1. Program Definition and Services

Chores Services in Utah deliver intermittent, heavy-duty household maintenance to individuals with disabilities or brain injuries under the Community Supports Waiver (CSW) and select HCBS frameworks. These services are approved only when tasks exceed the participant's capabilities and no one else is responsible for them. Services include:

• Deep Sanitation & Hazard Mitigation: Scrubbing floors/walls, decluttering to reduce fire or fall risks, and deep cleaning after pest infestations or hospitalizations
• Heavy Structural Adjustments: Moving heavy furniture for mobility equipment access, securing loose rugs/tiles, bulk trash removal, and clearing snow or overgrowth

2. Regulations

Operating requires compliance with Utah's established healthcare, administrative, and federal integration rules:

• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R539-1 (DSPD General Provisions)
• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R539-2 (DSPD Service Provision Standards)
• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R392-100 (Public Health Regulations for Living Sanitation)
• Federal HCBS Final Settings Rule (42 CFR 441.301)

3. Licensing or Certification

Providers do not require a separate medical facility or specialized contractor license. Instead, businesses must achieve formal programmatic approval as a certified non-medical HCBS waiver vendor through DSPD, clear state background checks, and register in the Utah Medicaid network.

4. Responsible State Agency

Two distinct divisions within the state health department share the responsibility of monitoring your program: The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), via the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), manages the waiver contract system. The Division of Integrated Healthcare (DIH) manages Medicaid provider enrollment, while the DHHS Office of Licensing handles background clearances.

5. Application Process

Launching your agency involves a sequential process connecting your corporate structure to state networks:

• Register your business entity with the Utah Division of Corporations
• Establish secure user credentials by setting up a personal Utah ID profile
• Log into the Medicaid PRISM portal to complete comprehensive enrollment
• Select the specific non-medical chore support service code configurations (such as code CH1)
• Apply for a formal provider agreement through the electronic DSPD portal

6. Required Documentation

To complete enrollment, you must compile and submit a folder of corporate credentials and operational guidelines:

• Corporate registration papers, active Federal EIN, and Type 2 NPI numbers
• Confirmed PRISM Medicaid active provider numbers and executed DSPD vendor agreements
• Chores Services Policy & Procedure Manual (covering client safety assessments, task validation, hazard checks, lease cross-checks, and precise hourly logs)
• Background registry clearances for all field crew members via the Office of Licensing portal
• Certificates of commercial general liability, commercial auto, and state workers' compensation insurance

7. Timeline for Approval

The processing pipeline spanning background checks, PRISM system validation, and final DSPD electronic contract approval typically takes 2 to 4 months.

8. Pre-Application Process

Form an LLC or Corporation with the Utah Division of Corporations, secure an EIN from the IRS, and register a corporate Type 2 National Provider Identifier (NPI) mapped to specialized community support, homemaker, or non-medical chore assistance taxonomy paths.

9. Pre-Application Training

Before receiving authorizations or working with clients, the agency's primary leadership, program directors, and coordinators must complete the online DSPD MySupport Provider Orientation training sequences and associated billing modules.

10. Additional Notes

• Chore services (CH1) cannot be provided or billed simultaneously with overlapping residential support, supported living, personal assistance, or homemaker service codes
• This program is strictly limited to heavy, infrequent household operations and cannot function as an ongoing, routine light housekeeping or cleaning service
• For rental properties, the provider must review the lease agreement prior to executing services to verify that the requested tasks do not replace the preexisting structural obligations of the landlord
• Direct staff members do not need specialized trade licenses but must demonstrate the physical competency to perform heavy lifting safely and must maintain a detailed post-chore verification form signed by the client or guardian

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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