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

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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.

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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

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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

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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 check, and performance evaluation systems

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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

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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

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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

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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

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business formation (LLC, EIN, NPI)
• SDS provider application and residential readiness support
• Development of Residential Supported Living Policy & Procedure Manual
• Templates for ADL tracking, behavior documentation, and overnight supervision
• Medicaid enrollment and MMIS billing setup
• WEBSITE, DOMAIN, AND EMAIL SETUP
• CLIENT INTAKE AND SERVICE DELIVERY PACKET
• STAFF TRAINING MATERIALS FOR 24/7 SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTS
• INCIDENT REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE TRACKING TOOLS
• HOME SETUP GUIDANCE AND SAFETY CHECKLISTS
• CLIENT REFERRAL NETWORKING AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION STRATEGIES

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.