SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES PROVIDER IN ALASKA

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 3
4 min read

DELIVERING FLEXIBLE, 24-HOUR SUPPORT IN INDIVIDUAL HOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO NEED A PERSONALIZED, NON-GROUP LIVING OPTION

Supported Living Services in Alaska offer individualized, 24/7 care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who require ongoing support but prefer to live alone or with minimal housemates in a non-congregate setting. These services are authorized under Alaska’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver programs and focus on promoting self-determination, dignity, and full participation in community life through stable, individualized housing arrangements.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Alaska Department of Health – Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS)

Role: Approves Residential Supported Living providers, monitors service quality and home environments, and enforces compliance with HCBS rules

Agency: Alaska Medicaid (under the Department of Health)

Role: Oversees provider enrollment and Medicaid billing for Residential Supported Living Services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Ensures federal compliance with person-centered care and community-based living under HCBS Medicaid regulations

2. SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICE OVERVIEW

Residential Supported Living Services provide 24-hour care and supervision to individuals living in their own home (leased or owned by the individual) or a provider-controlled home that is not a group home. Services are designed to support people who require frequent assistance throughout the day and night, but who want a more private, individualized living arrangement than a traditional group home.

Approved providers may deliver:

Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
Meal preparation and assistance with eating
Medication assistance, monitoring, and health-related care tasks
Nighttime support and supervision
Skills training for housekeeping, money management, and home safety
Behavioral supports and crisis response
Community participation and transportation assistance
Daily documentation and individualized service tracking

Each service must be tailored to the participant’s person-centered plan and delivered in a home setting that prioritizes choice, control, and privacy.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register business with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Maintain a physical office location in Alaska
Demonstrate capacity to provide 24/7 support and staff supervision
Ensure housing arrangements meet basic safety, sanitation, and accessibility standards
Establish individualized documentation systems for each residence
Hold general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage

4. SDS PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Initial Interest and Application:

Request the Residential Supported Living Services provider application from SDS
Attend SDS orientation or informational session focused on residential and individualized services

Application & Documentation Submission:

Submit a detailed description of the support model, including staffing schedules, training, emergency procedures, and person-centered support planning
Include sample daily logs, incident reports, and service delivery documentation
Provide housing setup information and protocols for ensuring individual choice and dignity in residential arrangements

Readiness Review:

SDS review of staff qualifications, training, and credentialing
Review of home environment (if applicable) for accessibility and safety
Evaluation of documentation tools, quality assurance procedures, and compliance systems

Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:

After SDS approval, enroll with Alaska Medicaid through MMIS as a Residential Supported Living provider
Select billing codes for the relevant HCBS waivers
Complete Medicaid provider agreement and configure billing setup

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
Lease or deed for any provider-controlled residential settings
SDS-Compliant Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Intake, assessment, and individual service plan implementation
- Staff supervision and overnight monitoring protocols
- Emergency preparedness, fire safety, and crisis response
- Medication assistance and health monitoring procedures
- Client rights, autonomy, and informed consent documentation
- Daily documentation forms and behavior tracking tools
- Complaint, grievance, and critical incident reporting policies
- Staff training, background checks, and performance evaluation systems

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Residential Program Supervisor

Requirements: Experience in home-based support services, staff coordination, and Medicaid documentation

Role: Direct Support Professional (DSP)Requirements: High school diploma or GED, experience in 24/7 residential care, background check, CPR/First Aid certification

All staff must complete:

SDS orientation and HCBS residential services training
Person-centered support and rights-based care training
Emergency response and overnight care protocols
Documentation, confidentiality, and abuse prevention training
Ongoing annual in-service education

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

The following Alaska Medicaid Waivers authorize Residential Supported Living Services:

Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Waiver
Adults with Physical and Developmental Disabilities (APDD) Waiver
Children with Complex Medical Conditions (CCMC) Waiver (if transitioning to adult services)

Approved providers may deliver:

Individualized, 24-hour residential care in a private home setting
Medication support, ADL/IADL assistance, and overnight supervision
Habilitation and community-based integration activities
Coordination with care teams and service documentation

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation and Housing Setup

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: SDS Application and Provider Readiness Review

Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Home Readiness Checks

Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and MMIS Setup

Timeline: 45–60 days

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Alaska Department of Health – Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS)

Email: dsdsprovider@alaska.gov

Phone: (907) 269-3666

Website: https://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds

Alaska Medicaid Provider Enrollment – Conduent MMIS

Website: https://medicaidalaska.com

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — ALASKA RESIDENTIAL SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES PROVIDER

We help new providers plan and launch high-quality Residential Supported Living Services tailored to individual needs under Alaska’s HCBS Medicaid Waiver system.

Scope of Work: