HABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDER IN ARKANSAS

Fatumata Kaba
2 days ago
3 min read

TEACHING SKILLS FOR DAILY LIVING AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Habilitation Services in Arkansas are designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities in learning or maintaining skills essential for daily living, independence, and inclusion in their community. These services are available through the Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver under the Arkansas Medicaid system and focus on individualized, person-centered skill development.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) – Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)

Role: Approves providers, monitors compliance, and coordinates Habilitation Services through CES Waiver

Agency: Arkansas Medicaid / Division of Medical Services (DMS)

Role: Handles Medicaid provider enrollment and claims processing for habilitation services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Ensures federal compliance with HCBS waiver service delivery and community integration standards

2. HABILITATION SERVICE OVERVIEW

Habilitation Services help individuals build skills related to self-care, safety, communication, behavior management, and community involvement. These services are delivered in the home or community and are tailored to each participant’s goals outlined in their Individualized Service Plan (ISP).

Approved providers may deliver:

Skill-building activities in areas such as grooming, meal preparation, money management, and using public transportation
Socialization and community engagement coaching
Behavioral support and redirection techniques
Supervision and safety support in home and community environments
Documentation of skill progression and ISP goal achievement

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Arkansas Secretary of State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Apply through the DDS CES Waiver Provider Application
Complete Arkansas Medicaid enrollment through the online portal
Carry general liability insurance and implement incident tracking systems
Hire and train direct support staff with experience in developmental disability services

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Apply through the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal
Submit required documents including license, EFT form, and W-9
Select habilitation services under CES Waiver provider type

Step 2: DDS CES Waiver Application

Submit service delivery plan, training protocols, and sample documentation forms
Ensure alignment with person-centered planning and HCBS rules

Step 3: Approval and Referrals

Upon approval, providers will begin receiving service referrals from DDS case managers

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
CES Waiver provider approval
Medicaid enrollment documentation
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Skill-building activity outlines and service schedules
- Safety and supervision procedures
- Staff training and onboarding logs
- HIPAA and client confidentiality policies
- Participant rights and consent forms
- ISP goal tracking and progress documentation
- Incident reporting and grievance resolution protocol
- Billing and time tracking tools

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Habilitation Services Supervisor / Program Manager

Requirements: Experience in developmental disability support and supervision of community-based services

Role: Direct Support Professional (DSP)Requirements:

High school diploma or GED
CPR/First Aid certification
Completion of DDS-approved training program
Background check and Adult/Child Maltreatment Registry clearance

Training Requirements for All Staff:

Person-centered service delivery
Daily documentation and ISP implementation
Behavior management and redirection strategies
Annual refreshers on safety, ethics, and incident reporting

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Habilitation Services are authorized under:

Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver

Approved providers may deliver:

In-home and community-based habilitation activities
Support to teach, retain, and improve life skills
Supervision and coaching for social and safety skills
Documentation aligned with individualized service goals

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment & CES Waiver Application

Timeline: 45–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Training

Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Referral Setup and Service Launch

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Arkansas Department of Human Services – Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)

Email: ddsproviderinfo@dhs.arkansas.gov

Phone: (501) 683-5687

Website: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/about-dhs/dms/dds

Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal

Website: https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — ARKANSAS HABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDER

We support providers in launching fully compliant Habilitation Services under the Arkansas CES Waiver, from licensing and staff training to documentation and referrals.

Scope of Work: