Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Program: Resources for Providers

Registering with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is the first step in becoming an approved provider of CLTS waiver services. DHS requires providers to reregister every four years.

Register to become an approved provider

DHS has a searchable online CLTS Waiver Provider Directory. It currently lists all county waiver agencies, fiscal agents, and fiscal intermediaries only. Providers of additional CLTS Waiver Services will be added to the CLTS Waiver Provider Directory throughout 2020.

• The directory can be searched by provider name, type of service provided, and county.
• When you register as a CLTS provider, your information will be included in the directory.

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) directed the State of Wisconsin to create a uniform rate-setting methodology for many CLTS waiver services as per the home and community-based service (HCBS) 1915(c) regulations. The previous practice, in which individual county waiver agencies set rates directly with providers, is no longer allowed by CMS. The new rates, P-02184 (PDF) went into effect July 1, 2019.

CLTS Waiver Program Service Rates

The Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin informs waiver providers about program policies and procedures, initiatives, and rate information. 

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2019-01 (PDF)

• Statewide uniform rate implementation
• Deciding Together Guide
• Individual service plan outcomes page

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2019-02 (PDF)

• Overview of the Registration Process
• Enhanced Registration and Directory Process for Financial Management Service Providers
• WPS Claims Corner

Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2019-03 (PDF)

• Overview of the statewide uniform rates initiative
• List of services included in the statewide uniform rate schedule
• Transitioning rates through a phased rollout
• Understanding services rates versus wages
• Financial management service rates

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2020-01 (PDF)

• Overview of the Registration Process
• Enhanced Registration and Directory Process for Provider Agencies
• Four-Year Re-Registration Requirements

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2020-02 (PDF)

Incident reporting requirements for providers

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2020-03 (PDF)

Transition of nursing services and personal care services to Wisconsin Medicaid

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2020-04 (PDF)

• Overview of the Registration Process
• Enhanced Registration and Directory Process for Sole Proprietors
• Four-Year Re-Registration Requirements

Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2020-05 (PDF)

• Encourage Others to Become CLTS Waiver Program Providers
• Registered Providers Listed Are in the CLTS Provider Directory
• Provide Feedback for the CLTS Waiver Renewal
• Create a Wisconsin Physician Services Provider Portal Account

Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Bulletin, issue 2021-01 (PDF)

• Permanent Remote Waiver Services Policy
• Reminder About Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Provider Statewide Uniform Rates
• Respite Care in Wisconsin
• Registering for the Wisconsin Physicians Service Provider Portal
• Wisconsin Physicians Service Billing and Claims Processing Tips for Children’s Long-Term Support Services
• Help Grow the Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Program

DHS has contracted with a third-party administrator (TPA) claims processing vendor for CLTS Waiver provider services. The DHS TPA vendor is Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS). WPS processes and issues payments for CLTS services, collects and reports claims data, and recovers overpayments on behalf of DHS according to federal regulations.

• TPA claims processing
• WPS
• CLTS Waiver Program Claim Processing—Instructional webcast

Contact information: WPS CLTS Customer Service Call Center, Monday through Friday, at 877-298-1258

DHS is updating the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Manual for the CLTS Waiver Program to reflect the five-year renewal of the waiver, approved by CMS effective April 1, 2017. The approved waiver period is effective April 1, 2017, through December 31, 2021. DHS has amended the waiver to meet the CMS requirement for DHS to implement a statewide uniform rate methodology for most CLTS waiver services.

• Medicaid home and community-based services
• CLTS Waiver Program federal renewal application approval

• Waiver Amendment for Statewide Uniform Rate-Setting Initiative (PDF)

Below is helpful information for providers.

• Children's Long-Term Support Council
• Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Program Enrollment and Waitlist by County, P-01689 (PDF)
• Deciding Together Guide, P-02246, and Information Memo 2019-01, Release of Deciding Together Guidance (PDF)
• Respite Care Association of Wisconsin
• Numbered Memo 2019-06, Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Program Individual Service Plan Information Sharing (PDF)

As a CLTS Waiver Program provider, you will have an important role in the child’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and you may be asked to sign the participant’s outcomes form.

You will get access to relevant information on the ISP that will help you understand the goals and outcomes a child and his or her family desires to achieve. Sharing this information with you helps promote a teamwork approach. It also expands your perspective to learn how your contribution is part of a bigger picture for each child and family.