Colorado currently has five waivers that are open to children. All are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers. Four of these programs waive parental income; we do not know the status of the other. For general information on Colorado’s waivers, see this overview. See also these charts comparing waivers.

In addition to waivers, Colorado has a Medicaid buy-in program for children with disabilities whose families earn less than 300% of the federal poverty line.

Colorado Advocacy Organizations:

Last updated 11/15/24

Programs in Colorado

Also called CLLI Waiver

  • Target Population: Children who are medically fragile or technology dependent with life-limiting illnesses.
  • Ages: 0-18
  • Levels of Care: Hospital
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 218
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2025
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides respite care, bereavement counseling, palliative/supportive care services, expressive therapy, massage therapy, therapeutic life limiting illness support: individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling for medically fragile individuals ages 0-18.
  • Online State Information: CLLI Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid and contact your Case Management Agency to apply for the waiver.
  • Waiting List: none

Also called CHCBS Waiver

  • Target Population: Children who are medically fragile or technology dependent.
  • Ages: 0-17
  • Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 6169
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides case management and in-home support services to individuals who are medically fragile ages 0-17 years who meet a hospital or nursing facility level of care.
  • Online State Information: CHCBS Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid and contact your Case Management Agency to apply for the waiver.
  • Waiting List: none

Also called CHRP

  • Target Population: Children with developmental disabilities or serious emotional disturbance, including in foster care.
  • Ages: 0-20
  • Levels of Care: Hospital, Nursing Facility, or Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: This waiver is usually used for foster children; only the child’s income is counted. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 482
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides habilitation, respite, wraparound services, adaptive therapeutic equine activities, child and youth mentorship, community connector, massage therapy, movement therapy, and wellness education benefit services to individuals with developmental disabilities or with serious emotional disturbance ages 0-20 years who meet a hospital, nursing facility, or an ICF/IID level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: CHRP Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid and contact your Case Management Agency to apply for the waiver.
  • Waiting List: Colorado has 3357 people with developmental disabilities on waiting lists; however, this program does not typically have a waiting list.

Also called CES Waiver

  • Target Population: Children with developmental disabilities who require extensive daytime and nighttime interventions or care.
  • Ages: 0-17
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 4228
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides homemaker, respite, adaptive therapeutic equine activities, adapted therapeutic recreational equipment and fees, assistive technology, community connector, home accessibility adaptations, massage therapy, movement therapy, primary caregiver education, specialized medical equipment and supplies, vehicle modifications, wellness education benefit, and youth day services to individuals with developmental disabilities ages 0-17 years who meet an ICF/IID level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information:  CES Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid and contact your Case Management Agency to apply for the waiver.
  • Waiting List: Colorado has 3357 people with developmental disabilities on waiting lists; however, this program does not typically have a waiting list.

Also called BI Waiver

  • Target Population: Teens and adults with brain injuries.
  • Ages: 16+
  • Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
  • Income Waiver: no?
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 1504
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2027
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day health, day treatment, personal care, respite, behavioral management and education, consumer directed attendant support services, home delivered meals, home modification, independent living skills training, mental health counseling, non-medical transportation, peer mentorship, personal emergency response systems, remote support, specialized medical equipment and supplies/assistive devices, substance abuse counseling, supported living program, transition setup, transitional living program, and wellness education benefit services to individuals with brain injury ages 16 or older who meet a hospital or nursing facility level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: BI Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid and contact your Case Management Agency to apply for the waiver.
  • Waiting List: Colorado has 3357 people with developmental disabilities on waiting lists; however, this program does not typically have a waiting list.

Additional Information

  • Parent CNA Program: allows parents/guardians to become certified as a CNA to care for their children, including giving tube feedings, and receive pay. For more information on that program, see this info from the Department of Public Health. The child must be enrolled in Medicaid, either through a waiver, categorical eligibility, or the Medicaid buy-in program.
  • IHSS Program: allows parents/guardians to be paid to provide personal care services for children in the Children’s HCBS program if the care is determined to be extraordinary. “Extraordinary care is determined by assessing whether a child who is the same age without a disability needs the requested level of care, the activity is one that a parent would not normally provide as part of a normal household routine and the activity is one that a parent is not legally responsible to provide.” Parent representatives may not be paid for services. In addition, adults in the Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) waiver or the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver may also have a parent/guardian be paid for their personal care services through this program. This program is in the process of being moved into a 1915(k) program.
  • Brain Injury Waiver: Family members may provide up to 40 hours of Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) in a seven-day period according to the waiver application.