Updated State Regulation Waiver Application Form

 

To: All licensed providers From: HFEMSD Dear Providers,  The Department has updated the State Regulation Waiver Application form effective August 2026. Please start using the current version of the waiver application form when applying for the state waivers. The revised form is posted on our Health Facilities Waivers page. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  If you have any questions please contact the waiver desk at cdphe.hfd-revisits@state.co.us.

New Training Available: Safeguarding Healthcare: Preparing for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) & Other Power Outages

 

To: Administrators, Directors and Staff From: Melanie Roth, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Health Facilities & Emergency Medical Services Division New Training Available: Safeguarding Healthcare: Preparing for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) & Other Power Outages  A new class, “Safeguarding Healthcare: Preparing for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) & Other Power Outages" is now live on COTrain. (You can log in or create an account.) The course I.D. # is 1139191. We encourage you to share this class with your staff. Power grid failures can stem from a wide variety of circumstances, and one of them is a Public Safety Power Shutoff, implemented to prevent electrical equipment from sparking fast-spreading, catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather. In this course, you will explore and understand what Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and other outage events are, why they happen, and how to prepare your healthcare environment to keep your residents, patients, and clients safe. You’ll gain practical tools for emergency planning, learn how to protect those who depend on electricity for medical care, and how to access and use critical information during power outages. Check out all of our self-guided training in our Provider Training Catalog. If you have any questions, please contact Melanie.Roth-Lawson@state.co.us

Inaugural Colorado Falls Prevention Summit 9/22/2026

 

Colorado Falls Prevention Summit September 22, 2026 8:00am - 4:00pm Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Cherry Creek Conference Center 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, Co. Register Here Learn about staying active, strong, and independent as you age. Falls are not an inevitable part of aging. They are often triggered by factors such as declining balance and strength, vision challenges, medication effects, and preventable hazards where we live every day. Join the Colorado Falls Prevention Summit and discover practical ways to stay active, confident, and independent. Hear from experts, explore helpful resources, and learn simple changes that can make a big difference in reducing your risk of a fall. Advancing Innovation, Collaboration & Impact in Falls Prevention is a statewide Summit bringing together healthcare leaders, emergency responders, community organizations, policymakers, researchers, and aging advocates to address one of Colorado’s most pressing public health challenges. Through inspiring keynote presentations, expert panels, interactive breakout sessions, and the launch of the Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition, attendees will explore innovative strategies, emerging technologies, community partnerships, and evidence-based approaches that help older adults stay safe, healthy, and independent. Together, participants will help shape a coordinated vision for reducing falls and improving quality of life across Colorado. Register Today! Please note, there are no refunds. Please contact jodi.waterhouse@cuanschutz.edu with any questions. You do not need to create an account after clicking "Checkout" on the next page. Please enter your email address and click "Checkout as Guest" to make your payment. Prices range from $25.00 to $45.00, depending on the options selected  Register Here More information regarding the Colorado Falls Prevention Coalition (CFPC)

Preparing Documentation for Health Facility Surveys

 

To: Licensed Health Facility Administrators From: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services (HFEMS) Division, is committed to continually improving our survey processes to better serve Colorado's licensed healthcare facilities while ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal requirements. As part of a recent process improvement initiative, the Division evaluated opportunities to make the survey process more efficient for both healthcare providers and our survey staff. One area identified was the amount of time spent during surveys requesting and gathering documentation needed for review. To help streamline the survey process, we have developed standardized documentation lists based on facility type. We respectfully request that your facility prepare these materials in advance and have them readily available in a single location at the start of the survey whenever possible. While advance preparation of these documents is not a regulatory requirement, it is strongly encouraged as a best practice to help facilitate a timely, organized, and efficient survey. Our goal is to reduce the amount of time spent locating documentation during the survey, allowing both facility staff and surveyors to focus on the survey process itself. Requested Documentation Acute Care (ASC, Birth Centers, CCDOC, CCEC, FSED) Assisted Living Residences Home Care (Adult Day, HCA Class A & B, HHA, IHSS, PHS, Hospice) Nursing Facilities Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (ICF,RCF) Having these materials organized and available at the beginning of the survey offers several benefits: Reduces time spent locating and retrieving documents throughout the survey. Allows surveyors to begin the review process more efficiently. Minimizes interruptions to facility staff during the survey. Helps shorten the amount of time surveyors need to remain onsite whenever possible. Please note that these documentation lists are intended to facilitate a more efficient survey process and represent the materials most commonly requested during a survey. Depending on observations made during the survey, staff interviews, complaint allegations, or other survey findings, surveyors may request additional documentation as necessary to complete the survey in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements. We recognize that every facility operates differently, and we appreciate your partnership in this effort. Your preparation and cooperation help us conduct surveys more efficiently while allowing both facility staff and surveyors to focus on what matters most ensuring the delivery of safe, high- quality care for Colorado residents. This initiative reflects the HFEMS Division’s commitment to being a Reliable, Efficient, Accountable, Compliant, and Helpful (REACH) partner to Colorado’s licensed healthcare providers while fulfilling our responsibility to protect the health and safety of the people we serve. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to quality. We appreciate your support as we implement these improvements and look forward to working with you to make the survey process as efficient and effective as possible.

