RESPITE CARE SERVICES PROVIDER IN NEVADA

Fatumata Kaba
Sep 4
4 min read

SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS AND PROMOTING PARTICIPANT WELL-BEING THROUGH TEMPORARY RELIEF SERVICES

Respite Care Services in Nevada provide temporary relief for family caregivers of individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or age-related conditions. These services ensure the participant’s safety and well-being while allowing primary caregivers to rest, attend to personal matters, or recover from caregiver fatigue. Respite Care Services are authorized under Nevada Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programs.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Role: Administers Medicaid waiver funding for Respite Care Services and manages provider enrollment, service authorization, and reimbursement.

Agency: Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD)

Role: Ensures service quality, participant protections, and respite service compliance under HCBS waiver programs.

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight ensuring Medicaid-funded Respite Care Services meet HCBS quality, person-centered planning, and participant protection standards.

2. RESPITE CARE SERVICES OVERVIEW

Respite Care Services offer planned or emergency relief for unpaid caregivers while ensuring participants receive appropriate supervision, personal care, and support services.

Approved providers may deliver:

In-Home Respite Services: Care provided in the participant’s residence.
Facility-Based Respite Care: Temporary care provided in licensed community settings.
Day Respite: Supervision and support during daytime hours.
Overnight or Weekend Respite: Extended care to accommodate caregiver breaks.
Personal Care Assistance: Help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, feeding, mobility, and toileting.
Medication Reminders: Basic health monitoring and assistance (non-skilled tasks).
Recreational Activities: Engaging participants in social or therapeutic activities.

All respite care must align with the participant’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and reflect the participant’s health and safety needs.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register the business entity with the Nevada Secretary of State.
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2).
Enroll as a Medicaid Waiver Respite Care provider through the Nevada Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal.
Obtain facility licensure (if providing facility-based respite) from DHHS or ADSD as applicable.
Maintain general liability and professional liability insurance.
Develop comprehensive policies for participant intake, caregiver communication, incident reporting, participant health and safety, and emergency procedures.
Ensure all direct care staff meet background screening, health screenings, and training requirements.

4. NEVADA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Initial Interest and Application:

Complete the Provider Enrollment Application through the Nevada Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal for Respite Care Services under appropriate HCBS waivers.

Application and Documentation Submission:

Submit Articles of Incorporation, proof of EIN/NPI, liability insurance certificates, staff credentialing documentation, and service policies.

Program Readiness Review:

DHHS and ADSD review provider readiness, including staff qualifications, care and supervision protocols, participant safety plans, and documentation systems.

Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:

Upon approval, providers are authorized to bill Medicaid for In-Home and/or Facility-Based Respite Services using assigned billing codes.

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Nevada Secretary of State)
IRS EIN confirmation
NPI confirmation
Facility License (for facility-based respite providers)
Proof of general and professional liability insurance
Respite Care Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Participant intake, care planning, and service scheduling procedures
- Health and safety monitoring, medication reminders, and supervision protocols
- Emergency preparedness, abuse prevention, and critical incident reporting policies
- Participant rights, HIPAA confidentiality procedures, and grievance handling
- Staff credentialing, background checks, first aid/CPR certification documentation
- Medicaid billing, service tracking, and audit readiness procedures

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Respite Services Program Director / Supervisor

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in human services, healthcare, or related field preferred; background clearance; supervisory experience in direct care settings preferred.

Role: Respite Care Workers / Direct Support Professionals

Requirements: High school diploma or GED; CPR/First Aid certification; completion of respite-specific or direct care training; background screening and health clearance.

All staff must complete:

Participant safety and emergency preparedness training
HIPAA compliance and participant rights training
Abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention training
Infection control and wellness monitoring training
Annual competency evaluations and continuing education

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Respite Care Services are available under the following Nevada Medicaid Waivers:

Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Waiver
Physical Disabilities Waiver
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver

Services may include:

Short-term in-home or facility-based supervision and care
Temporary support allowing unpaid caregivers to attend to personal needs
Assistance with basic ADLs and wellness monitoring during respite periods
Emergency or crisis respite services when caregiver availability is compromised

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation and Compliance Preparation

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Staff Hiring, Credentialing, and Program Development

Timeline: 2–3 months

Phase: Nevada Medicaid Provider Enrollment and Readiness Review

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Medicaid Billing Setup and Respite Care Service Launch

Timeline: 30–45 days

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Website: https://dhhs.nv.gov/

Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD)

Website: https://adsd.nv.gov/

Nevada Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal

Website: https://www.medicaid.nv.gov/

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Website: https://www.cms.gov/

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — NEVADA RESPITE CARE SERVICES PROVIDER

WCG supports agencies in launching Medicaid-compliant Respite Care Services in Nevada, offering:

Scope of Work:

Business registration, Medicaid enrollment, and facility licensure support
Development of Respite Care Services Policy & Procedure Manual
Staff credentialing templates, participant intake forms, and emergency planning templates
Medicaid billing system setup and audit-ready claims management
Website, domain, and professional branding development
Caregiver training program templates and participant satisfaction surveys
Quality assurance systems for incident reporting, service tracking, and compliance monitoring