What Is a PASA in Colorado? Services for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities

If your child or loved one has an intellectual or developmental disability, it can take time to understand the support options available in Colorado. You may have come across the term PASA while talking with a case manager or exploring Medicaid waiver services.

A PASA is an agency approved to provide certain direct, community-based services to people who are eligible for and enrolled in Colorado Medicaid waiver programs. At Sahha Home Health Care LLC, we are a Colorado PASA and serve children as well as adults. We know that navigating services can feel like a lot, so we’re here to help make the next steps clearer.

What does PASA mean?

PASA stands for Program Approved Service Agency. In Colorado, a PASA is approved to deliver specific services to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are authorized to receive services through a Medicaid waiver.

PASA approval relates to the provider agency. It does not determine whether a person qualifies for a waiver, enroll them in a program, or guarantee that a particular service will be covered. Those decisions depend on the person’s circumstances, program rules, and authorized service plan.

A developmental disability generally begins before a person turns 22 and may affect intellectual functioning, adaptive functioning, or both. Each person’s needs and strengths are different. Support should reflect the individual, not just a diagnosis or program name.

Which Colorado waivers may involve a PASA?

Colorado PASAs may provide approved services through different Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. These include:

• HCBS-DD: The Home and Community-Based Services waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• HCBS-SLS: The Supported Living Services waiver.
• HCBS-CES: The Children’s Extensive Support waiver.

Each waiver has its own eligibility rules, covered services, and planning process. The services a PASA can provide depend on its approval and the individual’s authorized plan. For current program information, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s overview of HCBS-SLS and HCBS-CES and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing’s HCBS information.

What kinds of support might be available?

Waiver services are designed to help eligible people receive support in their homes and communities. Depending on the waiver, the person’s needs, and the approved service plan, services may include areas such as:

• Help with everyday living skills and greater independence
• Support to take part in community activities
• Respite for family caregivers
• Day or habilitation services
• Caregiver education or other approved professional support
• Certain equipment, home changes, or transportation supports

This is a general overview, not a complete list or a promise that a service is available to every person. Waiver rules and service definitions can change. Your case manager can help explain which supports are included in your plan and which provider agencies may deliver them.

Who may qualify?

PASA services are for people who meet the requirements of a specific Colorado Medicaid waiver and have the relevant services authorized. A person’s eligibility may depend on factors such as their needs, assessment, Medicaid status, and the rules of the waiver they are applying for.

Being a child or adult with a developmental disability does not by itself mean a person is enrolled in a waiver. Likewise, contacting a PASA does not replace the state’s eligibility and enrollment process.

If you are unsure where to begin, ask your case manager or local case management agency about the waiver and services that may fit. You can also review the state’s HCBS waiver information. Program details come from Colorado’s Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) and other state agencies, and can change. Confirm current requirements with them or your case manager.

How can families get started?

The process can feel confusing, especially when you are already balancing appointments, school, work, and caregiving. You do not need to sort everything out at once. These steps can help:

1. Ask about the right waiver. Contact your case manager or local case management agency and ask which waiver may be appropriate for your family member.
2. Talk through the support needs. Share what helps the person feel safe, respected, and included at home and in the community.
3. Review the service plan. Ask which services are approved, how much support is authorized, and whether there are provider requirements.
4. Confirm the provider’s approved services. A PASA may provide only services within its approval and the individual’s plan. Ask the agency to explain what it can offer.
5. Keep questions coming. If a term, form, or next step is unclear, ask your case manager or provider to explain it in plain language.

Choosing a PASA is about trust and fit

Finding an agency is not only about checking whether it is approved. It is also about whether its approach feels right for the person and family. You may want to ask:

• What services are you approved to provide for this waiver?
• How will you learn about my family member’s routines, preferences, and goals?
• How do you communicate with the person, family, and case manager?
• What training and supervision do staff receive?
• How do you respond if a caregiver is unavailable or a concern comes up?

The person receiving services should be included in these conversations as much as they wish and are able. Their choices, communication style, culture, and comfort matter.

How Sahha supports families

Sahha Home Health Care LLC is a Program Approved Service Agency in Colorado. We provide approved direct community-based services to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are authorized for Medicaid waiver services, and we serve children as well as adults.

Our nurse-led team was founded and is directed by an Oncology Specialist Nurse with more than 18 years of clinical experience. We bring that experience together with a personal, culturally aware approach. We take time to understand each person’s needs and preferences and work with families and case managers to help make care feel respectful and manageable.

If you are exploring waiver services or have questions about how to connect with support, visit our Medicaid Waiver Program Support page or contact Sahha. We’ll be glad to listen and help you understand possible next steps. We can discuss our approved services and how to coordinate with your case manager, while the state and case management agency confirm eligibility and authorization.

A supportive next step

Learning what a PASA does is a helpful first step, but you do not have to navigate the whole process alone. Ask questions, take time to understand the options, and keep your family member’s dignity and preferences at the center. With clear information and the right support, it can become easier to plan for care that fits your life.