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SKILLED NURSING SERVICES PROVIDER IN KANSAS

  • Writer: Fatumata Kaba
    Fatumata Kaba
  • Jul 24
  • 4 min read

DELIVERING CLINICALLY COMPLEX, MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOME OR COMMUNITY SETTING

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Skilled Nursing Services in Kansas provide high-level, medically necessary care administered by licensed nurses to individuals with acute or chronic health conditions. These services are offered under the Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) State Plan and certain Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers to support recovery, manage medical conditions, and prevent institutionalization.​

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1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) — Division of Health Care Finance

Role: Manages Medicaid eligibility, provider enrollment, and billing for Skilled Nursing Services

Agency: Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)

Role: Coordinates with HCBS waiver programs and monitors provider compliance

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight to ensure compliance with Medicaid and Medicare nursing care standards

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under KanCare

Role: Authorize and reimburse services, manage care planning, and ensure provider compliance with participant care needs

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2. SKILLED NURSING SERVICE OVERVIEW

Skilled Nursing Services consist of clinical care provided by Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) under physician orders to treat, monitor, or manage health conditions in a non-institutional setting.

Approved providers may deliver:

  • Medication administration, injections, and IV therapies

  • Wound care, catheter care, and tracheostomy management

  • Ventilator monitoring and respiratory support

  • Gastrostomy tube feeding and nutritional care

  • Chronic condition management (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, seizures)

  • Health education and caregiver training

  • Medical assessments and health status monitoring

All services must be documented in the participant’s physician-approved Plan of Care (POC) and align with KanCare or waiver service authorizations.

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3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

  • Register business with the Kansas Secretary of State

  • Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)

  • Obtain applicable licensure as a Home Health Agency from KDHE (if providing care outside a facility)

  • Enroll as a Kansas Medicaid provider through the Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) portal

  • Maintain malpractice, general liability, and professional liability insurance

  • Develop clinical care, documentation, emergency, and infection control policies

  • Ensure nursing staff are licensed, trained, and background checked

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4. KANSAS PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Licensing and Credentialing:

  • Apply for licensure as a Home Health Agency with KDHE (if care is provided at home)

  • Complete surveys or inspections as needed

Medicaid Enrollment:

  • Apply through KMAP to become a Medicaid Skilled Nursing Services provider

  • Coordinate credentialing with KanCare MCOs: Sunflower Health Plan, Aetna Better Health, and UnitedHealthcare

Authorization & Billing Setup:

  • Secure physician’s orders and Plan of Care

  • Submit authorization requests to MCOs

  • Begin billing for authorized skilled nursing services using appropriate CPT/HCPCS codes

 

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

  • Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Kansas Secretary of State)

  • IRS EIN confirmation

  • NPI confirmation

  • Home Health Agency license (if applicable)

  • Proof of malpractice and liability insurance

  • Skilled Nursing Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:

    • Care plan development and medical necessity documentation

    • Medication administration and clinical procedure protocols

    • Emergency and infection control procedures

    • Participant rights, HIPAA compliance, and grievance protocols

    • Staff licensure records, background checks, and training logs

    • Medicaid billing documentation, clinical progress notes, and audit-ready records

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Skilled Nursing Supervisor / Director of Nursing

Requirements: Active Kansas RN license; supervisory experience; background check clearance

Role: Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

Requirements: Active Kansas license; CPR/BLS certification; training in home-based or community-based clinical procedures; background screening clearance

All nursing staff must complete:

  • HIPAA and client confidentiality training

  • Infection control and universal precautions

  • Medication administration and clinical documentation training

  • Emergency response and abuse prevention training

  • Ongoing continuing education and skills evaluation

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7. MEDICAID COVERAGE & HCBS WAIVERS

Skilled Nursing Services are covered under:

  • Kansas Medicaid State Plan

  • KanCare MCO Plans

  • HCBS Waivers (based on participant need):

    • Technology Assisted (TA) Waiver

    • Brain Injury (BI) Waiver

    • Physical Disability (PD) Waiver

    • Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) Waiver (in certain cases)

    • Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver

Authorized services may include:

  • Intermittent or continuous nursing care

  • Medically necessary procedures not requiring hospital admission

  • Participant-specific support aligned with Plan of Care

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8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration, Policy Manual Development, and Licensing

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Staff Hiring, Credentialing, and Compliance Training

Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and MCO Credentialing

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Billing System Configuration and Launch

Timeline: 30–45 days

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)

Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP)

KanCare MCOs:

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SKILLED NURSING SERVICES PROVIDER IN KANSAS

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — KANSAS SKILLED NURSING SERVICES PROVIDER

WCG supports home health agencies, nursing providers, and clinical service organizations in launching Medicaid-compliant Skilled Nursing Services across Kansas.

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Scope of Work:

  • Business registration, Medicaid enrollment, and KDHE licensure guidance

  • Development of Skilled Nursing Policy & Procedure Manual

  • Staff credentialing templates, care documentation tools, and Plan of Care templates

  • Billing system setup and compliance tools

  • Website, domain, and clinical service branding

  • Quality assurance systems for supervision, documentation, and clinical outcomes

  • Referral development with hospitals, discharge planners, and KanCare case managers




Our Client Portal offers a wealth of resources that you can explore related to various programs and state requirements. 

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