
PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, AND PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Community Integration Services in Indiana help individuals with disabilities or long-term support needs develop skills, engage in meaningful activities, and connect with their communities. These services are authorized under Indiana Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programs, supporting greater independence, social inclusion, and quality of life.
1. GOVERNING AGENCIES
Agency: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) — Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) and Division of Aging
Role: Oversees Community Integration provider enrollment, service authorizations, quality monitoring, and participant protections under HCBS Waivers
Agency: Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP)
Role: Administers Medicaid funding for Community Integration Services and manages provider enrollment, reimbursement, and claims processing
Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Provides federal oversight ensuring Community Integration Services comply with the HCBS Settings Rule, person-centered planning standards, and quality requirements
2. COMMUNITY INTEGRATION SERVICE OVERVIEW
Community Integration Services focus on helping participants gain, retain, or improve self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to live and participate actively in their community.
Approved providers may deliver:
- Individualized community-based activities based on the participant’s interests, needs, and goals
- Support for accessing recreational, educational, volunteer, civic, cultural, and employment-related opportunities
- Skill development for independent community navigation (e.g., using public transportation, accessing libraries, grocery stores)
- Self-advocacy training to help participants express preferences and make choices
- Assistance with building and maintaining relationships outside the home or service setting
- Safety training for navigating various community environments
All services must be goal-driven, based on the participant’s Individualized Support Plan (ISP), and promote community inclusion rather than center-based or segregated activities.
3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites:
- Register business entity with the Indiana Secretary of State
- Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
- Enroll as a Medicaid HCBS Waiver provider through the Indiana Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
- Meet FSSA DDRS service-specific standards for Community Integration
- Maintain general liability insurance and professional liability insurance
- Develop comprehensive policies for participant safety, community activity planning, staff training, emergency response, and documentation
- Ensure all direct support staff meet background screening, health screening, and competency training requirements
4. INDIANA PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS
Initial Interest and Application:
- Submit Provider Enrollment Application through Indiana Medicaid Provider Portal for Community Integration Services under the appropriate waivers
Application and Documentation Submission:
- Provide Articles of Incorporation, EIN/NPI confirmation, insurance certificates, staff credentialing documentation, and operational service delivery policies
Program Readiness Review:
- FSSA (DDRS) conducts readiness review including service activity plans, staff training documentation, safety procedures, participant rights protections, and billing protocols
Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:
- Upon approval, providers are assigned billing codes for community-based integration supports, typically billed hourly
5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
- Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Indiana Secretary of State)
- IRS EIN confirmation
- NPI confirmation
- Proof of general and professional liability insurance
Community Integration Services Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Participant intake, assessment, goal setting, and service planning protocols
- Community activity safety planning, supervision protocols, and travel policies
- Emergency response and critical incident reporting procedures
- Participant rights, HIPAA confidentiality, and grievance procedures
- Staff credentialing, background checks, training records, and competency assessments
- Medicaid billing, service tracking, and documentation audit systems
6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS
Role: Program Director / Community Integration Supervisor
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in human services, education, or a related field preferred, background screening clearance, community-based service experience preferred
Role: Community Integration Specialists / Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
Requirements: High school diploma or GED minimum, training in community navigation, participant safety, and self-advocacy facilitation, background screening clearance
All staff must complete:
- HCBS Settings Rule and person-centered planning training
- HIPAA compliance, abuse prevention, and participant rights training
- Community safety, transportation, and emergency response training
- Annual continuing education and competency reassessments
7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS
Community Integration Services are available under the following Indiana Medicaid Waivers:
- Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) Waiver
- Family Supports Waiver (FSW)
Approved providers may deliver:
- Community outings aligned with participants’ personal interests and employment goals
- Volunteer and educational support participation
- Individual or small group community integration activities
- Self-advocacy skill development and peer interaction opportunities
8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH
Phase: Business Formation, Compliance Preparation, and Staffing Setup
Timeline: 1–2 months
Phase: Staff Hiring, Credentialing, and Service Planning Development
Timeline: 1–2 months
Phase: Indiana Medicaid Enrollment and Readiness Review
Timeline: 60–90 days
Phase: Medicaid Billing Setup and Community Integration Service Launch
Timeline: 30–45 days
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) — Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS)
Website: https://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/
Indiana Medicaid Provider Portal
Website: https://www.in.gov/medicaid/providers/
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Website: https://www.cms.gov/
10. SCOPE OF WORK
- Business registration, Medicaid enrollment, and waiver compliance guidance
- Development of Community Integration Services Policy & Procedure Manual
- Staff credentialing templates, participant intake forms, and community activity tracking systems
- Medicaid billing system setup and audit-ready claims management
- Website, domain, and branding setup
- Person-centered goal planning templates and community mapping tools
- Quality assurance systems for service tracking, satisfaction surveys, and rights protections
- Partnership development with schools, vocational programs, and community agencies
Waiver Consulting Group supports day service agencies, employment support providers, and community-based organizations in launching Medicaid-compliant Community Integration Services across Indiana.
To get started, click the link to request portal access