BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDER IN UTAH

Fatumata Kaba
20 hours ago
3 min read

ENHANCING BEHAVIORAL STABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH POSITIVE INTERVENTION AND CARE PLANNING

Behavioral Support Services in Utah assist individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities (ID/DD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or co-occurring mental health conditions to reduce challenging behaviors and develop functional alternatives. These services are part of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) system and are authorized under Medicaid waiver programs administered by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), formerly the Department of Human Services (DHS), through the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD).

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD)

Role: Administers and authorizes Behavioral Supports through HCBS waivers; oversees service delivery standards and reimbursement.

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Approves Utah’s waiver programs and ensures they comply with federal HCBS regulations.

2. BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SERVICES OVERVIEW

Behavioral Support Services help individuals address maladaptive behaviors and replace them with safer, socially appropriate alternatives. Services must be person-centered and based on a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).

Common components include:

Conducting FBAs to identify causes of behavior
Developing and implementing Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs)
Training families, caregivers, and direct support staff on behavior strategies
Monitoring behavior data and revising PBSPs as needed
Providing direct behavior consultation or intervention
Ensuring safety and dignity in all interventions

All supports must align with goals outlined in the Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP) and Individual Support Plan (ISP).

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register a business entity with the Utah Division of Corporations
Obtain Employer Identification Number (EIN) and National Provider Identifier (NPI, Type 2)
Enroll with Utah Medicaid and become a contracted DSPD provider
Employ or contract with a licensed behaviorist (e.g., BCBA, LBA, LCSW, LMFT, psychologist)
Obtain Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) clearance if applicable
Develop a Behavioral Support Services Policy & Procedure Manual

4. UTAH PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Register your business and obtain NPI and EIN

Step 2: Complete Utah Medicaid provider enrollment

Step 3: Apply with DSPD to become a behavioral support service provider

Step 4: Submit staff credentials and policy documentation

Step 5: Complete provider training through MySupport (state learning platform)

Step 6: Receive DSPD contract approval and begin providing authorized services

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

EIN, NPI, Utah business registration
Medicaid and DSPD provider agreements
Staff licenses or board certification (BCBA, psychologist, etc.)
Behavioral Support Services Policy Manual including:
- FBA and PBSP procedures
- Documentation templates (progress notes, data sheets)
- Training logs for family and DSPs
- Emergency interventions and safety protocols
- HIPAA and participant rights protection
- Behavior incident reports and trend tracking
- Quality assurance and billing documentation

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Licensed Behavior Specialist / Consultant

Requirements: Licensed BCBA, psychologist, LCSW, LMFT, or equivalent; background check and Medicaid credentialing

Role: Behavior Support Technician (optional)

Requirements: Trained in plan implementation and data collection

All staff must complete:

Abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention (ANEP) training
HIPAA, documentation, and client rights training
MySupport system onboarding (DSPD eLearning)
Positive behavior supports and trauma-informed care training

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Behavioral Support Services are available under the following Utah waivers:

Community Supports Waiver – For individuals with ID/DD living in home or community settings
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver – For individuals with brain injuries and behavioral needs
Physical Disabilities Waiver – If behavioral needs are significant and authorized
Medically Complex Children’s Waiver (MCCW) – For children with both medical and behavioral needs (case-by-case)
Autism Waiver – For young children diagnosed with ASD receiving ABA-based interventions