1. Program Definition and Services

Community Integration Services (officially administered as Community Participation Services or Community Support Services under state definitions) in New Hampshire provide customized instruction, personal development, and social networking support to individuals with disabilities. The program seeks to foster active civic membership, build self-advocacy, and maximize independent living competencies to avoid isolation or institutionalization. Services include:

• In-Home Personal Care: One-on-one life skills training and personal autonomy modeling delivered directly inside the individual's primary residence or immediate neighborhood (Life Skills Development, Personal Budgeting Practice, Functional Communication, and Self-Advocacy Training)
• Residential Personal Care: Structured social activation, group inclusion exercises, and skill maintenance delivered within a certified community day hub or external public settings (Social Skills Training, Community Access Support, Peer Mentoring, Vocational Integration/Volunteer Mapping, and Safety Skills Training)

2. Regulations

The program is governed by the following regulations:

• New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Part He-M 507 (Community Participation Services)
• New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Part He-M 517.05(l) (Community Support Services Guidelines)
• New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) Chapter 171-A (Services for People with Developmental Disabilities)
• Federal Home and Community-Based Services Settings Final Rule (42 CFR § 441.301)

3. Licensing or Certification

Providers must achieve official agency certification through the Bureau of Developmental Services (BDS) under the He-M 504 organizational framework. If the provider operates an independent, standalone building for day programs or gathering zones, the facility must also secure site-specific certification from the DHHS Community Residence Certification Unit under rule He-M 507.

4. Responsible State Agency

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), specifically working through the Division of Long Term Supports and Services (DLTSS), the Bureau of Developmental Services (BDS), and the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS), is responsible for credentialing agencies, conducting community site readiness assessments, and authorizing provider enrollment.

5. Application Process

The application process utilizes a synchronized state review framework. Providers must first pass an operational screening by submitting a formal credentialing profile and a New Provider Self-Assessment directly to the BDS Provider Enrollment Unit. Following programmatic clearance, the agency completes its official electronic enrollment through the New Hampshire Medicaid Provider Portal (NHMMIS.nh.gov).

6. Required Documentation

While requirements vary based on the target waiver, providers typically must submit:

• Business registration in good standing with the New Hampshire Secretary of State
• Agency policy manuals (community inclusion models, emergency de-escalation protocols, client grievance handling, and outing safety guidelines)
• Clear resumes and professional validation for the program director and designated community mentors
• Proof of broad commercial general liability, professional liability, and comprehensive multi-passenger vehicle insurance coverage

7. Timeline for Approval

The exact timeline fluctuates based on agency capacity. Preliminary programmatic screening by BDS, community safety protocol mapping, and final electronic enrollment through the NHMMIS system typically require between 60 and 90 days from the submission of a complete application packet.

8. Pre-Application Process

Prospective providers must complete specific foundation tasks before applying. They must establish their state business entity structure, secure an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN), and obtain a Type 2 Organizational National Provider Identifier (NPI) mapped to specialized community integration, developmental support, or day habilitation taxonomies.

9. Pre-Application Training

The state hosts mandatory administrative and compliance training sessions online. Mandatory instructions regarding Individualized Service Plan (ISP) alignment, community mobility regulations, incident reporting systems, and electronic waiver billing configurations are unlocked once preliminary portal profiles are approved by state reviewers.

10. Additional Notes

• In accordance with federal HCBS Settings rules, services must be provided in settings that are available to the general public and must actively prevent individual isolation
• Community integration routines, job-shadowing support, and travel plans must be coordinated and directly executed by the certified agency's employed personnel
• All administrative coordinators, field integration specialists, and peer mentors must pass mandatory criminal background checks and fingerprinting through the New Hampshire Department of Safety
• Providers must maintain comprehensive activity logs, face-to-face service documentation, and objective milestone tracking tied directly to the individual's authorized service agreement for Medicaid billing updates

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