Colorado’s Weekly Limit on Paid Caregiver Hours (2026–2027)

A caregiver helps an older woman use her walker at home

Colorado Medicaid now limits how many paid hours one caregiver can give one member each week. The limit is 84 hours. It drops to 70 hours on January 1, 2027, and to 56 hours on July 1, 2027.

The rule comes from HCPF, the state Medicaid agency. It covers family caregivers and other paid caregivers in IHSS, CDASS and agency care.

The limits and the dates

HCPF set the schedule in Operational Memo 26-043. A week runs Sunday through Saturday.

July 1 to December 31, 2026: 84 hours a week
January 1 to June 30, 2027: 70 hours a week
July 1, 2027, and after: 56 hours a week

Each limit is per caregiver, per member. Two other limits already apply:

16 hours a day. One caregiver can’t be paid for more than 16 hours in a day, counting every member they care for. This started July 1, 2025.
7 hours a week of Homemaker by a spouse or parent. Since June 13, 2026, a member’s legally responsible persons can be paid for no more than 7 hours of Homemaker services a week in total. That means the member’s spouse, or the parent or guardian of a minor child. HCPF allows no exceptions to this limit, under Operational Memo 26-042.

Which services count

The weekly limit covers Personal Care, Homemaker and Health Maintenance Activities. It applies whether the care comes through an agency, In-Home Support Services (IHSS) or Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS). It also covers nursing and nurse aide services under Long-Term Home Health.

What it means for your family

The limit is on the caregiver. If a member is approved for more hours than one caregiver may work, another caregiver has to cover the rest.

Take a member who is approved for 90 hours of care a week. One caregiver can cover 84 of those hours today, 70 from January and 56 from July 2027. A second caregiver covers the others.

HCPF says the limits are meant to reduce caregiver fatigue and to keep a member from relying on one person for most of their paid care.

Exceptions

A caregiver can go over the weekly limit only with an exception request that HCPF has approved or is still reviewing, or in a documented emergency.

The provider agency files the request. In CDASS, the employer files it.
The member’s case manager adds a statement within 7 calendar days.
HCPF makes the decision. The case manager does not approve or deny it.
If HCPF says no, the caregiver has 7 calendar days to get under the limit.

Families already above a limit have set months to file: July 2026 for more than 84 hours, November 2026 for more than 70 hours and May 2027 for more than 56 hours. If hours go over a limit later because needs change, the request is due when the need is found.

What to do now

Add up the paid hours each caregiver works for each member in a week.
Compare the total with 70 hours before January 1, 2027.
Ask your agency whether an exception could apply and when it will file.
Line up a second caregiver for the hours above the limit. It can be another relative, a friend or agency staff.

Panda Care’s Colorado team can help you plan around the limits. Call (303) 558-1057 or visit our Colorado page.