1. Program Definition and Services

Community Integration Services, frequently structured as Daily Living Skills Training or Community Integration Coordination, in Wisconsin, provide person-centered, non-medical instructional supports designed to help individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or age-related challenges build meaningful connections and achieve full community inclusion. These Services include:

• Independence & Daily Living Skills Training: Systematic, hands-on instructional coaching in personal financial management, meal preparation, home maintenance, public transit safety navigation, and the utilization of community resources
• Community Engagement & Social Inclusion: Tailored community access planning, self-advocacy skill-building, volunteerism exploration, and community-based socialization designed to build natural peer support networks

2. Regulations

The program is governed by the following regulations:

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Manuals
• Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check Law and Misconduct Reporting Standards
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Provider Uniform Rate and Billing Benchmarks
• Federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Settings Rule 

3. Licensing or Certification

Operating agencies do not require a specific facility license to deliver community integration training. However, providers must clear formal waiver credentialing checks and obtain approved provider status through ForwardHealth or achieve formal inclusion on the centralized state registry.

4. Responsible State Agency

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), via the Division of Medicaid Services, serves as the primary administrative authority. Provider system profiling and claims processing are managed through ForwardHealth. 

5. Application Process

Register the corporate entity with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions to obtain official business registration. Then submit a completed application along with the required documentation 

6. Required Documentation

• Verified DFI business formation records, active Federal EIN, and a corporate Type 2 National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Community Integration Services Policy & Procedure Manual 
• Up-to-date staff credentials, including verified training certificates, professional resumes, and operational organizational charts
• Certificates of commercial general liability insurance and professional liability insurance.
• Cleared criminal background screening logs 

7. Timeline for Approval

The combined processing pipeline spanning corporate business registration, internal policy manual compilation, ForwardHealth enrollment vetting, and final regional MCO network onboarding typically averages 2 to 3 months.

8. Pre-Application Process

Prospective providers must form an LLC or Corporation with the Wisconsin DFI, secure an EIN, and obtain a corporate Type 2 NPI mapped to a specialized home-based habilitation or social support taxonomy. Agencies must also establish a standard mileage and vehicle safety tracking system for community integration activities.

9. Pre-Application Training

The state requires comprehensive documentation of staff orientation competencies before personnel work directly with participants. Owners, program managers, and direct support staff must complete training modules covering consumer rights, confidentiality of treatment records, incident reporting workflows, trauma-informed care, and positive behavioral intervention models.

10. Additional Notes

• Services are strictly instructional and designed to help the participant build independent functional capacity, providers cannot use waiver hours to perform household tasks for the individual without an active teaching component.
• All integration activities must occur in natural, integrated settings used by the general public (such as local libraries, transit systems, or stores) segregated, disability-only facilities are strictly restricted
• Daily service logs must record precise session start/stop timestamps, the specific skill goals targeted from the care plan, and objective progress remarks to satisfy state Medicaid financial audits and prevent retroactive funding clawbacks

Why Choose Waiver Consulting Group?

Starting or expanding your Medicaid waiver-funded agency can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. At Waiver Consulting Group, we simplify the process by guiding you through licensing, compliance, provider enrollment, policies & procedures, and regulatory approvals in any state.

With proven expertise, a structured process, and ongoing support, we take the guesswork out of launching your healthcare business. Whether you're a first-time entrepreneur or an established provider looking to expand, our team ensures you stay compliant, competitive, and fully operational.

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