HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN KANSAS

DELIVERING SKILLED NURSING, THERAPIES, AND PERSONAL CARE IN THE COMFORT OF HOME

Home Health Services in Kansas provide medically necessary clinical and support services to individuals in their homes to promote recovery, manage chronic conditions, and delay or prevent institutionalization. These services are covered under Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) and may be provided under both the Medicaid State Plan and certain HCBS waiver programs.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) — Division of Health Care Finance

Role: Oversees Medicaid enrollment, provider licensure, and reimbursement for home health services

Agency: Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)

Role: Coordinates with waiver programs and monitors service quality and policy compliance

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight, including certification of Medicare/Medicaid home health agencies and compliance with Conditions of Participation (CoPs)

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under KanCare

Role: Authorize services and reimburse approved providers under KanCare Medicaid plans

2. HOME HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Home Health Services involve short-term or ongoing skilled healthcare services delivered in a person’s home to meet medical needs prescribed by a physician.

Approved providers may deliver:

• Skilled nursing care (e.g., medication administration, wound care, injections, health monitoring)

• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy

• Home health aide services (support with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene)

• Medical social work for care coordination and transition planning

• Medical equipment education and monitoring

• Chronic disease management education (e.g., diabetes, heart failure)

Services must be provided under a physician’s written order and documented in a Plan of Care (POC), reviewed every 60 days.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register business with the Kansas Secretary of State

• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)

• Obtain a Home Health Agency license through KDHE’s Health Facilities Program

• If seeking Medicare certification, apply through CMS and complete state survey process

• Enroll as a Kansas Medicaid provider through the Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) portal

• Obtain MCO credentialing and service contracts

• Maintain general and professional liability and malpractice insurance

• Develop policies covering clinical care, emergency response, infection control, and HIPAA compliance

4. KANSAS PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Licensing and Certification

• Submit application to KDHE for state home health agency license

• Complete life safety code and health inspection survey

• Apply for CMS certification if seeking dual Medicare-Medicaid billing

Step 2: Medicaid Enrollment

• Enroll via KMAP as a Home Health Services provider

• Notify KanCare MCOs (Sunflower Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna) for credentialing and contracting

Step 3: Service Authorization & Billing Setup

• Submit participant Plans of Care to MCOs for authorization

• Begin claims processing with appropriate HCPCS billing codes

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Kansas Secretary of State)

• IRS EIN confirmation

• NPI confirmation

• Home Health Agency license (KDHE)

• CMS Certification (if billing Medicare)

• Proof of insurance (general, malpractice, liability)

• Home Health Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:

  • Admission assessment, physician orders, and Plan of Care development

  • Clinical documentation and service verification standards

  • Emergency protocols and infection control procedures

  • HIPAA compliance and grievance policies

  • Staff credentialing, licensure records, and supervision protocols

  • Billing records, quality assurance, and audit-ready documentation

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Administrator / Director of Nursing

Requirements: RN with Kansas license; administrative and supervisory experience; background clearance

Role: Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)Requirements: Active Kansas nursing license; CPR certification; home health experience preferred

Role: Home Health Aides

Requirements: Completion of a KDADS-approved nurse aide training program; active CNA/HHA registry listing; background check

Role: Therapists (PT, OT, SLP)Requirements: Licensed in Kansas; experience with home-based therapy delivery

Role: Medical Social Workers

Requirements: Licensed in Kansas (LSCSW or LMSW); care coordination experience

All staff must complete:

• HIPAA, infection control, and abuse prevention training

• Emergency preparedness and client rights training

• Annual continuing education and performance evaluations

7. MEDICAID PROGRAM COVERAGE

Home Health Services are covered under:

• Kansas Medicaid State Plan (short-term or intermittent care)

• KanCare MCO Plans (ongoing services as part of chronic care management)

• HCBS Waivers:

  • Physical Disability (PD) Waiver

  • Technology Assisted (TA) Waiver

  • Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver

  • Brain Injury (BI) Waiver

  • Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) Waiver (limited use)

Approved providers may deliver:

• Intermittent skilled nursing care

• Therapy and rehabilitation services

• Home health aide tasks for ADLs

• Chronic care oversight under physician-approved POC

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration, Policy Manual, and Licensing Application

Timeline: 1–3 months

Phase: Staff Hiring, Credentialing, and Training

Timeline: 2–3 months

Phase: CMS Certification and Medicaid/MCO Enrollment

Timeline: 60–120 days

Phase: Billing System Setup and Home Health Launch

Timeline: 30–45 days

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)

Website: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov

Licensing: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1210/Health-Facilities

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)

Website: https://kdads.ks.gov

Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP)

Website: https://www.kmap-state-ks.us

KanCare MCOs:

• Sunflower Health Plan: https://www.sunflowerhealthplan.com

• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan: https://www.uhccommunityplan.com/ks

• Aetna Better Health of Kansas: https://www.aetnabetterhealth.com/kansas

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — KANSAS HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER

WCG supports home health agencies, skilled care organizations, and therapy providers in launching Medicaid-compliant Home Health Services across Kansas.

Scope of Work:

• Business registration, KDHE licensure, and CMS certification guidance

• Medicaid provider enrollment and KanCare MCO credentialing

• Development of Home Health Policy & Procedure Manual

• Staff credentialing templates, nursing documentation logs, and POC forms

• Billing setup, visit verification systems, and audit-ready documentation

• Website, domain, and branding design

• Quality assurance systems for nursing supervision, infection control, and care outcomes

• Referral development with discharge planners, hospitals, and MCO case managers

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