How to Become a Medicaid Waiver Provider in Utah

Utah's ordering catches people out. The Division of Licensing and Background Checks will not process a DSPD certification application from an organization that has not already been through the Office of Services Review to obtain a contract to serve this population, and that process starts on the DHHS Procurement website. Everything else follows from there. The second thing to get right is the capacity number you enter: serving three or fewer DSPD clients for day support or residential support gets you a certification, while four or more requires a full licence — and the application literally distinguishes them by the capacity figure you type in, so entering four or more means you have applied for a licence whether or not you meant to. Background screening runs through the Direct Access Clearance System for every staff member with direct or incidental contact with clients or their records, and new programs are given DACS access after the application is submitted.

Get the Office of Services Review contract through DHHS Procurement, apply online for the certificate or licence with the right capacity, complete the HCBS settings attestation and self-assessment, clear DACS screening and the licensor's inspection, then enroll with Utah Medicaid.

Application system: Office of Licensing — applications and renewals

1. Complete the Office of Services Review contract process

   Start on the DHHS Procurement website. Without this contract, a DSPD certification application cannot proceed.

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2. Apply online with the correct capacity

   For residential support certification, select Residential Support and enter a capacity of 1, 2, or 3. For day support certification, select Day Treatment with the same capacity range. Four or more turns it into a licence application.

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3. Complete the HCBS settings tools

   Residential applicants complete the HCBS Settings Rule attestation tool for residential settings and the setting-specific provider self-assessment; non-residential applicants complete the equivalent non-residential versions.

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4. Set up UtahID and submit the assessments

   No sooner than four working days after submitting the application, create a UtahID login, log into the DLBC provider portal, and submit the completed assessment through the Submit Documentation menu.

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5. Work with your assigned licensor

   Once all paperwork is in, the application is assigned to a licensor who reviews your policies and procedures, conducts a safety inspection of your location, and addresses any outstanding concerns before issuing the licence.

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6. Enroll with Utah Medicaid

   Complete Medicaid provider enrollment through the state's provider enrollment process once you hold the licence or certificate.

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Utah does not publish these in a form we could verify, so we have not guessed at them. Ask directly — and if an answer here would help other providers, tell us and we will add it with its source.

• What does the Office of Services Review contract process require, and how long does it take?

  Ask: Utah DHHS Procurement

• What are the current licence and certification application fees?

  Ask: DHHS Division of Licensing and Background Checks

• Is DSPD currently contracting for new providers in your area and service type?

  Ask: Division of Services for People with Disabilities

• What staff training and qualification standards apply to DSPD residential and day support staff?

  Ask: DHHS Division of Licensing and Background Checks