Respite Care Services in Colorado offer short-term relief to primary caregivers by providing temporary care and supervision for individuals with disabilities, complex health needs, or age-related challenges. These services are available through Colorado Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, including the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver, Supported Living Services (SLS) waiver, Children’s Extensive Support (CES) waiver, and others.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)
Role: Administers Medicaid and HCBS waivers that authorize and reimburse Respite Care Services

Agency: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)** (if medical or personal care is involved)
Role: Licenses agencies that provide skilled or hands-on care in the home

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Ensures federal compliance with Medicaid-funded respite services

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2. RESPITE CARE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Respite Care Services provide planned or emergency short-term care to individuals when their regular caregiver is unavailable or in need of a break. Services can be provided in-home, in the community, or in a licensed setting depending on the waiver and individual’s needs.

Approved providers may deliver:

• In-home supervision and companionship
• Personal care support (bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting)
• Safety monitoring and mobility assistance
• Basic ADL support and meal preparation
• Community outings or structured activities (if approved)
• Documentation of time and services provided

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3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register your business with the Colorado Secretary of State
• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
• If providing personal care or health-related assistance, obtain a Class B Home Care Agency license from CDPHE
• Enroll as a Medicaid provider through the Gainwell Technologies Provider Portal
• Employ trained respite staff or caregivers with appropriate background checks
• Carry general liability and workers’ compensation insurance
• Maintain HIPAA-compliant documentation systems

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4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Register your business and apply for an NPI
Step 2: Apply for a Class B license (if applicable) through CDPHE
Step 3: Enroll in Medicaid via the Gainwell Technologies Provider Enrollment Portal
Step 4: Connect with Case Management Agencies (CMAs) to begin receiving service authorizations

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or business registration
• IRS EIN Letter
• NPI confirmation
• CDPHE Class B license (if applicable)
• Medicaid provider ID

Policy & procedure manual including:

• Client intake and eligibility confirmation
• Consent forms and caregiver instructions
• Task and time logs for each respite session
• Emergency contact protocol and safety procedures
• Confidentiality, abuse prevention, and grievance policies
• Staff supervision and training documentation
• Incident reporting procedures and service verification tools

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Respite Caregiver / Direct Support Professional (DSP)
Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED (recommended)
• Background check and TB screening
• CPR/First Aid certification (required if providing personal care)
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions preferred

Role: Program Supervisor (for agencies)
Requirements:

• Oversight of staff, scheduling, and service documentation
• Experience in caregiving, home health, or human services

Training Requirements for All Staff:

• HIPAA, confidentiality, and client rights
• Person-centered care principles
• Safety and infection control
• Abuse prevention and emergency response
• Documentation and time-tracking procedures

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7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Respite Care is reimbursed under:

• HCBS-EBD (Elderly, Blind, and Disabled) Waiver
• HCBS-SLS (Supported Living Services) Waiver
• HCBS-CES (Children’s Extensive Support) Waiver
• HCBS-DD (Developmental Disabilities) Waiver
• Other Medicaid waivers that include respite in the participant’s plan

Approved providers may deliver:

• Planned or emergency in-home or community-based respite
• Non-medical supervision and personal assistance
• Care continuity while relieving the primary caregiver
• Coordination and communication with CMAs and case managers

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8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation
Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Licensing with CDPHE (if applicable)
Timeline: 45–90 days

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment via Gainwell
Timeline: 30–60 days

Phase: Referral Activation and Staff Onboarding
Timeline: Ongoing

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) – Facility Licensing
Phone: (303) 692-2800
Website: https://cdphe.colorado.gov

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)
Email: hcpf_hcbs_questions@state.co.us
Website: https://hcpf.colorado.gov

Colorado Medicaid Provider Enrollment (Gainwell Technologies)
Website: https://portal.co.gov

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration (LLC, EIN, NPI)
• CDPHE Class B license support (if applicable)
• Medicaid provider enrollment and waiver onboarding
• Policy & procedure manual for respite care, supervision, and compliance
• Templates for shift logs, incident reports, and caregiver notes
• Website, domain, and email setup
• Staff credentialing trackers and emergency protocols
• Client intake packet, consent forms, and grievance tools
• Audit preparation tools and referral networking strategies