HOME MODIFICATION SERVICES PROVIDER IN LOUISIANA

Fatumata Kaba
Aug 12
4 min read

ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGH STRUCTURAL ADAPTATIONS

Home Modification Services in Louisiana offer vital support to individuals enrolled in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers by funding structural changes to their living environments. These modifications help individuals with disabilities, functional limitations, or chronic conditions live more independently, reduce falls and injuries, and avoid institutionalization.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) & Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)

Role: Administers HCBS waivers, sets clinical eligibility, and oversees waiver services, including environmental modifications

Agency: Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) / Molina Medicaid Solutions

Role: Processes provider enrollment, billing, and reimbursement for approved home modification services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight of waiver programs and ensures services meet HCBS regulatory standards

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) (for those enrolled in Bayou Health managed care plans)

Role: Authorize services under the participant’s Person-Centered Plan and coordinate payments

2. SERVICE OVERVIEW

Home Modification Services, also called Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (EAA) in Louisiana, are one-time physical adaptations made to a participant’s home to ensure it supports safety, mobility, and functional independence.

Covered modifications may include:

Wheelchair ramps and stair lifts
Roll-in showers, widened doors, grab bars, raised toilets
Lowered kitchen and bathroom counters and accessible sinks
Door widening and threshold removal
Non-slip flooring installation
Reinforced flooring for mobility equipment
Specialized electrical or plumbing adjustments required for medical equipment
Installation of handrails, transfer poles, and remote-controlled access systems

NOTE: Modifications must be included in the participant’s approved Plan of Care (POC) or Support Plan, deemed medically necessary, and authorized before implementation.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Louisiana Secretary of State
Obtain an IRS EIN and Type 2 NPI
Enroll as a Medicaid provider through Louisiana Medicaid’s Provider Enrollment Portal
Maintain general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage
Hire or contract with licensed contractors and/or accessibility professionals
Follow Louisiana building codes and ADA accessibility standards
Develop a Home Modification Services Policy & Procedure Manual
Implement HIPAA-compliant documentation and secure billing systems

4. LOUISIANA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Medicaid Enrollment

Apply as a Home Modification or Environmental Accessibility Adaptations provider via Louisiana Medicaid’s Provider Enrollment Portal
Choose waiver(s) to participate in (e.g., ROW, NOW, LT-PCS, CCW)

Step 2: Credentialing and Documentation Submission

Submit business licenses, insurance documents, contractor credentials, and internal operating procedures
Provide sample project estimates and documentation templates

Step 3: Participant Referrals and Service Authorization

Work with support coordinators to assess participant needs
Submit itemized cost estimate for LDH or MCO review and approval
Upon approval, complete modification and submit before/after photos, signed completion forms, and invoice for payment

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Louisiana Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN and Type 2 NPI documentation
Certificate of insurance (liability and workers’ comp)
Home Modification Services Policy & Procedure Manual, including:
- Participant intake and accessibility assessment forms
- Estimate and approval tracking logs
- Contractor licenses and subcontractor agreements
- Installation verification forms with photo documentation
- ADA and Louisiana building code compliance checklists
- HIPAA policies and participant consent forms
- Service completion sign-off, billing, and audit documentation

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Project Manager / Home Modification Coordinator

Requirements: Experience in housing accessibility or project oversight; knowledge of Medicaid documentation and ADA standards; background check clearance

Role: Licensed Contractor or Skilled Tradesperson

Requirements: Licensed in Louisiana for the relevant trade (e.g., general contracting, plumbing, electrical); liability insurance required

Role (optional): Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Specialist

Requirements: Louisiana license; contributes to functional assessments and environmental adaptation recommendations

All staff must complete:

HIPAA compliance and confidentiality training
Incident reporting and emergency safety protocols
Orientation on Medicaid billing and documentation standards
Accessibility, universal design, and ADA compliance best practices

7. MEDICAID PROGRAMS & HCBS WAIVERS

Home Modification Services are authorized under:

Residential Options Waiver (ROW)
New Opportunities Waiver (NOW)
Supports Waiver
Children’s Choice Waiver
Community Choices Waiver (CCW)
Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) (in limited cases)

Service settings include:

Participant-owned or rented homes
Family homes where the participant resides
Transitional residences (if participant is relocating from an institution)

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration and Manual Development

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and Documentation Submission

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Vendor Partnerships and Safety Protocol Setup

Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Participant Referrals and Project Initiation

Timeline: Rolling, based on authorization and waiver-specific eligibility

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Louisiana Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal

Website: https://www.lamedicaid.com

Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)

Website: https://ldh.la.gov

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)

Website: https://ldh.la.gov/page/121

Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS)

Website: https://ldh.la.gov/page/119

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — LOUISIANA HOME MODIFICATION PROVIDER

WCG assists contractors, rehab consultants, and accessibility-focused businesses in launching fully compliant Home Modification Services across Louisiana.

Scope of Work: