Mississippi - Personal Emergency Response System — Licensing, Medicaid Enrollment and Startup Requirements

Last reviewed: 2026-09-10

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) Office of Long Term Services & Supports (OLTSS) enrolls Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) providers to serve participants in the Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver and the Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury (TBI/SCI) Waiver. Providers must navigate the state's Medicaid Enterprise System (MESA) to obtain an active Medicaid provider number to bill for these services.

Mississippi does not require a distinct state operating license for PERS agencies; instead, approval is entirely governed by the Medicaid HCBS provider enrollment process. Prospective providers must complete a mandatory Virtual Provider Orientation—offered only in January, April, July, and October—before their enrollment proposal is accepted by the DOM.

1. Service Definition and Scope

In Mississippi, the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is defined under Administrative Code Title 23, Part 208 as an electronic device that enables waiver participants at high risk of institutionalization to secure help in an emergency. The service is designed for individuals who live alone or are alone for significant parts of the day.

The service includes the initial installation of the equipment, participant training, and ongoing 24-hour monitoring by a response center. It does not cover general home security or environmental monitoring.

• Service Components: Installation, monthly monitoring, and maintenance of the electronic device.
• Target Population: E&D and TBI/SCI waiver participants who live alone or are alone for significant parts of the day and are at risk of falls.
• Equipment Standards: Devices must meet Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety standards.
• Response Center: Must operate 24/7/365 with trained dispatchers capable of contacting emergency personnel or designated caregivers.
• Limitations: PERS is not covered if the participant requires 24-hour direct supervision or lives in a licensed residential facility.

2. Regulatory and Oversight Agencies

Because Mississippi does not issue a specific facility or agency license for PERS, oversight is consolidated under the state's Medicaid authority. The Division of Medicaid sets the rules, processes enrollments, and conducts compliance audits.

Providers interact primarily with the DOM's long-term care division and the state's fiscal agent portal for all enrollment and billing activities.

• Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM): Administers the waivers and sets overarching policy (https://medicaid.ms.gov/).
• Office of Long Term Services & Supports (OLTSS): Manages HCBS waiver provider enrollment, orientation, and compliance (https://medicaid.ms.gov/programs/long-term-care/).
• MESA Portal for Providers: The Medicaid Enterprise System for Mississippi used for claims, revalidation, and enrollment (https://portal.ms-medicaid-mesa.com).
• Mississippi Secretary of State: Registers corporate entities and issues certificates of good standing required for Medicaid enrollment (https://www.sos.ms.gov/).

3. Gatekeeping Prerequisites: Who Can Even Apply

Mississippi DOM restricts HCBS waiver enrollment applications to entities that complete specific prerequisite steps. There is no Certificate of Need (CON) or moratorium for PERS, but the state's orientation schedule acts as a strict gatekeeping mechanism.

An applicant cannot simply submit an application on the MESA portal; they must follow the OLTSS sequence, which limits entry to four specific months of the year.

• Virtual Provider Orientation: Must be completed prior to application; the orientation is only available in July, October, January, and April.
• Orientation Quiz: Applicants must pass the quiz following the orientation to receive the official application templates from OLTSS.
• Business Registration: Must be registered and in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State before applying.
• NPI Requirement: Must obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) before initiating the MESA application.

4. Licensure and Certification Requirements

Mississippi does not issue a specific "PERS License" through the Department of Health. Providers must instead meet the certification and equipment standards outlined in MS Admin Code Title 23, Part 208 to qualify as a Medicaid provider.

The focus of certification is on the reliability of the equipment and the operational capacity of the response center.

• State Licensure Exemption: No distinct Mississippi Department of Health license is required for PERS-only agencies.
• FCC Compliance: All communication devices utilized must be certified by the Federal Communications Commission.
• UL Certification: Equipment must meet Underwriters Laboratories safety standards for home healthcare signaling equipment.
• Local Business License: Must hold a local city or county privilege license to operate a business in the jurisdiction where the agency is headquartered.

5. Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Enrollment is processed through the MESA Portal. Providers must submit a comprehensive packet to DOM that includes financial disclosures, agreements, and proof of business legitimacy.

The effective date of the provider agreement is typically the first day of the month in which the Division of Medicaid receives the complete enrollment application.

• Application Portal: Submitted electronically via the MESA Provider Portal (https://portal.ms-medicaid-mesa.com).
• Provider Agreement: Must sign the Medical Assistance Participation Agreement.
• Financial Forms: Must submit a W-9 and a Direct Deposit Authorization/Agreement Form accompanied by a voided check or bank letter.
• Provider Disclosure Form: Required upon submission and within 35 days of any ownership change to disclose control interests and corporate addresses.
• Civil Rights Attestation: Must submit a Civil Rights Compliance Attestation and maintain a formal Nondiscrimination Policy.

6. Staffing, Training and Background Checks

While PERS is primarily an equipment-based service, the response center staff and field installers must meet state requirements to ensure participant safety.

Agencies must maintain documentation of staff qualifications and background clearances for any personnel interacting directly with waiver participants.

• Dispatcher Training: Response center staff must be trained in emergency protocols, medical dispatch, and communicating with elderly or disabled populations.
• Installer Qualifications: Field staff installing equipment must be trained on the specific devices used and how to instruct participants on their operation.
• Background Checks: All staff interacting with waiver participants must pass a Mississippi criminal history record check.
• Exclusion Checks: Agencies must verify staff are not on the OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) or the Mississippi Medicaid exclusion list prior to hire and monthly thereafter.

7. Documentation, Policies and Records

Providers must maintain comprehensive records subject to DOM audit. Failure to produce required documentation within 35 days of a request can result in termination of the provider agreement.

Records must demonstrate that the equipment is functioning and that the participant knows how to use it.

• Testing Logs: Must document monthly testing of the PERS unit with the participant to ensure connectivity and function.
• Emergency Protocols: Must maintain written policies for dispatching emergency responders or contacting designated family members.
• Installation Records: Must keep signed documentation confirming the date of installation and that the participant received training on device use.
• Record Retention: All business, financial, and service records must be kept for a minimum of five years per DOM rules.

8. Billing, Rates and Claims

PERS services are billed through the MESA system using standard HCPCS codes. Rates are established by the DOM fee schedule and are not negotiable.

Services cannot be billed unless they are explicitly authorized in the participant's Plan of Services and Supports (PSS).

• Installation Code: Billed using S5160 (Emergency response system; installation and testing).
• Monthly Monitoring Code: Billed using S5161 (Emergency response system; service fee, per month).
• Claims System: Submitted electronically via the MESA Portal using the 837P format or direct data entry.
• Prior Authorization: Services must be prior-approved by the waiver case management team and included in the approved PSS before any claims will pay.

9. Approval Sequence and Timeline

The process from orientation to active billing status takes several months due to the quarterly orientation schedule and DOM review times.

Providers should not purchase equipment or accept referrals until the MESA portal shows an active Medicaid provider ID.

• Step 1: Attend the Virtual Provider Orientation (available only in Jan, Apr, Jul, or Oct).
• Step 2: Pass the Orientation Quiz to unlock the official application materials.
• Step 3: Submit the complete HCBS provider proposal to OLTSS and the enrollment application via MESA.
• Step 4: DOM OLTSS reviews the proposal (typically 60-90 days).
• Step 5: Receive the Medicaid Provider Number and effective date, allowing the agency to accept authorizations.

10. Common Denials and Survey Findings

DOM frequently rejects applications for administrative errors or failure to follow the strict HCBS enrollment sequence.

During audits, recoupments often occur if providers cannot prove the equipment was tested monthly.

• Premature Application: Submitting an application in MESA before completing the mandatory quarterly orientation and quiz.
• Missing Disclosures: Failure to fully complete the Mississippi Medicaid Provider Disclosure Form regarding ownership and control interests.
• Equipment Non-Compliance: Inability to provide proof of UL or FCC certification for the specific PERS devices being deployed.
• Address Mismatches: The W-9 legal name or address not matching the IRS confirmation letter or MESA application exactly.

11. Key Contacts and Resources

Prospective PERS providers should rely on the official Mississippi Division of Medicaid portals and rulebooks for the most current requirements.

The MESA portal and the OLTSS division are the primary points of contact throughout the lifecycle of a provider.

• Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM): https://medicaid.ms.gov/
• MESA Provider Portal: https://portal.ms-medicaid-mesa.com
• DOM Office of Long Term Services & Supports (OLTSS): https://medicaid.ms.gov/programs/long-term-care/
• Mississippi Administrative Code (Title 23): https://medicaid.ms.gov/providers/administrative-code/
• Provider Enrollment Helpdesk: Toll-free 800-421-2408 for MESA portal assistance.

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