Health Facilities
Licensing
and
Certification
The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division inspects facilities for
compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements for the purpose of licensing
and certification.
Licensing
State law specifies
the types of health care facilities which must obtain licensing before
providing services in the state. The division issues licenses for the
operation of health facilities in accordance with Sections 25-1-107(1)(l)
and 25-3-101, C.R.S., et. seq.; with the exception of assisted living
residences, which are licensed pursuant to Section 25-27-101, C.R.S., et. seq.
Licenses are renewed annually, except for facilities for the developmentally
disabled which are licensed biennially. The goal of licensing is to ensure
that health care facilities meet minimum standards of services and quality in
compliance with state law and regulations. In addition, the division
regulates the program under which unlicensed personnel are authorized to
administer medications in residential facilities.
Fees. Health care facilities are required to pay
licensure fees specific to the facility type. Please note that most
licensing fees are non-refundable. Publicly-owned facilities are not required to
pay licensing fees.
Certification
Facilities and
providers of services who are interested in serving Medicare/Medicaid clients
must be federally certified. The goal of certification is to measure the ability
of health care facilities to deliver care that is safe and adequate, in
accordance with federal law and regulations.
The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services delegates the responsibility for inspections and certification of
facilities to state agencies. One of the designated state survey agencies
in Colorado is the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division. Typically, the division inspects entities for compliance with federal standards and then makes
recommendations to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid regarding certification. For
facilities that participate in the Medicaid program but do not serve the
Medicare population, the division makes the
recommendation to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing,
which in turn determines whether or not to certify the facility.
Facilities and Providers Inspected by the Division
The following tables indicate the facilities and
providers which are subject to licensing and/or certification by the division. Unless otherwise indicated, the
division is the lead agency in
terms of inspection.
| Facility Type |
Licensing |
Certification |
| Acute Treatment Units |
Yes |
No |
| Ambulatory Surgical
Centers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Assisted Living Residences |
|
|
|
Private pay |
Yes |
No |
|
Alternative Care Facility |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Residential Treatment Facility - Adult |
Yes |
No |
| Birth Centers |
Yes |
No |
| Chiropractic Centers |
Yes |
No |
| Clinic |
|
|
| Community
Clinic |
Yes |
No |
|
Community Clinic with Emergency Center |
Yes |
No |
| Mental Health
Center |
Yes |
Yes1 |
|
Rural Health Clinic |
No |
Yes |
| Comprehensive Outpatient
Rehabilitation Facility |
No |
Yes |
| Convalescent Centers |
Yes |
No |
| Developmentally Disabled |
|
|
|
Community Residential Home/Group Home |
Yes |
Yes2 |
|
Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/MR) |
Yes |
Yes |
| End Stage Renal Disease
Facility/Dialysis Treatment Clinic |
Yes |
Yes |
| Facilities for Persons
with Developmental Disabilities |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hospice |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hospital |
|
General/Short Term
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Maternity
|
Yes |
No |
|
Psychiatric
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rehabilitation
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Long
Term Care
|
Yes3 |
Yes |
|
Critical Access
|
Yes4 |
Yes |
|
Hospital Unit
|
Yes |
No |
| Nursing
homes |
| Long
Term Care Facility
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rehabilitative Nursing Facility
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Psychiatric Residential
Treatment Facility - Pediatrics
|
|
Yes |
| Home Health
|
No |
Yes |
| Home and Community Based
Services (HCBS) |
No |
Yes |
|
Adult Day (Brain Injury) |
No |
Yes |
|
Adult Day (Elderly, Blind and Disabled; Mentally Ill and Persons Living
with Aids) |
No |
Yes |
|
Day Treatment (Brain Injury) |
No |
Yes |
|
Homemaker (Elderly, Blind and Disabled; Mentally Ill and Persons Living
with Aids) |
No |
Yes |
| In Home Support
Services (IHSS) (Elderly, Blind and Disabled) |
No |
Yes |
|
Personal Care (Brain Injury) |
No |
Yes |
|
Personal Care (Elderly, Blind and Disabled; Mentally Ill and Persons
Living with Aids) |
No |
Yes |
|
Support Living Program |
No |
Yes |
|
Transitional Living Program |
No |
Yes |
| Health Maintenance
Organization |
No5 |
Yes6 |
| Medication Administration |
No7 |
No |
| Outpatient: Physical Therapy,
Speech Pathology Services |
No |
Yes |
| Portable X-ray Services |
No |
Yes |
- Certification inspections are conducted by the state Department of Human
Services
- Certification inspections are conducted by both the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment and the Department of Human Services.
- Long term care hospitals are licensed as general hospitals recognizing and
applying the federal certification requirements.
- Critical access hospitals are licensed as general hospitals recognizing
and applying the federal certification requirements.
- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is responsible
for determining that HMOs meet certain minimum quality care standards. The
Division of Insurance, within the state Department of Regulatory Agencies,
licenses HMOs.
- HMOs are certified by the state Department of Health Care Policy and
Financing (if they serve Medicaid populations) and also may be certified
directly by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Unlicensed personnel who administer medications, the residential
facilities that employ these personnel, and persons who conduct training for
such unlicensed personnel are required to comply with division regulations.
However, compliance with the Medication Administration regulations does not
accord such personnel or facilities "licenses."
Application
for Licensing/Certification
If you are interested in applying for licensing or for
certification, please send a letter of
intent form to the following address:
Facility Licensing Application
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, HFEMS
4300 Cherry
Creek Drive South
Denver CO
80246-1530
For more information:
Phone: Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division: (303) 692-2800
Email: health.facilities@state.co.us
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