Community Clinic Definitions
- A health care facility that provides health care services on an ambulatory basis, is neither licensed as an on-campus department or service of a hospital nor listed as an off-campus location under a hospital’s license, and meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Operates inpatient beds at the facility for the provision of extended observation and other related services for not more than seventy-two hours.
- Provides emergency services at the facility and is not otherwise required to obtain licensure as a freestanding emergency department.
- Provides primary care services, including health care services not otherwise subject to health facility licensure under Section 25-3-101, C.R.S. or Section 21.5-103, C.R.S., but opts to obtain licensure in order to receive private donations, grants, government funds, or other public or private reimbursement for services rendered.
- Is operated or contracted by the Department of Corrections.
- The term community clinic does not mean:
- A federally qualified health center which is a facility that meets the definition under Section 1861 (aa) (4) of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1395x (aa) (4) which provides for the delivery of comprehensive primary and after hours care in underserved areas.
- A rural health clinic which is a facility that meets the definition under Section 1861 (aa) (2) of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1395x (aa) (2) which provides for the delivery of basic outpatient primary care in underserved, non-urban areas.
- A facility that functions only as an office for the practice of medicine or the delivery of primary care services by other licensed or certified practitioners. A health care facility is not required to be licensed as a community clinic solely due to the facility’s ownership status, corporate structure, or engagement of outside vendors to perform nonclinical management services. This section permits regulation of a physician’s office only to the extent the office is a community clinic as defined in this Part 2.3(A).
- A facility that meets the definition of a freestanding emergency department at Section 25-1.5-114, C.R.S.
Fee Schedule
3/1/2025 to 6/30/2025 Fee Transition Period Guidance
The current fee schedules are posted to our Facility Fees website by March 1st of each year, for a July 1st effective date. The previous fee schedule will remain active for all initial applications, changes of ownership, and changes of information submitted on or before 6/30 each year. The guidance document above will be provided to help you navigate which fee schedule to use in your specific situation.
The fee schedules will also be linked within COHFI, on the Payment phase/section of the application, as well as a link to pay on the online portal.
Fees are applicable to all facilities except for institutions wholly owned and operated by the State or any of its political subdivisions.
Website: Facility Fees | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Initial License Application Guidance
Initial Health Facility/Agency Licensing - Guidance and Instructions (All License Types)
This document will provide guidance with questions that often come up during the initial licensure process. The document will walk you through the step by step process of initial licensure, from the Letter of Intent (LOI) to the license being issued.
This document also provides a checklist of all documents that are required to be submitted with the initial application. We recommend that you review this document in its entirety prior to submitting the LOI to request the license application.