Calendar and Program Updates

• EI Colorado Proposed Rule Change 8 CCR 1405-1
  The Colorado Department of Early Childhood proposes changes in two components of the Early Intervention Colorado Rules 8 CCR 1405-1:

  1. The Early Intervention (EI) program is adding requirements for redetermining children’s eligibility for the EI program annually. This ensures that the program is using its resources to serve children most in need of services and will result in approximately $1 million in cost savings annually (5.111 G  Child Identification or 5.115  Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)). As part of community engagement efforts to identify EI budget balancing options, this strategy was proposed and supported by the majority of workgroup participants. The full report can be found here: December Request for Information (RFI)  
  2. The EI program is clarifying the funding hierarchy to remove parent cost participation and child welfare and TANF as funding sources; and to clarify private insurance as plans that pay into the Early Intervention Services Trust (5.107 Coordinated System of Payment)

  WHAT THIS MEANS:
  5.107 Coordinated System of Payment

  • Funding Hierarchy 
    • Before, the funding hierarchy included private pay by the parent as an option. Because EI services must be provided to families at no cost, this option was removed
    • The funding hierarchy is being changed to include only required funding sources
    • Child welfare/TANF: These funding sources are not required to pay for EI services in Colorado, so they are being taken out of rule
    • Colorado has an Early Intervention Services Trust where Colorado insurance companies pay for EI services. The rule clarifies private insurance as the Early Intervention Services Trust (EIST) because they are the only health insurance plans required to pay for EI services in Colorado 
  • Private Insurance other than the EIST
    • While the EIST is required, there will still be attempts made to bill private insurance outside of the EIST when feasible
    • Language was adjusted to clarify that families are not responsible for co-pays

  
  5.111 G  Child Identification or 5.115  Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

  • Before, every child enrolled in EI services received an assessment to see where the child was developmentally to inform their need for ongoing services.
  • Now, every child enrolled in EI Colorado will have an annual evaluation to see if they are still eligible for the program
  • This means a child must have a significant delay of 25% in two areas or a 33% delay in one area
  • Children who are eligible with an established condition will remain eligible and will not be reevaluated annually

  
  COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
  Please submit comments using the Public Comment for Early Intervention (EI) Colorado Rule Change Google Form regarding the draft EI Colorado Rules (Redline Draft | Clean Draft) by March 13, 2026.
  
  NEXT STEPS
  CDEC will review and consider all public feedback received and will incorporate the recommendations into the draft EI Colorado Rule as able. The draft rules are expected to be reviewed by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on May 14, 2026, and considered for emergency adoption on May 28, 2026. The rules will go before the RAC again on June 11, 2026, and will be considered for permanent adoption on June 25, 2026.
  
  Please visit the Rulemaking and Rules Advisory Council's (RAC) webpage for more detailed information regarding the rulemaking timeline for these rules. If you have additional questions, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us. 
  
  STAY INFORMED
  All rulemaking material received and collected, including written comments, will be publicly accessible and posted on the EI Colorado and the Rulemaking and Rules Advisory Council's (RAC) webpage.
• EI Colorado Budget Balancing
  Over the past year, hundreds of providers and early intervention partners have shared their time, ideas and experiences with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). You helped us look for better ways to make sure Early Intervention Colorado can sustain and continue to provide quality services. Thank you for your feedback and advocacy.
  
  Please view the full reports here:

  • June Request for Information (RFI)
  • December Request for Information (RFI)  

  CDEC Early Intervention Budget Balancing RFI Update Presentation: January 6 & 7, 2026
  
  CDEC is recommending a new budget plan for Early Intervention in fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This plan has two parts: 

  • No additional budget balancing measures, except State EI administrative budget cuts, in 2025-26 because we expect to spend less than we planned.
  • This strategy was a one-time savings of $300,000 based on keeping an open staff position vacant, freezing staff travel, and delaying upgrades to the state data system.
  • Checking eligibility each year starting in FY 2026-27. This will be a process to review whether children still qualify for Early Intervention at their yearly Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) Review meeting.

  
  To review questions, notes, and feedback from the EI Colorado Spring input sessions that informed the June RFI, select 2025 EI Colorado program sustainability strategy meetings.
  To view emails to families and partners from CDEC and EI Colorado, select communication from EI Colorado regarding program sustainability strategies. The links and information on this page are only available in English.