Update Regarding Community Integrated Health Care Service Agencies Board of Health Rulemaking - 6 CCR 1011-3 (CIHCS) Rules Revision Roundtable

 

To: All CIHCS Agencies, All Health Facilities, All Community Paramedics, All Emergency Medical Services Agencies, All Interested Parties From: HFEMSD  Thank you to everyone who has participated in the rule revision meetings to update and revise 6 CCR 1011-3, Standards for Community Integrated Health Care Service Agencies (CIHCS). The Board of Health has set this for a Rulemaking Hearing that will be held on August 19, 2026. To sign up to provide testimony related to the rules during the Board of Health’s hearing, please follow the instructions on the Board of Health’s webpage. If you wish to receive individual notice of this process and future rule updates related to CIHCS agency rules, please sign up to our interested parties list. Feel free to share this link with other interested parties.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ash Jackson at ash.jackson@state.co.us or Alexandra Haas at alexandra.haas@state.co.us.

July 16, 2026 - House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum - Extended Survey

 

To: All Stakeholders  From: HFEMSD  You are invited to participate in the 1294 Stakeholder Forum. House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum is an opportunity to promote dialogue and transparency for issues of interest and concern to all licensed healthcare facilities. Pursuant to C.R.S 25-3-113, the Stakeholder Forum consists of representatives from various types of provider facilities licensed by the department along with consumers, consumer advocates, ombudsmen and other interested parties which meet at least four times each year for the Department to discuss and take into consideration the concerns and issues of interest to the forum members and other attendees regarding the development and implementation of rules and other matters that affect all licensed health care facilities. At this meeting, the department will present:  Extended survey criteria DATES: This meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 1:00pm-2:30pm.  The series of ongoing 1294 meetings which will be held for 90 minutes beginning in May to continue discussions regarding the extended survey criteria. To participate, we have a number of resource links below.   HB 1294 Stakeholder Forum Website (includes meeting information and invite/communication sign-up)  REMINDER: Official meeting minutes are available from the department upon request. Attendees may use artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking tools; however, notes taken in this manner do not constitute the official record of the meeting. If you have any further questions or comments before the meeting, please contact Rachel Bader at rachel.bader@state.co.us

June 18, 2026 - House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum - Extended Survey

 

To: All Stakeholders  From: HFEMSD  You are invited to participate in the 1294 Stakeholder Forum. House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum is an opportunity to promote dialogue and transparency for issues of interest and concern to all licensed healthcare facilities. Pursuant to C.R.S 25-3-113, the Stakeholder Forum consists of representatives from various types of provider facilities licensed by the department along with consumers, consumer advocates, ombudsmen and other interested parties which meet at least four times each year for the Department to discuss and take into consideration the concerns and issues of interest to the forum members and other attendees regarding the development and implementation of rules and other matters that affect all licensed health care facilities. At this meeting, the department will present:  Extended survey criteria DATES: This meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 1:00pm-2:30pm.  The series of ongoing 1294 meetings which will be held for 90 minutes beginning in May to continue discussions regarding the extended survey criteria. Thursday July 16, 2026 at 1pm-2:30pm To participate, we have a number of resource links below.   HB 1294 Stakeholder Forum Website (includes meeting information and invite/communication sign-up)  Agenda Item Request Form REMINDER: Official meeting minutes are available from the department upon request. Attendees may use artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking tools; however, notes taken in this manner do not constitute the official record of the meeting. If you have any further questions or comments before the meeting, please contact Rachel Bader at rachel.bader@state.co.us