10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Health Agency in Colorado Springs

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Health Agency in Colorado Springs

Choosing a home health agency is one of the most consequential decisions a family can make. You are trusting strangers to enter your home and care for someone you love. In the Colorado Springs area, there are over 200 CDPHE-licensed agencies, and the quality varies widely.

These 10 questions will help you separate the great agencies from the merely adequate ones. Ask every one of them before signing a service agreement.

1. Are You Licensed by the Colorado CDPHE, and Can I See Your License Number?

Every home health agency in Colorado must hold an active license from the CDPHE. The license specifies whether the agency is Class A (skilled nursing) or Class B (personal care). Ask for the license number and verify it yourself through the CDPHE Health Facilities Division.

2. Is Your Agency Medicare-Certified?

Only agencies with Medicare certification can bill Medicare. In the Colorado Springs area, approximately 40 out of 60-plus Class A agencies hold Medicare certification. Medicare certification also means the agency undergoes regular federal surveys.

3. What Background Checks Do You Run on Caregivers?

Ask whether the agency runs a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) criminal background check, a national criminal database search, a sex offender registry check, and verification of professional licenses for nurses and therapists.

4. How Do You Train and Supervise Your Caregivers?

Ask about both initial training and ongoing education. For Class A agencies, find out how often an RN conducts supervisory visits. For Class B agencies, ask what training caregivers receive before their first client visit.

5. Will We Have Consistent Caregivers?

Ask whether the agency assigns a primary caregiver to each client or rotates staff. Ask directly: What is your annual caregiver turnover rate?

6. What Happens If Our Regular Caregiver Calls Out?