HOMEMAKER SERVICES PROVIDER IN IOWA

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 22
3 min read

ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS IN MAINTAINING A CLEAN, SAFE, AND HEALTHY HOME ENVIRONMENT

Homemaker Services in Iowa provide non-medical support to individuals who are unable to manage household tasks independently due to disability, chronic illness, or age-related limitations. These services are authorized under Iowa’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs and support continued community living and reduced reliance on institutional care.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME)

Role: Administers waiver programs, sets service delivery standards, and oversees provider enrollment and claims processing

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)

Role: Authorize homemaker services for eligible participants, monitor service delivery, and process reimbursements

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight, ensuring Homemaker Services meet Medicaid requirements and support participant-centered community living

2. HOMEMAKER SERVICE OVERVIEW

Homemaker Services support participants with routine household tasks essential to health, safety, and daily functioning in their home environment.

Approved providers may deliver:

Light housekeeping (sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, trash disposal)
Laundry (washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothing)
Meal preparation and basic nutrition support
Household organization and sanitation
Shopping assistance for groceries and household supplies (if included in ISP)
Support with maintaining a safe and accessible living space

All services must align with the participant’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and cannot duplicate services provided by informal caregivers.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register business with the Iowa Secretary of State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Enroll as a Medicaid waiver provider through the Iowa Medicaid Provider Portal (IMPA)
Maintain general liability and professional liability insurance
Develop policies for task completion, emergency response, participant safety, and incident reporting
Ensure all staff complete required background checks and homemaking task training

4. IOWA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Initial Interest and Application:

Submit an application via IMPA to become a Medicaid waiver provider for Homemaker Services
Coordinate with MCOs for participant-specific authorization

Documentation Submission:

Provide Articles of Incorporation, proof of EIN/NPI, insurance certificates, staff credentialing records, and operational policy manual

Readiness Review:

IME or MCO may conduct readiness checks for staffing adequacy, documentation systems, and service planning procedures

Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:

Once approved, providers will receive billing codes for Homemaker Services based on authorized units (typically hourly)

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Iowa Secretary of State)
IRS EIN confirmation
NPI confirmation
Proof of general liability and professional liability insurance
Homemaker Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Participant intake and task planning procedures
- Task checklists and completion documentation
- Cleaning protocols and sanitation procedures
- Emergency preparedness and incident response
- Participant rights, HIPAA compliance, and grievance policies
- Staff credentialing, background checks, and training documentation
- Medicaid billing and audit-ready service logs

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Homemaker Services Program Supervisor

Requirements: Background in home care, social services, or support coordination preferred; background screening clearance

Role: Homemaker Aides / Direct Support Workers

Requirements: High school diploma or GED preferred; training in home safety, infection control, and nutrition support; background check clearance

All staff must complete:

HIPAA and participant confidentiality training
Abuse prevention and emergency preparedness training
Task-specific cleaning and safety procedure training
Annual competency assessments and continuing education

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Homemaker Services are authorized under the following Iowa HCBS waivers:

Intellectual Disability (ID) Waiver
Brain Injury (BI) Waiver
Health and Disability (HD) Waiver
Elderly Waiver

Approved providers may deliver:

Household cleaning and sanitation services
Basic meal preparation
Grocery shopping (if included in ISP)
Laundry and environmental organization tasks

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation and Credentialing Setup

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Staff Hiring, Training, and Policy Development

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Iowa Medicaid Enrollment and MCO Readiness Review

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Billing System Setup and Homemaker Services Launch

Timeline: 30–45 days

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME)

Website: https://ime.iowa.gov/providers

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Website: https://hhs.iowa.gov

Managed Care Organizations (MCOs):

Amerigroup Iowa: https://www.myamerigroup.com/ia
Iowa Total Care: https://www.iowatotalcare.com

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Website: https://www.cms.gov

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — IOWA HOMEMAKER SERVICES PROVIDER

WCG supports non-medical support agencies, personal assistance providers, and HCBS waiver organizations in launching Medicaid-compliant Homemaker Services across Iowa.

Scope of Work:

Business registration, Medicaid provider enrollment, and MCO onboarding
Development of Homemaker Services Policy & Procedure Manual
Staff credentialing templates, task logs, and service tracking forms
Medicaid billing system setup and compliance support
Website, domain, and professional branding
Quality assurance systems for service documentation, safety audits, and participant satisfaction
Referral networking with MCO case managers, support coordinators, and aging networks