Community First Choice (CFC): Expanding Access to Long-Term Medicaid Services in Colorado
As part of Health First Colorado, CFC offers home and community-based services to support personal care, homemaking, and health maintenance activities, among others.
Under CFC, members can choose between agency-provided care and self-directed models. Self-direction in CFC means members have more control, including the ability to set their own budget, hire and train their caregivers, and even transition from institutional care to home-based support. For families, CFC offers a range of services, from homemaker support to health maintenance and skill enhancement activities (AME), that provide day-to-day support for a broad range of needs. This flexibility allows members to build a more tailored care experience.
Service Delivery Options in Community First Choice (CFC)
CFC empowers members to select services like Personal Care, Homemaker, and Health Maintenance Activities through options like In-Home Support Services (IHSS) or Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS), where they take a lead role in care decisions. Members can also use agency-based care (like PASCO) for enhanced support with care delivery.
CFC includes essential services such as:
CFC Funding Boost
CFC brings a 6% increase in federal funding to Colorado, thanks to the federal match increase under 1915(k), encouraging broader service access statewide. This financial support allows for expanded community-based services without added strain on the state budget. Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) aims to have CFC active and available to all eligible Health First Colorado members by July 1, 2025.
The Community First Choice (CFC) program implementation timeline is as follows:
Children with Complex Health Needs (CwCHN) Waiver and CFC
In addition to CFC, Colorado will launch the Children with Complex Health Needs (CwCHN) waiver, combining the CHCBS and CLLI waivers into one streamlined program. This shift adds services like the Wellness Education Benefit (WEB), which provides educational resources aimed at preventing isolation and promoting community engagement, helping to bridge care for families of children with complex needs.
Advocacy in Action
PASCO and our dedicated advocacy allies were instrumental in securing Community First Choice (CFC) for Colorado’s Medicaid State Plan, making In-Home Support Services (IHSS) accessible to more families. Through CFC, family caregivers now have fewer burdensome requirements, such as the CNA license, which had previously created barriers, especially for non-native English speakers and those unable to meet CNA training demands. Our Retired Advocacy Leader, David Bolin, fought passionately for these changes, expanding opportunities and choice for Colorado’s disability community. We’re immensely proud of the progress made and its life-changing impact.
Learn More About Colorado’s Community First Choice (CFC)
For more about how CFC will benefit members and families, and details on eligibility, visit the HCPF website or stay tuned to PASCO. Colorado’s Community First Choice (CFC) program brings a new level of choice, autonomy, and community connection to Medicaid members, ensuring that more Coloradans can thrive with the support they need.
