Community First Choice Option (CFCO)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the State´s Medicaid Plan Amendment to add the Community First Choice Option (CFCO) set of services. CFCO, authorized in the Affordable Care Act, allows states to expand access and availability of long term services and supports.

  • CFCO is an optional set of services under Medicaid that was authorized in the Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act, PL 111-148, Sec. 2401)
  • CFCO allows long term services and supports that were previously only available through a waiver to be Medicaid State Plan Services
  • CFCO provides additional federal money to expand home and community-based services and supports to individuals in need of long term care for help with everyday activities and health-related tasks that can be performed by an aide or direct care worker (for example, Activities of Daily Living [ADLs] and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADLs])
  • CFCO is designed to be person centered and consumer driven, and intended to maximize independence and participation in the community
  • CFCO services focus on person-centered, individually directed services that help the recipient maximize his or her independence and participation in the community.

State Plan Services under CFCO are available to individuals who fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Eligible for medical assistance under the New York State Medicaid
  • Have an institutional level of care as determined by the functional assessment used by that population (UAS)
  • Are living in their own home or a family member´s home (not a congregate setting)
  • 1915(c) Children´s Waiver: Environmental Modifications, Vehicle Modifications and Assistive Technology HTML - PDF - 6.5.19
  • Authorizing and Paying for E-Mod, V-Mod, and AT - HTML - PDF - 3.27.19
  • CFCO Billing, Claims, and Encounter Reporting within the Managed Care Environment HTML - PDF - 3.22.19
  • CFCO Contracting and Credentialing within the Managed Care Environment HTML - PDF - 3.20.19
  • 4/1/19 Kids Waiver for LDSS - HTML - PDF - 3.13.19
  • Role of LDSS in Implementing CFCO Services Webinar - HTML - PDF - 2.20.19
  • CFCO MMIS Application Training for LDSS HTML - PDF - 02.01.19
  • CFCO Follow-Up Q&A Webinar for MCOs HTML - PDF -01.29.19
  • CFCO Follow-Up Q&A Webinar for LDSS HTML - PDF - 01.29.19
  • CFCO RR/E Placement and Maintenance Refresher Training for MCOs - HTML -PDF - 01.18.19
  • CFCO RR/E Placement and Maintenance Refresher Training for LDSS - HTML - PDF - 01.17.19
  • CFCO Rate Code Overview training for LDSS - HTML - PDF - 01.08.19
  • CFCO Rate Code Overview training for MCOs - HTML - PDF - 01.04.19
  • CFCO Implementation Webinar - HTML - PDF - 12.20.18

Through CFCO, New York State is expanding access and availability by offering some services and supports that have, until now, only been available through waivers. In order to better assist Managed Care Organizations and Local Departments of Social Services with identifying providers of these previously waivered services, we have compiled a list of current providers. This list may or may not include providers already contracting with MLTC plans and Mainstream plans, for these or other services.

List of Providers: