State Licensure

• License regulations (see 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter II and Chapter XXI)
  
• Letter of Intent for licensing and/or certification - initial application, changes and closure

Federal Medicare/Medicaid Certification

• CMS State Operations Manual (SOM) - interpretive guidelines, appendix M; current regulations, survey guidance, deficiency tag information

Health Facilities

Hospice

Hospice care is a package of services and programs provided to terminally-ill individuals and/or their caregivers and families. Hospice beneficiaries must be under the care of a physician. Hospice is a centrally-administered program of palliative care (i.e. services which do not cure illnesses, but produce the greatest degree of relief from the symptoms of a terminal illness) and supportive care. Included are physical, psychological, spiritual and sociological care, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospice services include bereavement -- assistance to the family and caregivers after the death of the hospice patient. There are about 43 hospice programs operating in the state and most are certified to provide services for Medicare-eligible persons.  (02/06)

Hospice services can be delivered in the home, in a licensed health care facility such as a nursing home, in a residential facility, in an inpatient hospice facility, or through a hospice day care center. An interdisciplinary team consisting of a physician, a registered nurse, clergy/counselors, volunteers and other specialists work with the terminally-ill person and his/her family or caregivers.

Hospices are required to provide physician and nursing care, personal care and therapy, pastoral counseling and social counseling as established by the plan of care to meet the patient's pallative care needs. Each hospice patient receives a copy of the Hospice Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. Some of the rights include being informed of the hospice program, services to be provided, options available and associated charges; participating in development of the care plan; the right to refuse services or withdraw from the program.

The division conducts certification and licensing surveys for compliance with federal and state regulations and investigates any complaints filed against one of these providers.

Provider Resources

• Colorado Home Healthcare Resources for Pandemic Flu

• Colorado Resource Guide for End-of-Life Care
• Hospice in a Skilled Nursing Facility  

   

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