NON-RESIDENTIAL HOMEBOUND SERVICES PROVIDER IN TENNESSEE

Fatumata Kaba
3d
3 min read

DELIVERING IN-HOME PERSONALIZED SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY OR DAY PROGRAMS

Non-Residential Homebound Services in Tennessee provide individualized care and life skills support to people with disabilities or complex medical needs who are unable to safely or consistently participate in community-based or congregate settings. This service is typically available through the Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES Program, particularly under benefit groups that allow for alternative day service delivery models in the home.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid Agency)

Role: Oversees the ECF CHOICES program and authorizes services like Community-Based Day Services or their in-home alternatives for homebound individuals.

Agency: Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD)

Role: Regulates provider qualifications and ensures services for individuals with I/DD meet person-centered and HCBS standards.

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)**

Role: Provides federal oversight of Medicaid-funded in-home habilitative services and waiver flexibility.

2. NON-RESIDENTIAL HOMEBOUND SERVICES OVERVIEW

These services offer meaningful daytime support and engagement for individuals who cannot attend traditional day programs due to health, behavioral, or mobility-related barriers.

Core activities may include:

Skill-Building at Home: Personal hygiene, cooking, household management, communication
Habilitation & Cognitive Development: Memory games, routine planning, therapeutic exercises
Remote or In-Home Community Engagement: Music, reading, virtual socialization, or adapted outdoor activities
Health & Wellness Routines: Medication reminders, stretching, walking with support
ISP Implementation: Delivery of goal-based interventions from the individual’s person-centered plan
Documentation of Progress and Daily Activity Logs

These services must be individualized, habilitative, and not duplicative of other services like Personal Assistance or Respite.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Tennessee Secretary of State
Obtain EIN and Type 2 NPI
Apply to TennCare and DIDD as an ECF CHOICES Community-Based Day Service Provider
Clearly indicate your ability to serve homebound individuals in service descriptions
Develop a Non-Residential Homebound Services Policy & Procedure Manual

4. TENNESSEE PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Form legal business entity and secure EIN/NPI

Step 2: Apply for enrollment via DIDD and TennCare as a Community-Based Day Services provider

Step 3: Submit a service description outlining your approach to in-home habilitation

Step 4: Provide staff training records and documentation tools

Step 5: Receive referrals for eligible homebound participants through managed care organizations

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation, EIN, and NPI
Liability and workers’ comp insurance
Staff resumes, background checks, and training certifications
Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- In-home habilitation session plans
- Participant supervision and engagement strategies
- Health and safety protocols for home environments
- Documentation templates (daily logs, ISP goal progress, activity summaries)
- Person-centered delivery approach
- Emergency protocols and risk mitigation plans

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Requirements: High school diploma/GED, CPR/First Aid, background clearance, experience with home-based care

Role: Habilitation Coordinator (optional)

Requirements: Supervisory experience in person-centered planning and ISP delivery

All staff must complete:

Person-centered planning and documentation training
Infection control and home safety training
HIPAA and participant rights education
ISP-specific skill-building instruction
Emergency response for in-home settings

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Non-Residential Homebound Services are typically covered under:

ECF CHOICES (Benefit Groups 4, 5, 6, and 7) – For individuals with significant needs or who are medically fragile and cannot access traditional day services
1915(c) Waiver (limited or pilot use cases) – For persons with I/DD requiring in-home habilitation as part of their ISP
State Plan EPSDT (under 21) – May allow home-based habilitation as a medically necessary alternative to day programs

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration & Staffing

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: TennCare/DIDD Provider Enrollment

Timeline: 2–3 months

Phase: Staff Training & Policy Manual Finalization

Timeline: 30–60 days

Phase: Service Initiation

Timeline: Begins after receiving authorization and participant referrals

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid Program)

Website: https://www.tn.gov/tenncare

Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD)

Website: https://www.tn.gov/didd

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Website: https://www.cms.gov

NON-RESIDENTIAL HOMEBOUND SERVICES PROVIDER IN TENNESSEE

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — TN NON-RESIDENTIAL HOMEBOUND PROVIDER

WCG helps providers design, enroll, and implement high-quality home-based habilitation services for participants unable to attend community programs across Tennessee.

Scope of Work: