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In-Home Support Services (IHSS)

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is committed to providing service-delivery options that empower Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) members and their families to direct and manage the long-term care services and supports they need to live at home.

In-Home Support Services (IHSS) lets you direct and manage the attendants who provide your personal care, homemaker and health maintenance services, with the added support of an agency.

IHSS is service delivery options under Community First Choice.

IHSS Transition to Community First Choice (CFC)

As of July 1, 2025, In-Home Support Services (IHSS) is available only through the Community First Choice (CFC) program for:

  • Health Maintenance Activities (HMA)
  • Homemaker
  • Personal Care

Newly enrolled members can now access IHSS directly through CFC instead of through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs.

Current HCBS waiver members who already receive IHSS may continue under their waiver temporarily until they transition to CFC at their next Continued Stay Review (CSR) or sooner if a significant change in condition qualifies them for earlier transition. Your case manager can help determine when your transition occurs.

Learn more about Community First Choice (CFC)

What is IHSS?

In-Home Support Services (IHSS) is a service delivery model that allows members to receive care in their homes with greater flexibility and control. With IHSS, members can:

  • Select and supervise their own attendants (including family members)
  • Choose an IHSS-approved home health agency to serve as their provider
  • Receive skilled and unskilled care as part of one coordinated service plan
  • Benefit from training and oversight by a licensed health care professional, if needed

Who Can Use IHSS?

To use IHSS, you must:

  • Be enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program)
  • Meet eligibility for the CFC program, including:
    • Having an assessed need for Personal Care, Homemaker, and/or Health Maintenance Activities
    • Meeting an institutional level of care
      • If you are already enrolled in an HCBS waiver, you automatically meet institutional level of care
  • Participate in service planning with your Case Management Agency (CMA)

If you’re still receiving IHSS through a waiver and haven’t yet transitioned to CFC, your Case Manager will guide you through the timing and next steps.

Learn more about CFC eligibility and services and connect with your local Case Management Agency to get started.

What Services Are Available Through IHSS (Under CFC)?

As part of CFC, IHSS can be used to manage the following services:

  • Health Maintenance Activities - Includes skilled tasks like medication administration, medical management, or respiratory care
  • Homemaker - Includes routine light house cleaning, meal preparation, shopping, banking/money management
  • Personal Care - Includes assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, etc.

These services can also be delivered through Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS). Personal Care and Homemaker can also be provided using traditional agency-based models, depending on the member’s needs and preferences.

How To Apply

Contact your local Case Management Agency to apply. They can also help you plan what type of care you need.

If you have more questions about this program please contact your local Case Management Agency, the Member Contact Center, or Consumer Direct Colorado (CDCO).