Home Care Agencies
Definitions
Home Care Agency
Any sole proprietorship, partnership, association, corporation, government, or governmental subdivision or agency subject to the restrictions in Section 25-1.5103(1)(a)(II), C.R.S., not-for-profit agency, or any other legal or commercial entity that manages and offers, directly or by contract, skilled home health services or personal care services to a home care consumer in the home care consumer’s temporary or permanent home or place of residence. (A) A residential facility that delivers skilled home health or personal care services that the facility is not licensed to otherwise provide shall either be licensed as a home care agency or require the skilled home health or personal care services to be delivered by a licensed home care agency.
Home care agency does not include:
- Organizations that provide only housekeeping services;
- Community and rural health networks that furnish home visits for the purpose of public health monitoring and disease tracking;
- An individual who is not employed by or affiliated with a home care agency and who acts alone, without employees or contractors;
- Outpatient rehabilitation agencies and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities certified pursuant to Title 18 or 19 of the “Social Security Act,” as amended;
- Consumer-directed attendant programs administered by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing;
- Licensed dialysis centers that provide in-home dialysis services, supplies, and equipment;
- Subject to the requirements of Section 25-27.5-103(3), C.R.S., a facility otherwise licensed by the Department;
- A home care placement agency as defined in this part;
- Services provided by a qualified early intervention service provider and overseen jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services
- A program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE), established in Section 25.5-5-412, C.R.S., and regulated by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and the CMS, except that PACE home care services are subject to regulation in accordance with Section 25-27.5-104(4).
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.
Services
Two classifications/Class A vs Class B license
There are two types of Home Care Agency licenses:
- Class A – a home care agency that provides any skilled healthcare service provided by a licensed medical professional including licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, and licensed therapy and respiratory professionals. Agencies with a Class A license may also provide personal care services.
- Class B – a home care agency that provides only personal care services. An agency with a Class B license shall not provide any skilled healthcare service..
For more information on the rules that licensed agencies must follow, visit 6 CCR 1011-1 Standards for Hospitals and Health Facilities Chapter 2 General Licensure Standards and 6 CCR 1011-1 Standards for Hospitals and Health Facilities: Chapter 26 – Home Care Agencies.