Parents as their child's Certified Nursing Aide (CNA)

Health First Colorado is Colorado’s Medicaid Program.

• You can check eligibility and apply for benefits on the Colorado PEAK website.
  • If you need help with a technical issue on the Colorado.gov/PEAK website, such as password resets, error messages, or problems with navigation, call the PEAK Technical Support Call Center at 1-800-250-7741, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Please Note: The PEAK Technical Support Call Center is closed on state holidays.

• Find Health First Colorado home health agencies. Search for agencies using your zip code and the provider type label of “home health.”
• Learn more about reconsideration if you don’t agree with hours/visits in the tool.

• Cost and length of time to complete nurse aide training differs from program to program. When you compare the cost and length of programs,keep in mind the success rate of the program’s graduates in passing the state certification test. Pass rate information is available on DORA’s website.
• Contact the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for information on transferring CNA certification from another state if you have current certification from a state other than Colorado.

• Find Health First Colorado agencies. Search for agencies using your zip code and the provider type label of “home health.”
• Ask area agencies if they will pay for or supplement the cost of your CNA training, materials and testing. If not, you will need to pay out‐of‐pocket.

• Your income as a CNA may impact your child’s Medicaid and SSI eligibility. Ask about and understand eligibility income limits.
• If your child is covered by Medicaid through the Buy‐In program, your increased income as a parent CNA may impact your child’s Medicaid Buy‐In eligibility.
• When you are a parent CNA and employed by a home health care agency, you have the same employee responsibilities as any other agency employee.
  • As a parent, you need to give input regarding your child’s needs and plan of care.
• It can be hard to separate your parent role from the role of being your child’s CNA, depending on your family situation, parent as CNA may not be the best option.