1. Program Definition and Services

Host Home Services (also referred to as Professional Parent supports for youth) provide a 24-hour community-based residential alternative for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) or acquired brain injuries (ABI). Operating under the Community Supports Waiver (CSW) via the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), this model places one or two participants within the private home of a trained family. Services include:

• Full-Time Care & Skill Building: Assisting with bathing, hygiene, cooking, medication management, and money skills embedded into everyday family routines
• Community Integration & Access: Coordinating transportation to appointments, medical check-ups, employment, and local neighborhood events to prevent residential isolation

2. Regulations

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

• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R539-2 (DSPD Service Provision Standards)
• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R539-3 (Rights and Protections for Waiver Participants)
• Utah Administrative Code, Rule R539-4 (Behavior Interventions and Restricted Procedures)
• Federal HCBS Final Settings Rule (42 CFR 441.301)

3. Licensing or Certification

Waiver provider agencies must secure programmatic authorization from DSPD. Individual homes under the agency's umbrella do not receive an institutional license but must clear an intensive physical site inspection to achieve formal DSPD Host Home Certification. Additionally, all adult household members over age 12 must secure a background screening clearance through the state's central database.

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 service guidelines, oversees participant matching protocols, and reviews host home inspection data. The Division of Integrated Healthcare (DIH) holds direct administrative command over underlying Medicaid provider credentialing, PRISM system updates, and state plan claims.

5. Application Process

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

• Register your business entity with the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations.
• Establish a corporate Type 2 NPI and map it to specialized residential or intellectual disability care taxonomy paths
• Access the Utah Department of Health and Human Services portal to complete fingerprint screenings for all corporate staff
• Log into the Medicaid web infrastructure to complete electronic enrollment inside the PRISM portal.
• Submit your formal provider qualification files directly to DSPD to join the approved waiver contract network

6. Required Documentation

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

• Corporate formation records, Federal EIN, and active Type 2 NPI documentation
• Approved PRISM Medicaid validation paperwork and signed DSPD vendor agreement templates
• Host Home Services Policy & Procedure Manual (covering participant-family matching algorithms, room and board calculation models, home evacuation drill layouts, and continuous respite care provisions)
• Completed DSPD Host Home Certification Checklists (proving functioning smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, safe appliance operations, emergency escape tools, and locked medication storage boxes for every home)
• Certificates of commercial general liability and professional liability insurance

7. Timeline for Approval

The end-to-end processing pipeline spanning background check clearances, PRISM system data verification, initial host home site inspections, and final DSPD electronic contract validation typically takes 3 to 5 months.

8. Pre-Application Process

Form an LLC or Corporation with the Utah Division of Corporations, secure an EIN from the IRS, and obtain your Type 2 NPI specifically configured under the specialized multi-unit residential or habilitation support service classification track.

9. Pre-Application Training

Before receiving participant placements, the agency's executive leadership, program coordinators, and individual host home parents must complete the online DSPD MySupport Provider Orientation training sequences and associated health documentation modules.

10. Additional Notes

• Host Home placements are strictly capped at a maximum of two participants per private residence to guarantee a true, personalized family living environment
• Provider agencies must establish an ongoing monitoring plan, including unannounced home visits and systematic reviews of medication logs, to ensure continuous alignment with the client's Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP)
• Room and board charges are handled through a distinct private agreement separate from the Medicaid billing structure; waiver funds only cover the habilitation, direct care, and supervision components
• In accordance with Rule R539-3, participants have the explicit right to come and go freely, access food at all times, choose their own bedroom decorations, and receive visitors whenever they choose, free from arbitrary or unauthorized rights restrictions

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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