​Supported Employment Services in Kansas assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining and retaining meaningful employment in community-based, integrated work settings. These services are authorized under Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) through the Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) Waiver and other vocational rehabilitation partnerships. The focus is on person-centered employment planning and long-term job support.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Role: Administers the IDD Waiver and oversees employment support standards and provider eligibility

Agency: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) — Division of Health Care Finance
Role: Handles Medicaid provider enrollment and reimbursement under KanCare

Agency: Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) — Rehabilitation Services
Role: Partners with HCBS programs for Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and job development

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under KanCare
Role: Authorize services, coordinate with ISPs, and process Medicaid payments for employment supports

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Ensures Medicaid-funded employment services comply with federal community integration standards

2. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OVERVIEW

Supported Employment Services promote workforce inclusion for people with disabilities by providing individualized job coaching, retention supports, and workplace accommodations.

Approved providers may deliver:

• Job development and assistance with job search, applications, and interviews
• Workplace assessments and job matching based on participant strengths
• Job coaching and on-site support (initial and ongoing)
• Support with workplace accommodations and task modification
• Social skills training and transportation coordination
• Ongoing follow-along and retention support
• Coordination with employers, case managers, and vocational rehab agencies

Services must align with the participant’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and be designed to achieve competitive integrated employment outcomes.

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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)
• Enroll as a Medicaid provider through the Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP)
• Apply for certification through KDADS as an HCBS IDD Waiver provider
• Contract with KanCare MCOs for service authorization and billing
• Maintain general liability and workers’ compensation insurance
• Develop policies for service delivery, participant protection, documentation, and employer engagement
• Ensure all employment specialists complete required background checks and disability employment training

4. KANSAS PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: KDADS Certification

• Submit application to KDADS to become an IDD Waiver Supported Employment provider
• Complete readiness review and program documentation submission

Step 2: KMAP Medicaid Enrollment

• Register through KMAP as a Medicaid employment services provider

Step 3: MCO Credentialing

• Contract with all three KanCare MCOs for participant referrals and ISP-driven authorizations

Step 4: Partnership (Optional):

• Establish coordination agreements with DCF Rehabilitation Services for dual-funded job support programs

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

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

IRS EIN confirmation

NPI confirmation

Proof of insurance (general and workers’ comp)

Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual including:

• Job development, placement, and employer engagement protocols
• Documentation of services provided and progress toward employment goals
• Risk management, supervision, and incident reporting procedures
• Transportation coordination and time-tracking systems
• HIPAA compliance, participant rights, and grievance protocols
• Staff credentialing, training logs, and competency assessments
• Medicaid billing records and audit-ready documentation

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Employment Services Program Supervisor
Requirements: Background in workforce development, special education, or vocational rehabilitation, supervisory experience preferred, background check clearance

Role: Job Coaches / Employment Specialists
Requirements: High school diploma or , experience working with individuals with disabilities, job development training, background screening clearance

All staff must complete:

• HIPAA and confidentiality training
• Person-centered planning and ISP goal alignment
• Workplace safety, abuse prevention, and employer interaction training
• Annual training in customized employment, ADA, and job coaching best practices

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7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS

Supported Employment Services are reimbursable under the:

Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) Waiver

Approved providers may deliver:

• Initial and ongoing job support
• Coaching and on-site skills development
• Employer coordination and task accommodations
• Community-based employment support consistent with HCBS settings rule

Other funding (non-Medicaid) may come from:

• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services through DCF
• School transition funding for individuals under 21

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8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation and Policy Manual Development
Timeline: 1–2 months

Phase: Staff Hiring, Training, and KDADS Certification
Timeline: 2–3 months

Phase: KMAP Enrollment and MCO Contracting
Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Billing System Setup and Employment Services Launch
Timeline: 30–45 days

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Website: https://kdads.ks.gov

Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) — Vocational Rehabilitation
Website: https://www.dcf.ks.gov

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
Website: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov

Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP)
Website: https://www.kmap-state-ks.us

KanCare MCOs:

Sunflower Health Plan: https://www.sunflowerhealthplan.com

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan: https://www.uhccommunityplan.com/ks

Aetna Better Health of Kansas: https://www.aetnabetterhealth.com/kansas

​10. SCOPE OF WORK 

• Business registration, KDADS waiver enrollment, and Medicaid/MCO contracting
• Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual development
• Staff credentialing tools, ISP-aligned tracking forms, and employer engagement templates
• Medicaid billing system setup and documentation workflows
• Website, branding, and employment support marketing
• Quality assurance systems for outcome tracking, staff supervision, and participant satisfaction
• Referral network development with DCF, transition coordinators, and schools

Waiver Consulting Group supports vocational service providers, disability employment programs, and community rehabilitation agencies in launching Medicaid-compliant Supported Employment Services across Kansas.