RESPITE CARE SERVICES PROVIDER IN CONNECTICUT

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 8
3 min read

GIVING FAMILY CAREGIVERS A BREAK WHILE ENSURING SAFE, COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX NEEDS

Respite Care Services in Connecticut provides short-term, temporary relief to unpaid caregivers of individuals with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or age-related needs. These services are available through various Connecticut Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, including the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver, the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers, the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Waiver programs.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)

Role: Administers Medicaid waiver programs and reimburses authorized respite care providers

Agency: Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Role: Oversees respite services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities under DDS Waiver

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight and ensures waiver-based respite services comply with HCBS rules

2. RESPITE CARE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Respite care offers temporary relief to family caregivers by providing substitute care for an eligible individual. It can be provided in-home, in the community, or in licensed out-of-home settings and must be authorized in the person’s care plan.

Approved providers may deliver:

In-home respite (short-term care provided in the individual's home)
Out-of-home respite (e.g., licensed facilities or supervised community-based settings)
Supervision, personal care, and behavioral support (if applicable)
Planned or emergency care coverage
Documentation of hours provided and care tasks completed

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register business with the Connecticut Secretary of the State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
For agency-based services: register with DSS as a Medicaid provider and/or obtain appropriate licensure from DPH (if offering medical care)
Individual respite workers under self-directed models must enroll through a Financial Management Service (FMS)
Maintain liability insurance and ensure staff complete background checks and required training

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Option A: Agency-Based Provider

Apply through the DSS Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
Submit business documents, NPI, staff qualifications, and service descriptions
Select applicable waiver programs (e.g., CHCPE, ABI, DDS Waiver)

Option B: Individual Respite Worker (Self-Directed Model)

Enroll through an FMS provider supporting the participant's waiver
Complete required background checks and employment eligibility forms

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or business registration
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
DPH license (if applicable)
DSS Medicaid enrollment approval or FMS authorization
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Client intake and caregiver communication protocols
- Daily service logs and visit verification
- Emergency and incident response plans
- Confidentiality, HIPAA, and participant rights documentation
- Grievance procedures and safety protocols
- Staff hiring, credentialing, and supervision guidelines
- Quality assurance and service review forms

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Respite Caregiver / Direct Support Worker

Requirements:

Background check, TB screening, CPR/First Aid certification (recommended)
Experience in personal care or caregiving preferred

Role: Supervisor / Program Coordinator (for agencies)

Requirements: Experience in health or human services, program oversight, and staff supervision

Training Requirements for All Staff:

Person-centered care and participant safety
Abuse prevention and mandated reporting
HIPAA and confidentiality
Documentation and emergency preparedness
Annual refreshers in safety and ethics

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Respite Care Services are covered under:

Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers I & II
Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Waiver Programs
State-funded Respite Programs for Alzheimer's and dementia care

Approved providers may deliver:

Scheduled or emergency in-home respite
Community-based or overnight respite (with appropriate licensure)
Support with ADLs/IADLs as outlined in the service plan
Coordination with families and waiver care managers

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: DSS Medicaid Enrollment or FMS Registration

Timeline: 30–60 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Background Checks

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: Service Referrals and Authorization

Timeline: Ongoing

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)

Email: dss.ctmedical@ct.gov

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS

Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Email: ddsct.co@ct.gov

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/dds

Connecticut Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal

Website: https://www.ctdssmap.com

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — CONNECTICUT RESPITE CARE SERVICES PROVIDER

We help agencies, families, and individual caregivers launch Medicaid-compliant respite care services under Connecticut’s HCBS waiver and state-funded programs.

Scope of Work: