Every answer was written and checked ahead of time, with the official document next to it. Nothing is made up on the spot.
Do I need a license to run a non-medical home care agency in Colorado?
Yes, a Class B license.
CDPHE licenses home care agencies under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 26. An agency that gives only personal care (which the rule defines to include help with bathing, dressing, housekeeping, medication reminders and companionship) gets a Class B license. The rule does not count organizations that provide only housekeeping, or an individual working alone with no employees or contractors. Referral-only placement agencies register instead.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
What is the difference between a Class A and a Class B license?
Skilled care needs Class A.
Class A agencies may give any skilled service (such as nursing or therapy) and personal care. Class B agencies give personal care only and may not give any skilled service. Minimum liability coverage is $500,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 total for Class A, and $100,000 and $300,000 for Class B. A Class B agency that wants to become Class A must file a new initial application.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
Does a homemaker-only agency need a license to bill Medicaid?
No license, but it must be certified.
HCPF says personal care under Community First Choice requires a Class A or Class B license, but homemaker does not. HCPF's memo tells providers who switch to homemaker only to get homemaker certification from CDPHE and enroll with HCPF under specialty code 652, and the rule says they must be certified as a Homemaker Provider Agency. Their staff need at least 8 hours of training or a passed skills test before working unsupervised.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
What training do personal care workers need?
Training plus a skills check before working alone.
Chapter 26 says personal care workers must finish training and pass a competency evaluation and skills validation, including being watched doing the tasks, before giving care. After that, they need at least six training topics every 12 months. For CFC personal care, staff must have at least 20 hours of training or pass a skills validation test before service.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
How often must a supervisor check on personal care workers?
Every three months.
Chapter 26 requires supervision at least every three months, in person or by live video, plus an in-person visit once a year to watch each worker. An in-person visit is also needed for complaints that can't be settled by video. The CFC rule also requires supervisory visits at least every three months.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
What background checks do I need before hiring?
State criminal check, CAPS check and DORA check.
Chapter 26 requires a criminal history check covering at least Colorado, done no more than 90 days before hiring. Before anyone gives direct care, you must also run a CAPS check (Colorado Adult Protective Services data system) and check with DORA that any license or certificate is in good standing. Owners and managers send fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
What is the minimum wage for Medicaid direct care workers in Colorado?
$17.00 an hour statewide.
Since January 1, 2026, workers who give base wage services (including personal care, homemaker, respite and IHSS) must be paid at least $17.00 an hour statewide, $18.17 in Edgewater and $19.29 in Denver. It covers all hours, including travel, training and meetings. You can't average wages across services to meet it.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
How many hours can one caregiver work for one member?
84 a week now; 70 from January 1, 2027.
The weekly limit per caregiver per member is 84 hours through December 31, 2026, 70 hours from January 1, 2027, and 56 hours from July 1, 2027, unless an exception is approved or pending or there is a documented emergency. It covers personal care, homemaker, health maintenance activities and long-term home health nursing and aide services. The 16-hours-a-day limit per caregiver still applies.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
Do live-in caregivers have to use EVV in Colorado?
They can be exempt, with paperwork.
Since November 5, 2025, HCPF has paused new live-in exemption uploads in the Gainwell portal. Providers must keep the EVV Attestation of Exemption Form and supporting documents on file and renew them each year. Bill live-in visits with POS 99 or Condition Code 23. Claims without portal documentation get an informational EOB 3056 but still pay. Who counts as a live-in is spelled out in HCPF's EVV Program Manual, which we don't hold.
Written and checked September 22, 2026
Do Medicaid health plans pay for home care in Colorado?
Not in the documents we hold.
Colorado's rule says claims for home and community-based services (HCBS) go to the state's fiscal agent after a prior authorization is approved. Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) appear in bulletins, but no document we hold says they pay for home care.
Written and checked September 22, 2026