PERSONAL ATTENDANT SERVICES PROVIDER IN WEST VIRGINIA

Fatumata Kaba
2 days ago
3 min read

ENABLING INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR ELIGIBLE ADULTS THROUGH DAILY SUPPORT WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IN HOME SETTINGS

Personal Attendant Services (PAS) in West Virginia offer non-medical, hands-on assistance to Medicaid-eligible individuals who are aged or disabled and require help with daily living tasks to remain in their homes. These services are primarily covered under the Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW), administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) in partnership with the Bureau for Medical Services (BMS). PAS may be delivered by agency-employed attendants or via a self-directed option known as Personal Options, empowering individuals to hire and manage their own care workers.

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1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR)

Role: Administers the ADW and regulates provider standards, eligibility, and oversight.

Agency: Bureau for Medical Services (BMS)

Role: West Virginia’s Medicaid agency is responsible for processing provider enrollment, claims, and funding.

Agency: Acentra Health (formerly Kepro)

Role: Handles participant assessments, medical eligibility, and quality reviews for ADW programs.

2. PERSONAL ATTENDANT SERVICES OVERVIEW

Services are individualized and based on functional need, as documented in a Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP). Covered services may include:

Bathing, grooming, and dressing assistance
Toileting and incontinence care
Mobility support and transferring
Meal preparation and feeding
Light housekeeping (essential to the participant’s health)
Laundry and linen changing
Medication reminders (non-administration)
Accompanying participants to appointments or errands (non-medical)

All services must be prior authorized and documented according to ADW and Medicaid standards.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your agency with the WV Secretary of State
Obtain a Federal EIN and Type 2 NPI
Submit an ADW Personal Attendant Agency Application to WVDHHR
Complete Medicaid enrollment with Gainwell Technologies (Medicaid fiscal agent)
Hire or contract with a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) for care planning and supervisory duties
Submit a Policy & Procedure Manual that meets ADW service standards
Maintain worker’s compensation, general liability, and fidelity insurance

4. WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Complete business registration, obtain EIN and NPI

Step 2: Submit ADW Personal Attendant agency application

Step 3: Complete Medicaid provider enrollment via Gainwell Technologies

Step 4: Submit P&P Manual and staff credentialing documents

Step 5: Pass readiness inspection and onboarding audit (if applicable)

Step 6: Begin accepting participant referrals through case managers and Acentra

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

WV Secretary of State business registration
Approved Medicaid provider contract
Signed Attendant Agency agreement with WVDHHR
Personal Attendant Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Client intake and service authorization workflow
- Staff roles, training, and supervision by RN
- Emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Documentation standards (e.g., shift notes, time logs)
- HIPAA compliance and abuse prevention protocols
- Grievance resolution and participant rights statements
- EVV system utilization (electronic visit verification)

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Personal Attendant (PA)

Requirements:

Must be 18+ years old
Pass WV CARES background check
Complete initial and ongoing training (CPR, universal precautions, abuse prevention)
Capable of assisting with ADLs independently

Role: Registered Nurse (RN) Supervisor

Requirements:

Current WV license
Reviews PCSPs, conducts participant assessments, and supervises PAs

Role: Program Administrator (for agency model)

Responsibilities: Oversees compliance, scheduling, documentation, and personnel files

All staff must complete:

Orientation and annual competency evaluations
Ongoing continuing education (as required)
EVV training and documentation compliance

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS THAT COVER PERSONAL ATTENDANT SERVICES

Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) – Primary funding source for PAS
Personal Options (Self-Directed ADW Option) – Allows participants to recruit and manage their own attendants
State Plan Personal Care – May serve individuals on Medicaid but not ADW
Community First Choice Option (CFC) – Not yet implemented in WV but may include similar services in the future

All services require prior approval based on Acentra Health’s functional assessment.

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation & Application Submission

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment & Documentation Setup

Timeline: 4–6 weeks

Phase: RN Oversight & Staff Credentialing

Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Launch of Services

Timeline: Upon approval and authorization of initial service plans

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

WV Bureau for Medical Services (BMS)

Website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/bms

WV Secretary of State Business Registration

Website: https://sos.wv.gov

Gainwell Technologies (Medicaid Enrollment Portal)

Website: https://www.wvmmis.com

Acentra Health (formerly Kepro)

Website: https://wv.acentra.com

PERSONAL ATTENDANT SERVICES PROVIDER IN WEST VIRGINIA

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — WEST VIRGINIA PERSONAL ATTENDANT PROVIDER

WCG assists providers in launching Medicaid-compliant Personal Attendant agencies, guiding you through documentation, staff setup, and billing readiness.

Scope of Work: