinic or for which the member's residence is the most effective setting to accomplish the care required by the member's medical condition
- The services meet medical necessity criteria and are provided in a manner consistent with professional practice
Benefits and Services
- Skilled Nursing (provided by a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse)
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) services (may also be referred to as a Certified Nursing Assistant or Home Health Aide)
- Physical Therapy (PT)
- Occupational Therapy (OT)
- Speech/Language Pathology (SLP) services (or Speech Therapy)
More Information
- Home Health Program and Pediatric Assessment Tool Frequently Asked Questions
- Pediatric Personal Care Services
- Pediatric Assessment Tool
Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities
- Long-Term Home Health Stakeholder Meeting - September 29, 2022
- The Department is initiating stakeholder engagement for Long-Term Home Health through an introductory meeting. This meeting will convene Long-Term Home Health Stakeholders and Office of Community Living leadership. We will discuss stakeholder engagement preferences, identify topic areas and priorities, etc.
- The Department is initiating stakeholder engagement for Long-Term Home Health through an introductory meeting. This meeting will convene Long-Term Home Health Stakeholders and Office of Community Living leadership. We will discuss stakeholder engagement preferences, identify topic areas and priorities, etc.
- Home Care Information Exchange Meeting
- Office of Community Living Stakeholder Engagement Page
Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify John Barry at 303-866-3173 or John.R.Barry@state.co.us or the 504/ADA Coordinator at hcpf504ada@state.co.us at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.
Contact Us
If you have more questions about this program please email us at HomeHealth@state.co.us or call 303-866-3447.