Respite Care Provider in Alabama

Short-Term Relief Services for Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Respite Care Services in Alabama offer temporary relief to primary caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. These services may be provided in-home or out-of-home and are regulated under the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) through the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver.

​​1. Governing Agencies

• Agency: Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH)

  • Role: Licenses and certifies HCBS waiver providers, including respite services

• Agency: Alabama Medicaid Agency

  • Role: Administers Medicaid enrollment and reimbursement

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

  • Role: Federal oversight and regulation of HCBS Waiver programs

2. Respite Service Overview

Respite care offers short-term, temporary services to relieve unpaid caregivers. Services can be provided in:

• The individual’s home

• A certified respite home

• A community-based residential facility

Approved providers must deliver:

• Supervision and support with ADLs

• Health and safety monitoring

• Basic habilitation or recreational engagement

• Care in accordance with the person-centered plan

3. Licensing & Provider Approval Requirements

Prerequisites:

• Register business with Alabama Secretary of State

• Obtain EIN and NPI (Type 2)

• Have a physical office in Alabama

• Meet ADMH provider standards for service delivery and documentation

• Ensure staff are trained in CPR, First Aid, abuse prevention, and IDD-specific competencies

4. ADMH Provider Enrollment Process

Initial Interest and Application:

• Complete ADMH Provider Application Packet (request via ADMH)

• Submit business plan and proposed services

• Include policies, organizational chart, and staffing plan

Background & Credentialing:

• Fingerprint-based criminal background checks

• Central registry checks for abuse and neglect

• Drug screening and staff eligibility validation

Site Inspection & Review (if applicable):

• Life safety and fire inspection (for out-of-home respite)

• Floor plan, emergency exits, infection control

• Review of training records, manuals, and client protections

Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:

• Enroll with Alabama Medicaid as an HCBS provider

• Add service lines for Respite (code T1005 or S5150 depending on setting)

5. Required Documentation

• Articles of Incorporation or LLC Certificate

• IRS EIN Letter

• NPI confirmation

• Lease/deed and floor plan (for out-of-home respite)

• Fire Marshal inspection (if applicable)

• Staff training documentation

• ADMH-compliant Policy & Procedure Manual covering:

  • Admission/discharge

  • Emergency response

  • Incident reporting

  • Medication protocols (if applicable)

  • Staffing and supervision

  • Individual rights

• Person-Centered Respite Care Plans

6. Staffing Requirements

Role: Administrator

Requirements: Experience in developmental disability services

Role: Direct Support Professional (DSP)Requirements: High school diploma/GED, CPR/First Aid, abuse prevention training

Role: Respite Staff

Requirements: May include paraprofessionals or CNAs depending on care needs

All staff must complete:

• ADMH-mandated orientation and annual in-service hours

• Individual-specific training based on the care recipient’s needs

7. Medicaid Waiver Services

Waivers that include respite services in Alabama:

• ID Waiver (Intellectual Disabilities Waiver)

• LAH Waiver (Living at Home Waiver)

• State of Alabama Community Waiver Program

Approved providers may deliver:

• In-home Respite

• Out-of-home Respite

• Emergency Respite (if certified)

8. Timeline to Launch

• Phase: Business Formation

  • Timeline: 0–1 week

• Phase: ADMH Application Review

  • Timeline: 60–120 days

• Phase: Licensing & Site Review

  • Timeline: 30–60 days

• Phase: Medicaid Enrollment

  • Timeline: 60–90 days

9. Contact Information

• Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) – Division of Developmental Disabilities

• Email: ddprovider@mh.alabama.gov

• Phone: (334) 242-3702

• Website: https://mh.alabama.gov

• Alabama Medicaid Agency – Waiver Services

• Website: https://medicaid.alabama.gov

Waiver Consulting Group's Start-Up Assistance Service — Alabama Respite Care Provider

We support you through each phase of launching your respite service in Alabama.

Scope of Work:

• Business formation (LLC, EIN, NPI)

• ADMH application support and compliance documentation

• Creation of complete Policy & Procedure Manual

• Site readiness for inspection (if applicable)

• Medicaid enrollment support

• Staff training templates and onboarding materials

• Program design and care documentation tools

• Branding, compliance, and operational guidance

Continue To Our Client Portal To Get Started

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