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Community First Choice – Colorado’s Newest Medicaid Program

By August 12, 2024No Comments

Creating more opportunity and accessibility for the disability community

Community First Choice (CFC) is a new initiative under Colorado’s Medicaid program, Health First Colorado. CFC allows the state to offer a broader range of home and community-based attendant services, including IHSS services, to eligible members without a waiver, expanding and simplifying access to long-term care services. This program is designed to promote greater independence and care direction for Medicaid members, allowing them to receive care in the comfort and safety of their own homes. With no CNA testing requirements for these expanded programs, which opens the door for even more Colorado Medicaid recipients to receive quality services.

Community First Choice (CFC) is slated to start rolling out July of 2025 with a completion date of July 2026.

Colorado First Choice Service Overview

PASCO as a Trusted Partner

Support During Transition

PASCO is committed to providing guidance and current information to ensure a smooth transition to CFC as we approach their current target launch date of July 2025. We will keep you updated as details on this program become available.

Current IHSS Families

Those who qualify for state-plan benefits can now receive IHSS services without accessing them through a waiver. Families currently receiving IHSS services from PASCO will see no change in how their services are delivered. You will continue to receive the same level of care coordination and expertise that PASCO has been providing.

Medicaid Made Easy

We are experts in Medicaid and here to help you understand and get the care you need. PASCO has been providing IHSS and state-plan level services since 2006. We have a long history of knowledge, trust and expertise regarding these programs and are here to guide families through the changes that come with this new program.
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How do you qualify for CFC?

If you qualify for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), you might also be eligible for additional support through the Community First Choice (CFC) program. This program provides special care at home, helping individuals avoid the need for a nursing home or hospital stay.

People already receiving assistance through the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program can also join CFC if needed. To continue receiving HCBS support, you must meet the eligibility criteria and receive at least one service per month.

Advocacy for All – PASCO’s Impact

PASCO and our advocacy partners were heavily involved in the creation and adoption of Community First Choice, ensuring that In-Home Support Services (IHSS) was accessible at the Medicaid State Plan level which reduces the CNA requirements for family caregivers. This licensure hurdle to provide care to a loved one was often too challenging to caregivers where English was not their native language or they couldn’t commit to the time that was needed to go through CNA school. David Bolin, PASCO’s Advocacy Leader, worked tirelessly to see that these services became more accessible for Colorado’s disability community and we are beyond proud of the impact he has made.

Community First Choice – Coming Soon

HCPF is working diligently to bring Community First Choice to fruition. As the program becomes finalized and more details on how to access these services becomes available, we will ensure that this page remains updated with the latest updates and information for your family.