Let's talk: You'd like to know who watches over health care in Colorado?

The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division of the Colorado Department of Health and Enbvironment is responsible for the licensing and regulating of Colorado's health care facilities. Nursing homes, assisted livng residences, Residential treatment facilities, Non-medical home care services and Home Health Agencies are included, along with other facilities.

The Division is authorized by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to survey medical facilities and providers and skilled nursing facilities in the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

They also investigate complaints. If you have a complaint about Residents'/Patients' rights, abuse, or quality of life and quality of care, you can report it to the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division in a variety of ways, including phone calls, letters, E-mail messages, and faxed messages. They offer a web page with information on filings a complaint at this link: Filing a Complaint.

More Info
We have more information about how long term care facilities and agencies are regulated, and about filing complaints, at Let's talk: Who is watching over health care in your state?

Good luck! You are invited to drop me a line and tell me your story about how you solved situations in long term care for your loved one. We may publish selected ones if they would help educate our audience (we will not include names or email addresses). Click to send your email.