This blog publishes information typically sent to users of the Colorado Health Facilities Interactive (COHFI) system for health care entities regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Please note that COHFI is the official medium for business communication between the Department and licensed and/or Medicare/Medicaid certified health care entities. Health care entities should continue to monitor their email accounts routinely.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Announcement and Call for Supported Living Services (SLS) and Children's Extensive Services (CES) Technical Assistance and Guidance Workgroup Members
In response to House Bill (HB) 14-360, which was signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper on June 6, 2014, the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requested representatives from Community Centered Boards, Service Agencies and Consumers receiving Supported Living Services (SLS) or Children's Extensive Support (CES) under the Home and Community Based Services waivers administered by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to form a workgroup to examine the SLS and CES Waiver rules with the current home care licensing rules to address gaps or conflicts between the two rule sets.
Proposed rule amendments recommended by the workgroup for Chapter 26 were presented to the Home Care Advisory Committee and the State Board of Health (BOH) this past January, followed by an announcement of the proposed rule amendments to all licensed home care providers on February 5, 2016. A public comment period on the proposed amendments was available through February 26, 2016, with a final rulemaking hearing resulting in BOH approval on March 16, 2016.
The next phase of this important work is to develop technical assistance and guidance for providers, case managers and Community Centered Boards (CCBs) on licensure/waiver regulatory interpretation and intent. The HFEMSD would like to move forward with a small workgroup for this phase. The workgroup will consider and comment on identified areas of needed guidance/technical assistance via shared internet documents and then meet once per month via teleconference for group discussion on content. All guidance and technical assistance developed by the workgroup will undergo final review and comment by the Home Care Advisory Committee, waiver and licensed home care providers, HCPF and CDPHE.
If you are a licensed home care provider who is providing SLS and CES waiver services and are interested in participating in this phase, please send a letter of interest to Kristi Uitich via email (Kristi.Uitich@state.co.us) by Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
