Colorado Has Its First Home Health Care Licensure Bill
Recently, the Colorado legislature passed important legislation that will help insure continued excellence in home care. The licensure bill codifies many of the best practices of home companies who provide either skilled home health or personal care services to Coloradoans in their home. SB 153, also known as the Home Care Licensure bill was signed by the Governor on June 5, 2008.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, The Colorado Chapter of the National Private Duty Association (representing home care agencies who provide personal care services), Colorado Home Care Association (representing companies who provide skilled home health) and many other interested parties worked together to draft a licensure bill that would provide standards for skilled home health care and personal care services in the home.
With the advent of licensure, all home care companies, whether or not they are certified by Medicare or Medicaid, must be licensed. In 2009, the Department of Health began requiring those home care companies providing skilled home health to obtain a license. By January 2011, the Department of Health will require all home care companies to be licensed, whether they provide skilled home health or personal care services. Colorado's home care licensure bill will provide important protections for home care consumers such as background check requirements of all direct care staff, disclosure by all home care agencies of their duties, responsibilities and liabilities, and inspections of all home care companies by the Department of Health.
Home Instead Senior Care - Denver South was awarded our license to provide personal care services on July 14, 2010.
